The Insert

This ain’t no love letter.

October 20, 2005

WINDHAM RESIDENTS

VILLAGE AND TOWNSHIP

The fall election campaign began with the Township Trustees newsletter to Township and Village residents in October. While two (2) of the Trustees are running for reelection, the spin in their newsletter makes it appear that everything will be okay with the Village on the Fire and EMS issues.

The Village Mayor and Council are not optimistic. Here are some reasons why:

1) We gave the Trustees our written proposals on August 18, 2005. The Trustees did not provide a counterproposal until October 7, 2005. Seven (7) weeks later. We wanted agreements signed in early September before the fall election campaigns began. It is obvious they are now dragging this out until after the election for political reasons.

2) The Trustees in their September 9th letter for the first time indicated that they may not want to sign any agreements until after the election.

3) Their proposal also did not address the EMS ambulance billings to residents and the use of those billing proceeds. Village Council wants an agreement on EMS billings separate from the operating agreement. The Trustees were taking residents to court that did not have insurance coverage.

4) Both sides seem to have agreed verbally to form an exploratory committee consisting of elected officials, Fire Department personnel and some residents to gather information concerning joint fire districts and report their findings to the Trustees and Village Council.

However, nothing has been signed and will not be signed by at least one of the Trustees who made the following quotes during our meetings:

"If you are coming to discuss a joint fire district, 'case closed.'" (July 7, 2005)

"I will not sign it either way." (July 28, 2005)

"I will never get elected again as a Trustee talking about a joint fire district." (July 28, 2005)

"I'm up for reelection and not a good time to talk about it." (July 28, 2005)

"I'm not voting for it. If the other two (2) Trustees want to sign it, do it." (August 18, 2005)

Since making these comments, that Trustee has not said he changed his mind. Therefore he does not intend to ever sign the agreement on a committee to explore a joint fire and EMS district. The problem has been that the other two Trustees have followed his lead.

It is futile to continue meeting at this time. The Mayor and Council will now wait until after the election to know who the Township voters elect.

The Trustees should have honored the terms of the previous operating agreement until renegotiated. Instead they refused to meet and negotiate for nineteen (19) months. Now it's election time for two (2) Trustees.

They have abused their power and control over the levy funds and the EMS billing funds to deny Village Mayor and Council equal representation for Village residents.

"Taxation without representation." This cannot and will not continue.

C. James Moore

Council President

(January 1, 2004 - December 31, 2005)

Former Mayor

(October 1999 - December 31, 2003)

Village of Windham

The letter closes with a quotation from Henry Clay:

“Government is a trust, and the officers of the government are trustees and both the trust and the trustees are created for the benefit of the people.”

Oh, and this:

Paid for by C. James Moore 9348 N. Main Street, Windham, Ohio 44288