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Columbus City Council Through the years
Great piece on who has been in power throughout the years in Columbus. Writt...
For
Immediate
Release
September
23,
2009
Contact:
Dan
Williamson,
Mayor’s
Office,
645
‐
5300
John
Ivanic,
City
Council,
645
‐
6798
Tom
Hoaglin,
Reform
Accountability
Committee,
480
‐
5533
Mayor,
Council
President
Tap
Former
Huntington
Chairman
Hoaglin
To
Lead
Reform
Accountability
Committee
Mayor
Michael
B.
Coleman
and
Columbus
City
Council
President
Michael
C.
Mentel
announced
the
Columbus
Reform
Accountability
Committee,
naming
Thomas
Hoaglin
as
its
chair.
The
committee
will
be
charged
with
monitoring
the
progress
of
the
Columbus
10
‐
Year
Reform
and
Efficiency
Action
Plan,
which
is
expected
to
save
between
$100
million
and
$150
million
over
the
next
decade.
Hoaglin
retired
this
year
from
Huntington
Bancshares
Incorporated,
where
he
had
served
as
chairman,
president
and
CEO
since
2001.
The
committee
will
report
annually
on
the
city’s
progress
in
meeting
the
city’s
efficiency
goals,
which
include
new
approaches
to
employee
benefits,
public
safety
reforms,
management
and
technology
and
strategic
partnerships.
“We
need
to
make
the
tough
decisions
necessary
to
make
Columbus
city
operations
more
efficient
and
cost
‐
effective,”
Mayor
Coleman
said.
“This
committee
will
serve
as
a
means
for
the
public
to
hold
us
accountable
for
our
progress
in
meeting
these
goals.”
In
addition
to
Hoaglin,
the
Columbus
Reform
Accountability
Committee
includes
the
following
members:
Mario
Ciardelli
,
business
manager
for
IBEW
Local
683
Catherine
Girves
,
executive
director
of
the
University
Area
Enrichment
Association
Jacqueline
Neal
,
president
of
Glory
Foods
Dave
Paul
,
president
of
the
Northland
Community
Council
Greta
Russell
,
university
controller
for
The
Ohio
State
University
Ron
Seiffert
,
interim
president
of
Ohio
Dominican
University
Harold
Palmer
,
regional
director
for
the
Ohio
Association
of
Public
School
Employees
Patricia
Hatler
,
chief
legal
and
governance
officer
for
Nationwide
“Mr.
Hoaglin
and
the
other
members
of
this
committee
are
well
‐
respected
members
of
our
community,”
Mentel
said.
“I
look
forward
to
their
contributions
in
helping
advance
the
reform
component
of
our
three
‐
part
plan
to
secure
Columbus’
future.”
Along
with
continued
aggressive
job
creation,
and
the
half
‐
percent
income
tax
increase
approved
by
voters
in
August,
government
reform
is
a
key
part
of
the
city’s
three
‐
point
plan
to
maintain
core
city
services
and
preserve
the
quality
of
life.
City
Council
voted
earlier
this
year
to
formally
commit
itself
to
enacting
the
10
‐
Year
Reform
and
Efficiency
Action
Plan,
which
is
also
supported
by
City
Auditor
Hugh
J.
Dorrian
and
City
Attorney
Richard
C.
Pfeiffer.
The
plan
is
attached.
‐
30
‐
10 Year Reform and Efficiency Action Plan
(These reforms and efficiencies came from the work of the Economic Advisory Committee and will partially solve the structuralimbalance in the General Fund; many of these efforts will need to be negotiated with the six city bargaining units)
Initiative Description
Phase-out pensionpick-upThe practice of paying the employee share of retirement costs cannot continue. This
benefit cost the City’s General Fund approximately $30 million in 2008 and contributes
to the structural imbalance. The City should phase out the current benefit over time.Increase employee shareof health insuranceOffset the cost of employee health care insurance by continuing to increase theemployee contribution to the cost of coverage. The City should continue its successfulstrategies for holding down the cost of care, and at the same time reduce operatingcosts by requiring the employee to share more of the cost burden.Health BenefitsDependant AuditTo reduce premium costs associ
ated with the City’s health insurance plan, the Cityconducted a review of the plan’s current enrollment to ensure eligibility of enrollees
and to ensure that health care dollars are spent only on employees and dependentsentitled to coverage.Manage Overtime Revisit overtime policies and establish new policies that discourage excessive overtime.Redeploy uniformedpolice and firefightersA number of police and firefighters are performing jobs that could be done by civilians.Civilianizing these jobs could save money by filling the positions with less expensivepersonnel and redeploying specific uniformed personnel doing direct public safety workin the neighborhoods, with police patrol, and in the fire stations.Continue and expandenergy efficiencymeasuresAs part of the Get Green Initiative, the City has been incorporating energy efficiency inall its operations. Continued progress would include building weatherization, moreefficient lighting, and HVAC system upgrades.Continue to improve theefficiency of FleetManagementThe City provides centralized Fleet Management services for all General Fundoperations, significantly improving the efficiency of this support service. Continuedprogress involves better vehicle parts management and other cost-savings initiatives.Continue to improve theefficiency of FacilitiesManagementThe City provides centralized Facilities Management services for most General Fundoperations, significantly improving the efficiency of this support service. Continuedprogress involves better space management and more efficient maintenance, custodialand security services.Continue and expand on-line auctions for Cityasset salesRecently, the City conducted an online auction for fire apparatus, generating a 40%increase in revenue over prior auctions. Expanding this tool to all surplus asset sales
could significantly increase revenue to the City’s Permanent Improvement Fund.
Continue and expand theuse of TechnologyThe City is currently in the process of changing the phone system to Voice Over IPwhich will allow greater functionality at a lower cost. This new phone system, a newHuman Resource Information System (comprehensive payroll and human resourcesystem), Telestaff (scheduling program for fire fighters), and Distance Learning (on-linetraining system in fire stations) will all result in greater efficiencies and savings.Technology should continue to play a role in planning for efficiencies in the future.Partner with Metroparkson BikewaysIncorporate bike trails currently operated by the City Recreation and Parks Department
into Metroparks’ regional trail network. In addition to enhanced maintenance,
Metroparks can also provide trail patrol services.
Total ten-year savings for these initiatives is estimated at $100 to $150 million.
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Mayor, Council President Annouce Reform Accountability Committee[1]
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| Upload Date: | 10/05/2009 |
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