The Implosion in Lorain is Unfortunate for Residents. Libertarians Will Rescue the City

A recent article in Lorain's local newspaper details the work ahead for Early and Stipe, Libertarians for City Council.

LORAIN *— After 14 months of gathering nearly every Monday to conduct the city's business, some of the 11 members of Lorain City Council complain the body is divided. Others say communication is lacking. Councilman Greg Holcomb, D-6, thinks City Council is divided in part
because newer members of council want to operate with more transparency, while those on council longer prefer to do more behind the scenes. "I think what you're seeing is exactly what the people asked for, (which) is they want to see a change in how our city government is run,"
he said. He thinks some members of council want to change things right away, and others are more inclined to run the city like they have been in the past.

The other issue, he said, is that, "The communication we have as a body is awful." He admits he doesn't call all the members of council all the time, but that he does talk to other members outside of the meetings. Councilwoman Melanie Szabo, I-1, agrees that "there's a lack of communication," she said.

"That starts from the top down, mayor's office down to us, there's a lack of communication," she said. She doesn't know why that is, she added. "There's certain things that we all want to accomplish, but I think the lack of communication creates the divide," she said.

Councilman Craig Snodgrass, D-8, said there has been a lot of turnover on City Council in recent elections, and "anytime you get change, you're going to get some differences of perspectives."

Some of the newer council members and some of the more tenured council members may have different ideas on how things should be done, but that's a good thing, he said. He thinks, however, that voters have said they don't think the city can continue down the same path, and that's why there has been so much turnover.

Snodgrass agreed there is room for improvement in council's communication, and suggested going on a retreat to get ideas for the next few years could help open the lines of communication. Councilman Eddie Edwards, D-5, said he thinks everyone on council has their own opinions. He does think, however, there could be a better line of communication between council and the mayor. That line will have to open up if the city wants to move things forward. Council members also have to talk to each other, he said. If not, the same results will keep happening.

"We've got to communicate," he said. "We've got to work together." Councilman Tim Howard, D-3, said he doesn't think there's a division on council, but rather there are different people coming up with different ideas on how to do things. He also agreed communication could always be
improved, much as in any organization or business.

Councilman Bret Schuster, D-4, said he's not aware of any active dissension on council, but he also would not be surprised by it. "As a whole, council really doesn't work that well together," he said. "I wouldn't call it a serious matter, but I would like to be able to think that sometimes we could sit down and work better together as a group." Unlike some of his colleagues, however, he thinks communication, for the most part, is open. He acknowledged there is always room to improve. Council woman Anne Molnar, D-at-large, said she doesn't know why there's some dissension on council, and she hasn't felt it during her other terms on council. She thinks there is a "wall" between the mayor and City Council.

"I don't like that wall," she said. Communication can be improved, she said, adding she is comfortable talking to many of her colleagues. All the council members, however,
come to the table with ideas.

"I'd like to see more harmony on council," Molnar said. Councilman Dan Given, D-at-large, said council members are from different age groups and have different educational and professional
experiences.

"Realistically, council should not be one unified voice," he said. He added he believes in debate and that it is good. "I don't think council is divided such that it can't work together,"
Given said.

Council members walk "a fine line" regarding communication because of the Sunshine Law, Given said. Discussions should be done in a public forum, he added.

Given acknowledged council is frustrated because money is tight and they have to make ecisions that affect people's livelihoods. Council members Mitchell Fallis, D-at-large, Dennis Flores, D-2, and Myroslaw Silecky, D-7, could not be reached for comment."