Mayor England's 1st Semester Report Card

I’ll be the first to admit that I along with many others are critical of city government for both its actions and inactions. The events of recent years have made some of us nearly maniacal about it. However most of us strive to be fair and long for those instances when we can pat even some of our officials on the back with a “Well Done!” This is one of those times.

My first real job as a lad was working for a concrete flat work contractor who was meticulous about his work. As such he expected everyone on his crew to follow suit.

I being the youngest and physically smallest of his employees meant I had to put forth extra effort to learn the job skills and keep up with the old hands. Me being me, I was determined to do just that.

That first summer dragged on and by the time school started I felt like I’d carried my own reasonably well. My employer however had said nary a word about my progress either good or bad.

One day at lunch break I broached the subject with him and his reply was “If you’re doing the job correctly, I have no need to tell you so. If you’re not, rest assured you’ll know it!”

Being a somewhat sensitive type dealing with my teenage self esteem demons, that response didn’t set well with me and I vowed then & there to give credit where credit was due.

So now we come to just past the six month anniversary of this administration to say “Happy Half Birthday One & All!” and to review their report card.

During the conversation at this past Monday’s pre-council workshop, Deputy Mayor Malysz presented the Council members with reports concerning code enforcement and building & zoning departments work for the first six months of 2008.

Here are the highlights of those efforts.

From January 2 thru July 30 our Code Enforcement Officer has acted upon 81 complaints. Of those, 74 have been resolved completely. Two have been referred to the Building Commission for further action and 5 are ongoing and being monitored for compliance. These last 5 dates from May 27th to June 18th. Well done Pam, keep up the good work!

The Building Commission has so far this year authorized the demolition of 19 unsafe, abandoned buildings in our fair city. Of those 15 have been completed and the remaining 4 are scheduled to be razed in the near future.

For 16 of them the city has recouped the costs of doing so from the property owners. That results in the the most of the original appropriation dollars for demolition remaining in tact thus negating the need to come before the Council for more. Sounds like good stewardship to me.

In addition our Building Commissioner is in the process of getting the legal clearance for disposing of 6 more dangerous structures. Kudo's Ron, carry on!

From October 2007 thru July 2008 the Zoning & Planning office along with the Building Commissioner has dealt with 21 violations. Eight of those have been resolved and closed. Eight more are being monitored for compliance as per agreements reached with the property owners, one is pending follow-up, and four are pending lawsuits against the owners.

In addition there are three other legal actions pending involving the New Albany City Plan Commission versus code violators that have thus far refused to comply.

So it would appear that efforts are being made with the tools they currently have available.

All in all I’d have to give Mayor England & staff a hats off for their efforts and encourage them all to continue moving forward. It appears to me we’re making progress albeit unhailed.

This brings me to question why that is. Why do we the public have to find out about these forward advances quite by accident? Why do we continually have to dig through the rubble to find that acorn?

Why don’t our leaders take the lead & solicit our support by letting us in on the secret? Why isn’t the ever present press reporting these actions?

Lots of questions but I’m not hearing any answers. Oh that’s right, it’s after hours isn’t it.

Now back to my normal cantankerous self!

To any Council Members who may stumble upon this essay. Do not read into this that no further action is required. Yes there apparently is code enforcement going on but it is just scratching the surface.

We still need more stringent legislation on the books to deal with the roots of our housing woes. We still need more staff and more will to pursue and prosecute the chronic violators of those codes.

But fear not. Keep the conversation going, step up to the plate & do your job and you too can look forward to a “Well done!”