Mayor Patrick D. Long
Year 2001
State of the Village address
PURSUANT TO SECTION 733.41 OF THE
OHIO REVISED CODE, IT
IS ONCE AGAIN MY PLEASURE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL,
STAFF, AND CITIZENS OF CARLISLE. THAT SECTION MANDATES
THAT I REPORT TO THE LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY EACH YEAR
AT THE FIRST MEETING IN JANUARY CONCERNING THE AFFAIRS
OF THE MUNICIPALITY, AND THAT I RECOMMEND SUCH
MEASURES AS I DEEM PROPER. I ENJOY PUTTING MY THOUGHTS
TOGETHER FOR THE YEAR, AND TO REFLECT UPON THE EVENTS
OF LAST YEAR.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL AND STAFF FOR A
GREAT YEAR. OUR CASH BALANCES WENT UP ALMOST
$500,000.00. DESPITE THE LOSS OF DOPACO, WE STILL HAVE A
HEALTHY BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT IN CARLISLE.
BRAD, RON, AND THE TOWN HALL STAFF HAVE PERFORMED
COMPETENTLY AND PROFESSIONALLY IN KEEPING US ON
TRACK. I WOULD CITE THE INCOME TAX LEGISLATION AS THE
TYPE OF PRODUCT OUR STAFF TURNS OUT TO KEEP US UP TO
DATE AND MORE EFFICIENT. THE NEW INDUSTRIAL PARK HAS
BEEN A MONUMENTAL UNDERTAKING. BRAD, RON, AND BILL
COVELL HAVE WORKED WITH THE CONSULTANTS AND OUR
ENGINEERS TO ENSURE THIS IS A DEVELOPMENT THAT WE CAN
ALL VIEW WITH PRIDE. IT WAS WITH PLEASURE THAT WE
RENEWED OUR MANAGER’S CONTRACT.
I WANT TO THANK CHIEF PIEPER AND HIS OFFICERS AND STAFF
FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN RETURNING THE PRIDE AND
PROFESSIONALISM TO THE FORCE. SEEING A CHIEF WHO
PROUDLY WEARS HIS UNIFORM, AND IS LIKELY AT ANY
MOMENT TO BE ON THE STREET WITH HIS FELLOW OFFICERS
MAKES ME PROUD OF OUR DEPARTMENT. ARE WE DONE? NO.
WE HAVE LAID A SOLID FOUNDATION AND NOW IT IS UP TO
THE DEPARTMENT TO REACH THAT NEXT LEVEL. I GIVE
NOTICE NOW. I HAVE EVERY FAITH THAT THEY WILL REACH
THAT NEXT LEVEL. WE WILL TOLERATE NOTHING LESS.
I WANT TO THANK CHIEF WALLACE AND HIS DEPARTMENT FOR
A PRODUCTIVE YEAR WITH LIMITED FUNDS. AS WE STRUGGLE
TO FIND FUNDING SOLUTIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT I WANT
THE DEPARTMENT TO KNOW THAT WE STAND FULLY BEHIND
THEM.
I ALSO WISH TO THANK GAYLON BROWN AND THE PUBLIC
SERVICE DEPARTMENT. WITH THE ADDITION OF THE ZINCK
FARM TO OUR LAND HOLDINGS, WE HAVE ONCE AGAIN ADDED
ADDITIONAL DUTIES TO THE DEPARTMENT. THEY HAVE
PERFORMED WELL IN THE FACE OF INCREASED WORK.
I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT I BELIEVE OUR DEPARTMENT
HEADS WORK MORE EFFICIENTLY TOGETHER THAN EVER
BEFORE IN MY TENURE. TEAMWORK NOW IS A FACT, NOT A
BUZZ WORD. THE STAFF HAS UNDERTAKEN A MORE
FORMALIZED PLANNING PROCESS TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS
SET BY COUNCIL.
WE SAW THE GRAND OPENING OF THE MEADOW CROSSING
SENIOR HOUSING COMPLEX. IT IS A GREAT ADDITION TO THE
VILLAGE AND A GREAT ASSET FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS.
WE WERE FACED WITH THE LOSS OF OUR ONLY DOCTOR, DR.
NESTOR. I WANT TO THANK BRAD AND HIS EFFORTS WITH
MIDDLETOWN HOSPITAL AND MOST IMPORTANTLY WITH DR.
NESTOR TO KEEP HER IN TOWN TO PROVIDE QUALITY MEDICAL
CARE FOR OUR CITIZENS.
BEFORE I COME TO MY MAIN PROPOSAL FOR THE YEAR I WANT
TO SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING:
1. A REVIEW OF ELECTRIC DEREGULATION BY THE UTILITY
COMMITTEE.
A. WE OWE IT TO OUR CITIZENS TO REDUCE
THEIR RATES IF POSSIBLE.2. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SMALL BUSINESS STARTUP
SEMINARS BY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
A. THIS IS THE BEST IDEA WE’VE HAD AND
NOT IMPLEMENTED.3. AN AGGRESSIVE PROGRAM OF JOB RECRUITMENT, JOB
RETENTION, AND LAND SALES.
4. TO AGAIN HOLD OUR COUNCIL GOAL SETTING SESSION.
WHILE WE WERE IN BOSTON FOR THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF
CITIES CONFERENCE, MUCH OF THE CONFERENCE WAS
DEVOTED TO CHILDREN’S ISSUE. I ATTENDED A NUMBER OF
SESSIONS WHICH ANALYZED VARIOUS PROGRAMS AROUND
THE COUNTRY THAT DEAL SUCCESSFULLY WITH OUR YOUTH.
WHILE MY FIRST REACTION WAS WHAT CAN WE DO AS A
SMALL TOWN IN OHIO, THE MORE I LISTENED, THE MORE I
BELIEVED WE MUST DO SOMETHING. ON THE PLANE RIDE
BACK, I HAPPEN TO READ AN ARTICLE BY US AIRWAYS
CHAIRMAN STEPHEN M. WOLFE THAT CEMENTED MY
INTENTION TO MAKE PROPOSALS TO COUNCIL FOR THE
COMING YEAR. I WOULD LIKE TO READ YOU THAT ARTICLE.
(READ ARTICLE).
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF TALKING WITH MR. WOLF ON THE
TELEPHONE TODAY AND HE WISHED US WELL IN OUR
ENDEAVOR TO HELP OUR CHILDREN. HE INDICATED IT IS
SOMETHING WE ALL NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I HAVE LOTS OF MAGICAL ANSWERS. AS
YOU KNOW ONE OF MY GREATEST INTERESTS HAS BEEN IN
CHILDREN. BESIDES MY OWN CHILDREN, I HAVE SPENT PART
OF MY 23 OF PRACTICING LAW REPRESENTING ABUSED,
NEGLECTED, AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN IN JUVENILE COURT. I
SPENT 5 YEARS AS A MAGISTRATE IN THE WARREN COUNTY
JUVENILE COURT. I RAN FOR WARREN COUNTY JUVENILE
JUDGE BECAUSE I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT OUR CHILDREN. I
INITIATED OUR JUVENILE DIVERSION PROGRAM BECAUSE I
SAW THE NEED TO ENGAGE TROUBLED YOUTH ON THE LOCAL
LEVEL. I HAVE TRIED 5 CAPITAL MURDER CASES, AND HAVE
BEGUN MY SIXTH THIS MONTH. I AM ALWAYS STRUCK BY THE
CULMINATION OF NEGATIVE FAMILY AND ENVIRONMENTAL
FACTORS THAT LEAD TO THE TRAGEDIES INVOLVED IN THOSE
CASES. IN REVIEWING THE RECORDS OF A DEFENDANT’S LIFE,
WHILE YOU PLEAD FOR THEIR LIFE, YOU HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO PINPOINT TIMES IN THEIR LIFE WHEN A
POSITIVE INFLUENCE FROM A FAMILY MEMBER, A CHURCH, OR
AN AGENCY COULD HAVE MADE THE DIFFERENCE. WHEN THE
HAND REACHES OUT FOR HELP THERE IS NO ONE THERE TO
TAKE IT.
I AM SURE AS YOU SIT HERE YOU ARE WONDERING WHAT WE
AS A VILLAGE HAVE TO DO WITH KIDS. I CAN ASSURE YOU
EVERY DAY OUR POLICE DEAL WITH MANY OF OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE WHO ARE AT RISK. WHAT WE CAN DO
IS SET THE AGENDA FOR THE DISCUSSION. DURING THE YEAR I
INTEND TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT DISCUSSION. WE CAN USE
OUR BULLY PULPIT. AS THE VICE-MAYOR IS FOND OF NOTING I
LIKE NOTHING BETTER THAN TALKING. I INTEND TO ENJOY
MYSELF A LOT THIS YEAR ABOUT THIS SUBJECT.
ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED IN BOSTON WAS THE POSITIVE
STEPS THAT CAN BE ACHIEVED THROUGH COLLABORATION.
THEREFORE I PROPOSE THAT DURING THE COMING YEAR WE
HOST A LEADERSHIP SUMMIT TO REVIEW WHAT WE CAN DO TO
MAKE OUR CHILDREN OUR FIRST PRIORITY. I WILL INVITE
REPRESENTATIVES FROM CHILDREN SERVICES, THE POLICE
AND SHERIFF, WARREN COUNTY JUVENILE COURT, FAMILY
FIRST COUNCIL, FAMILY SERVICES, OUR FAITH COMMUNITY,
CARLISLE SCHOOLS, MONTGOMERY COUNTY JOINT
VOCATIONAL SCHOOL, WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD,
LIONS CLUB, BOY AND GIRL SCOUTS, OUR SPORTS
ORGANIZATION, FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, THE CARLISLE
TEACHERS ASSOCIATION, WARREN COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH,
WARREN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT,
AND OUR YOUTH TO JOIN IN THIS LEADERSHIP SUMMIT.
IN BOSTON, I HEARD MANY INNOVATIVE IDEAS: POLICE
AND JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICERS PATROLLING TOGETHER;
PROVIDING MORE TRAINING TO OUR POLICE TO RECOGNIZE
AT RISK YOUTH; OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO PUBLICIZE THE
AVAILABILITY OF HEATH CARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES;
PROMOTION OF GUN SAFETY AND SAFE STORAGE OF WEAPONS;
EXPANSION OF PARK AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR OUR
CHILDREN. BRINGING TOGETHER THOSE WITH RESPONSIBILITY
FOR OUR YOUTH WILL ALLOW US TO BRAINSTORM TOGETHER.
I WILL HAVE SOME PROPOSALS OF MY OWN SUCH AS
EXPANDING THE JUVENILE DIVERSION PROGRAM TO SERVE
YOUTH IN THE AGE GROUP OF 18-21 MANY OF WHOM ARE
REPEATEDLY IN OUR MAYOR’S COURT. I WOULD LIKE TO
EXPLORE GRANTS FOR A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER, AND
SPECIALIZED TRAINING FOR OUR OFFICERS ON JUVENILE
ISSUES.
IT IS MY HOPE BY OPENING THIS DIALOGUE WE PAVE THE WAY
FOR A MORE EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY-ONE WHERE TODAYS
YOUTH BECOME TOMORROWS LEADERS AND NO ONE GETS
LEFT BEHIND.
AS MARION WRIGHT EDELMAN STATED ABOUT OUR EFFORTS
TO INVEST IN CHILDREN: "IF NOT NOW, WHEN?". I WOULD ADD
IF NOT CARLISLE, A FINE. STRONG, RELIGIOUS, AND FAMILY
ORIENTED COMMUNITY, THEN WHERE? IN DEALING WITH
JUVENILES FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS AS A LAWYER, MENTOR,
MAGISTRATE, AND PARENT, I KNOW THE MANY TROUBLED,
AND SICK YOUTH WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE NEED TO
TAKE THAT FIRST STEP.
,
EVERY YEAR HAS UNANTICIPATED EVENTS. I HOPE THIS YEARS
SURPRISES ARE PLEASANT ONES FOR US ALL.
THANK YOU.
