|
“I’m extremely disappointed by the directors,” said the
mayor, rapidly warming up to the new subject … to the point
of overheating, in fact.
The mayor was referring to a recently released report that
the accumulated overtime for the period between January 1
and March 31, 2008 totaled $1.3 million and may well exceed
the budgeted overtime amount of $4.37 million for the year.
Singling out the departments of public service, fire and
police for their excesses, Finkbeiner said that his
directors’ performance in controlling overtime was “not just
disappointing it is unprofessional.”
He vowed to make sure that changes in overtime performance
would follow. “They will correct their situations,” he said.
“It is unconscionable. Some directors are still doing
business like it’s the good old days when there was always a
surplus.”
As if on cue, the mayor was then asked about the Toledo
Steamplant, a project under the guidance of developers Jimmy
Jackson and David Ball. Again, the mayor was well prepared
with an answer.
“The City of Toledo finds the lack of production
unacceptable. We have a very succinct resolution – either
step up and do the job or turn the property back to the City
of Toledo or a developer waiting in the wings,” said
Finkbeiner.
Ball and Jackson won the contract to develop the Steamplant
during the Mayor Jack Ford administration and have proposed
a project of 111 market rate housing units, a combination of
townhouses and apartments. The project was stalled last year
when the pair decided to apply for state historical tax
credits in order to defray the unexpected costs of shoring
up the walls of the building to match the vision they have
of installing windows and balconies.
The City of Toledo filed suit against the developers last
summer in order to speed them along.
“Mr. Ball and Jackson are thwarting progress on our water
front,” said Finkbeiner brushing off a question about the
housing market. “[Larry] Dillon is moving forward. There
will be 200 housing units going up this year,” he said in
reference to the fact that the developer of the Marina
District project has promised to break ground shortly. |
