Let's do an approval rating survey like they do for national politicians such as President Bush. Surace is nearly seven months into his second term of office. Last November there was all kinds of optimistic talk about what to look forward to in our fair village. There was also doom & gloom talk when Dave Lloyd narrowly lost to the incumbent mayor. Let's see how you're feeling about how the mayor's doing so far.
The rules are simple. This just applies to the mayor. Keep it clean. I won't allow any profanity or just outright hateful blasts against the man. I'm looking for a yea or nea vote and some logical comments on what you think is wrong with the administration and what can be done to improve things. Comments would also be appreciated on what you think you would like to see done with the funds available in the village coffers. Also, to be fair, I would like to hear opinions for the positive side. In other words let's hear about what you like or dislike.
I'll run the survey for one week or until Saturday evening before I make any additional comments. Comments that I find acceptable will be approved for publishing as we go along. After Saturday evening I'll reject any additional comments.
Ok, that being said, let's hear it...
ole nib
24 comments:
Nib:
This is a great idea. I was a Mayor supporter, but I am not happy with his performance since re-elected. I feel like he is just collecting his check and passing the time. I don't see any of the lofty promises if re-elected coming to fruition. I wish we could have better choices next time around. I know we could move forward with the right leadership. It just seems that no one with the right motives and qualifications ever runs. Thanks for the opportunity.
Ole Nib: Now you are talking! You have hit on something here that you, and I, believe would benefit the “Ville”. Great!!! Well here are a few suggestions. These are not in the negative because in my opinion we have been there long enough.
Current Condition (or at least it appears)
It appears the “Ville” is just trying to stay ahead of any/all problems as they may occur. No one
can tread water for any length of time before they start taking on some water. If left to continue
they will eventually drown.
The “Ville” should act as if it was a business and as we all know any successful business has a
marketing plan.
(1) All businesses start with a major plan.
(a) The “Ville” should have a plan written that would be flexible. The plan would have the
project identified, prioritized in order of importance and offers the biggest bang for the buck,
costs, funding source, time desired to begin and completed, what would be the benefit(s) and any
other things deemed importance.
(b) The plan should be drafted by anyone interested in participating (maybe calling themselves
The Drafting Committee). Using what we already have, maybe the current committees already in
place would be a good start.
(c) The plan should be posted for any and all residents for their comments/suggestions. Having
everyone on board will make any plan easier to accomplish.
(d) After refining, the plan should be submitted to Council for their approval. It has to be made clear the plan is not set in stone and other unforeseen situations could occur.
Although I believe the varied committees of the “Ville” are doing a great job, I believe for any one of them to succeed they must be a part of a larger plan. For example: The Floodwall…from my understanding aside from being for the benefit of the “Ville” residents I have heard it would attract visitors. However, it is apparent without other attractions, lodging, eateries, etc the Wall by itself will not do the trick.
(2) The residents should demand the Council remove the spending authority from the Mayor. The “Ville” is not so large that in the event of any emergency a quorum could be found.
(3) Prior to any project…. ex: Wall Wheelchair Pad, a responsible person should be required to understand and sign off on all aspects of the project.
I think there is a lot of remorse from a lot of people who voted for Surace. He had a chance to do some great things for this village but he has alienated most of the people that would have jumped on board with him. I believe that he did use other people's ideas and ran mostly on what other people did. I just don't know anyone any more who likes or supports him. I am very sorry that I voted for him. Live and learn baby, live and learn. On a scale of 10 he might have a 3.
Mama always told me that "ifin you caint say sumfin' nice 'bout somebody, keep yo mouf shut". So, with this advice, I will defer comment on this one.
Nib,
The most disappointing aspect of the mayor and his administration at this time is their utter failure to effectively and aggressively enforce Wellsville's dilapidated building and high grass/excessive weeds ordinances. Look around you. The appearance of these properties affects the quality of life of all of us.
The owners of these shameful sites need brought into court and hit hard in the pocketbook. Additionally, the solicitor should be directed to seek demolition orders at the owner's expense, even if the cost has to be collected through a tax assessment.
All talk, no action.
I think the wiz is correct that the wall needs to be part of a bigger plan but that is not how the administration thinks or views things. They do not even want to take care of it down there so they sure can not think about something as "exotic" as it being part of a larger picture. This goes for other projects in town also. Some of the folks on these committees would or could be city planners. We need the people with vision and progressive ideas to move the town forward. This is not what we have. Surace barely won and that was partly due to exploiting other people's ideas as his own. Well, where is his plan? Where are his ideas? He has not even tried to bring people together after that bloody election. That should have been the first thing on his agenda.
Surace has mistreated several of the people who supported him in the election and has disrespected their efforts and efforts of the committees working to better the village.
Nib, Do you remember "elmo" & the chicken dance? (2003)?
Bring people together. You have to be kinding. He probably , and I don;t mean this to mean, but I am sure he didnt even think of it.
I dont think the Mayor is the brightest bulb in the box. I really feel, that he is doing this job to the best of his ability. I truly mean this. Not happy is right, maybe we will have better choices next time around, but it could be a really long term with nothing being done.
Don’t want to be harsh.... when you said it could be a long term with nothing being done, I sure hope you are wrong. As a matter of fact, I would bet the varied committees will continue as best they can on individual basics. Projects will be created and completed but, the credit will always be taken by the powers to be. One problem continues to remain, with no master plan to assist those who want to do right by the ville, their efforts will be hit and miss and not benefit the ville as a whole. Which is sad.
Maybe he will do all of us a favor and quit. He knows noboby supports or trusts him. It will be devistating and very sad if he is Mayor for 3 more years. The next Mayor will spend all of his or her time correcting his mistakes, and mending all the fences he has broken. Between Surace and Saracco, there has not been a true statement spoken yet. Four votes, damn, four votes, I would be ashamed.
Go to the poor excuse post, read the comments, it says it all.
First, i want to say that I to feel that Saint Francis got a very raw deal.They do a lot for our village and were treated very badly. However, former surace and lloyd supporters need to find a common ground and work together to get the person we want in office. I think we all have some of the same desires and all are sick of how this village looks. There are no excuses for this village to look like crap year after year after year. We need to form a coalition of people who want real change. We need to forget the petty fighting with each other and focus on a candidate who is able to bring real change and now is the time to begin that plan. We can bring his town back from the brink. With baard knocking on the door, what are the administration's plans? Small business loans should be a priority, housing for workers, getting rid of these abandoned buildings or utilizing them in a resourceful and creative way. It can be done and has been done in other towns. Codes enforced so people have to keep their property up to code and that would get rid of a lot of the dead-beats that live here. That is all.
I cant believe it, I finally agree with the Wiz and he is not being obnoxious.
the mayor should count his blessing with the people that have supported him. Thank God for the people who have the vision and heart to improve and perserve the history of Wellsville. Shame on the mayor.....He'll never get his cudos with the way he is acting.
Overrover, you are right. We need to get a REAL CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR. Not another PHONY LOSER LIKE SURACE. We need an HONEST MAN OR WOMEN to run. This town is a damn joke and getting worse day by day. Now is the time to get someone in mind. At least we could have something to look forward to. I have heard some names that might be interested. One is very well liked and a pretty good guy. The rest are like Surace a DAMN JOKE. Maybe we will get a good Mayor next time, if not turn out the lights.
I like the idea of people coming together to support someone and recruit someone who would be a good Mayor. It the people in the Ville support someone, the county parties would have a hard time giving us more losers. I am very interested in who might be interested that could be persuaded and assurred of support. I guess the citizens of the Ville need to take matters into their own hands, and that starts with hand picking a Mayor and council. Lets do it.
anonymous: yes, we absolutely need someone new. Not the same old recycled people or nothing will ever change. Dispointed Lloyd people and disapointed surace people should join forces. Now, i do think that someone should say something positive about the mayor. lets face it, he's not all bad, he has some good qualities.for example, his hair always looks nice when he gets his picture taken.
ARE THEY EVER GOING TO MAKE THE
WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE TO HANDICAPPED PEOPLE?
All the fighting between the two candidates groups only benefits the politicians. Lets benefit ourselves for a change and find someone we all can support. Anyone have a plan?
Oppinions about Joe Soldano? He seems like he tries to be fair enough to focus on what's best for the village as a whole.
Yeah, I think we should start, by naming people on here, that we think could be a good mayoral candidate. Lets not bash them, if we dont agree. Lets just start by naming some people. Maybe get a bead on a few that people may agree on. If we dont like someone, lets not pile on them. They are not running, we are just tossisng names around to see if anyone floats. I dont care what the party affiliaton is, they just need to have vision and want to work on the things we would like to see done. Penny Traina would be great but has bigger fish to fry, but I would start with asking her if she has any ideas on such person. Also, maybe it should be someone younger, with more energy and vision that previous Mayors. Lets start thinkin.
Ok, this one is now closed. As I said when I posted this one I would let it go until Saturday evening.
As you can see from the comments submitted the only complimentary thing said about the mayor is that he has nice hair. Even former "Suracers" declined to comment.
Overall the need for unity between the administration, council, other village officials, volunteers and the citizens is very much called for. Even the Wiz gave us some very sensible thoughts to ponder. Cooperation is definitely needed to get things done and so far in this term we haven't seen much effort put forth to accomplish anything. Past differences need to be set aside and forgotten so we can move forward as a community.
There's food for thought for all of us to consider. Thanks to all that responded.
ole nib
Just a footnote: All comments submitted for this article was posted. Surprisingly I didn't have to reject any of them until today. There were two that got rejected simply because they missed the deadline I set. Sorry folks. Your comments were good and truly appreciated but...
ole nib
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