Amherst News-Times, 1998-05-20

              They're top computer kids — Page 2   JEDD project hits money snag — Page 5
\mherst News-Times
i
May 20.  1998
Amherst. Ohio
50 cents
I     ce union
I     roves deal;
l,.- .. Dactivity
hitch dissolves
A new contract for Amherst patrolmen and sergeants is five steps
away from becoming a reality now
that retroactivity is no longer a major stumbling block in the talks.
The union wanted all contract
issues wilh cost implications agreed
on by cily council in early March to
be retroactive to Jan. 1. With the exception of pay, the city agreed that
all other cost issues would became
effective March 6, the day council
approved a factfinder's report.
Under law, the report became the
basis for a c onlract when it was approved. Regardless, the Ohio Patrolman's Benevolent Association refused to sign the contract because
members wanted all monetary
issues to be retroactive.
With the exception of pay, the union has now agreed to make all
other monetary issues retroactive to
March 6 based on the advice of an
attorney.
In a statement issued by patrolman Walter Gould, local OPBA director, rctroactiviiy was dropped because the union could noi receive a
clarification on the contract language dealing with it.
The advice is based on a State
Employment Relations Board
(SERB) ruling thai stated a factfinder cannot provide clarification if
cither party in the talks objects to it
The city's negotiator, attorney
lames Wilkens, declined lo "cooperate" wilh clarification sought by
the OPBA, according lo Gould.
The union will not file a com
plaint with SERB because its attorney does not believe it will win.
"We cannot file an unfair labor
practice action against our employer
(the city) because we would not win
that either," Gould said.
Regardless, Gould claimed the
factfinder, James Mancini, believes
there was no dispute over what
would be retroactive during the initial talks. The differences allegedly
occurred after Wilkens typed up the
contract, he added.
It allows patrolmen and sergeants
to receive two and a half months of
retroactive pay and will still provide
them with what Gould called "a real
nice contract."
It provides for a four percent increase this year retroactive to Jan. 1
and 3.5 percent raise in 1999 and
2000.
Some disputed issues remain to
be resolved by city and union negotiators. They are:
• A provision governing a two-
year restriction on disciplinary stc-
tion and another dealing with injuries sustained while on duty.
• The removal of language giving
new patrolmen a two-year pro-rated
$50 uniform allowance.
• A typing error in a sick day
provision.
• Use of percentages in determining pay schedule.
Gould said he do—-not Ihii> how
many of these issues have been fully
resolved, although a few have been
"ironed out."
Varying voices
bring community
chorus together
by GLEN MILLER
News-Times reporter
This year is the second anniversary for a group of 45 Amhersto-
nians whose melodic voices have
captured the ears of audiences
throughout the area.
Surtcd in the fall of 1996, the
Amherst Community  Chorus  has
performed dozens of concerts in and
out of town, some at churches and at
, least one at Midway Mall.
The voices are strong and vibrant.
Most singers are over 40, including
Mary Lou Zinsmeister. She's 75.
Much of her vocal strength and
those of other members comes from
the weekly practices held Monday
evenings in the smsdl music room of
Harris Elementary School.
"We sing as one," said chorus director Simone Gall. "We're all individuals with different voices and we
all have different vocal strengths.
We love what we do."
Gall and. her husband, Steve,
started the chorus along with accompanist Debbie LeSuer when
people first began to talk about
building an auditorium for Marion
L. Steele High School.
Despite what appeared to be community wide support, the auditorium
dream hit a sour note among voters.
CONTINUED on page 3
Watch spending,
council told;
income tax
collections down
City officials have been warned to watch their spending this year
■because of a decline in income tax collections.
They arc about three percent above 1996. Although that may
sound good, city treasurer Kathleen Litkovitz told city council May
11 collections normally have been running five to seven percent
more lhan those of previous yeiirs.
This does not mean the city is in bad financial shape, rather that
il will have less money than it has had over the last few years, she
explained.
The drop means at least $60,000 less will be available in the
coming 12 months.
"I'm telling you this because you have to have this in your head
CONTINUED on page 3
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Fred Holland
BOE taps
veteran
educator
for MLS
principal
by APRIL MILLER
News-Times reporter
Fred Holland, Chillicothe High
School principal, was unanimously
approve*! to replace Marion L.
Steele High School principal Robert
Boynton at Monday's special board
of education meeting.
Holland's three-year contract
takes effect Aug. 7, although he will
be working with Boynton in July,
superintendent Howard Dulmage
said. Holland's salary will not be set
until his experience has been verified and he has passed a security
check.
Boynton, 47, who has been MLS
principal since 1990, is leaving his
post to take on the role of superintendent. Dulmage, who has served
the district for more than 14 years,
is retiring at the end of the school
year.
Holland has been principal at
Chillicothe since 1994. He also
served as principal of Oberlin High
School from 1992-1994. He was the
assistant principal at Medina Senior
High School, Orrville High School
and Rittman High School.
His teaching experience includes
nine years of teaching history, science and health and coaching football and track.
CONTINUED on page 13
Lawyers
may pass
on talking
up lawsuit
by GLEN MILLER
News-Times reporter
Law director Alan Anderson's
lawsuit against city officials may be
decided June 18 based on the legal
documents filed with the Ninth District Court of Appeals.
Anderson said he opted to waive
an oral hearing set for June 18 in an
effort to save city officials legal fees
that would have been paid to their
private attorneys, Thomas Muzilla
and Thomas Smith, of Elyria.
Anderson said his decision to
waive the presentation of oral arguments by him and Muzilla and
Smith was based on what he called
"exorbitant fees" charged by the
latter.
So far, the case has cost the city
more than $15,000 in legal fees.
Mayor John FLggins, however, said
he doesn't think the suspension of
oral arugments will make much of a
difference in overall attorney fees.
"It's kind of late for that now,"
said mayor John Higgins. "I really
CONTINUED on page 9
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