John Matuszak: Bexley seeks to nix texting and driving.

Exit the Information Superhighway before traveling our roadways.

That's the message Bexley City Councilman Jed Morison wants to send as he introduced an ordinance banning texting while driving in the suburb.

"It's a tool to say 'it's against the law to text and drive'" in Bexley, Morison explained at the July 28 council meeting. "If your hands are off the wheel and your eyes are off the road, it's a disaster waiting to happen."

A recent study published in the New York Times stated that drivers who are texting are 23 times more likely to have an accident - a greater risk that drinking and driving.


Morison wants the ordinance to be more educational than punitive, and he isn't looking to create a greater burden for police.

"My hope is that parents and family members and friends will be the chief educators and enforcers" of the ordinance, he said.

Some 14 states and several Ohio cities have entacted similar prohibitions, but Bexley is among the first central Ohio communities to take on the issue. Around 100,000 vehicles pass through Bexley every day.

City Attorney Lou Chodosh pointed out that Bexley already has a law against "driving while distracted," but that the texting ban would be more specific.

While some residents are questioning whether council should spend time on the ordinance, others are supportive, and the effort is drawing attention from outside the city.

Gahanna resident Sharon Montgomery spoke in favor of the move. Nine years ago her husband was killed and she was seriously injured in an accident involving a driver using a cell phone.

For 12 years, the state legislature has been trying to pass a bill banning cell phone use while driiving, without success, Montgomery said.

"So, if you want people to be safe in Bexley, you're going to have to take matters into your own hands," she said.

Morison acknowledged that this legislation could lead to a discussion of banning cell phone use while driving, but he wanted to get the texting law passed before getting hung up on that issue.

While teens do the majority of texting, Morison noted that the ordinance is not directed solely at them. In fact, since adults are less proficient at sending text messages, it's probably more dangerous when they text and drive, he added.

The ordinance will have additional readings when council returns from its summer recess in September, and the city is looking for public input on the issue before it votes, Morison said.

In other business, at council's service committee meeting, Councilman Rick Weber reported that residents could see an increase in their trash bills under a new contract with Rumpke Waste Haulers.

Bexley has been negotiating with the hauler it has used for seven years, along with a consortium of communities including Reynoldsburg, Gahanna and New Albany. The Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio has also been part of the talks.

Under the proposed contract, the cost for most residents would increase from $60 to $72 per quarter for 2010, Service Director Bill Harvey said. Costs for senior citizens would jump from $40 to $66 per quarter.

Harvey wants to revisit how the city extends the senior citizen discount.

Weber said that these costs would be fixed for the length of the five-year contract, but that Rumpke could increase charges to the city if fuel costs or recycling fees go up.

The trash contract has to be approved by Oct. 1. A service committee meeting with a Rumpke representative will be scheduled in September.

In other news, council:

Approved an ordinance ending a moratorium on hiring union-represented employees without council's approval, as long as the salaries are in the current budget. Council retains the ability to approve hiring of non-union employees.

Introduced an ordinance to purchase property adjacent to the city's community garden near Sheridan Avenue for $22,000. The purchase would provide easements to other city-owned lots and secure land for future development, Mayor John Brennan explained.

Introduced a resolution allowing the mayor to accept a $475,000 state grant for interior renovations at Jeffrey Mansion. Parks and Recreation Director Mike Price said the work would cover heating and cooling systems, floors and other repairs, and not expansion of mansion facilities.

Scheduled a meeting of the Land Use Master Plan Committee for Aug. 4 at 6:30 p.m. at Torah Ehmet synagogue on Main Street. The plan covers future development in areas including Livingston Avenue, Mayfield/Ferndale and North Cassady Avenue, according to Councilman Ben Kessler.



Announced that the Labor Day block party would be held at Jeffrey Park Sept. 6 from 3-6 p.m. with games and activities for kids, a yard sale, a Bexley Meadow Band concert and barbecue dinners for $5.


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John Matuszak reports: Groundbreaking for new Bexley police headquarters

Taking part in the groundbreaking for Bexley's new police station Nov. 17 are, from left, Chief Larry
Rinehart; former chief John Carruthers; City Councilman Jeff McClelland; Police Advisory Committee Chairman Lee Nathans; Council President Matt Lampke; Council members Robyn Jones, Jed Morison, Rick Weber, Mark Masser and Ben Kessler; and Mayor John Brennan.

The station on the city's north end is expected to be completed by December, 2009, replacing the 50-year-old building on Main Street.

Cost of construction will be $7.4 million.

Bexley Public Radio Foundation broadcasting as
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Bexley Public Radio Foundation broadcasting as WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM is exempt from federal taxes under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Donations are deductible from federal income taxes for individuals who itemize. Checks may identify the payee as Bexley Public Radio Foundation WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM.

Design is copyright 2008. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Foundation. Text and photo are copyright 2008. All rights reserved. John Matuszak.

John Matuszak reports: New police headquarters for Bexley police.

It's an all-points bulletin - Bexley will have a new police station.

On Oct. 14, after a decade of debate and indecision, Bexley city council voted 5-1 to approve $850,000 in additional spending for the police station project, paving the way for a groundbreaking in the next couple of weeks.

A meeting of the Board of Control - made up of the mayor, auditor an council president - will be held to award one of seven construction bids for the station.

Council President Matt Lampke cast the lone no vote, expressing concern over the future financing of the $7.4 million station with the city's increasingly tight budget. He re-stated his preference for having residents vote on a bond issue for the station.

Lampke did vote yes to allow the ordinance on the additional funding to go forward on its second reading. Councilman Mark Masser was absent, and six votes were needed to suspend the third and final reading.

Councilwoman Robyn Jones commented that the project has had more than enough discussion and was overdue for a final vote.

The 20,000 square-foot station, replacing a 55-year-old building about one-quarter of that size, is slated to be built on property purchased earlier this year on Delmar Avenue on the city's north end.

Councilman Ben Kessler, who was instrumental in shifting the focus of the project to the Delmar site as a cost-saving measure, pointed out that the current station is "literally falling down" and needs to be replaced.

Kessler added that, regardless of what happens with the station, the city is going to have to make drastic changes in its finances in the coming year.

Mayor John Brennan is convening a citizens task force to study the city's revenue and expenditures, and he expects to have recommendations by next April or May. Those recommendations could include a tax increase request on the ballot.

To get the city through it current budget crunch, council could also enact a temporary reduced income tax credit without a vote of the residents, according to Brennan.

The current budget picture has Bexley's end of the year balance down to $200,000 by the end of 2009.

Mayor Brennan told council he has been able to squeeze spending a little bit more, but he can't get to the $1 million balance Kessler had asked for.

Budget discussions will continue at a finance committee meeting on Tuesday, Oct, 21 at 6 p.m. in city council chambers.

In other business, city council voted 5-1 to defeat a proposed restriction on picketing in front of a specific residence.

City attorney Lou Chodosh determined that the law would be unconstitutional and unenforceable.

The ordinance was drafted after residents complained about protesters outside the home of a Bexley doctor who performs abortions.

Chodosh predicted long, expensive legal challenges on First Amendment grounds if the ordinance passed. And he added that it wouldn't keep picketers from marching up and down the street.

He also pointed out that the city already has at least 12 ordinances on the books to handle protesters who get out of hand.

"Leaving this alone is the best course of action we can take. We can protect our citizens without it," Chodosh said.

Again, Lampke cast the lone vote in favor of the ordinance, arguing that police officers culd be trained to enforce the law.

The measure drew a large crowd during debate last month, before i as tabled for further study. No residents spoke or or against the ordinance at last night's meeting.

An America in Bloom award was presented by ground maintenance supervisor Mark Moore. Bexley received a first-place award among 32 cities entered nationwide for landscaping, and a second-place awardamong six cities with populations between 10,000 and 15,000.

Moore said Bexley needs to mount a large-scale volunteer effort to earn a first-place mention next year.

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Bexley Public Radio Foundation broadcasting as
WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM, Local Power Radio
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Bexley Public Radio Foundation broadcasting as WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM is exempt from federal taxes under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Donations are deductible from federal income taxes for individuals who itemize. Checks may identify the payee as Bexley Public Radio Foundation WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM.

Design is copyright 2008. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Foundation. Text is copyright 2008. All rights reserved. John Matuszak.

John Matuszak reports: Bexley council wrestles with budget, police bids

Is the starting gun ready to fire on construction of a new Bexley police station?

And could a tax increase request be on the horizon?

On the police station, it's "Ready - aim - wait."

As it moved achingly close to approving a bid on the long-anticipated station, council members last night opted to wait at least one more week before giving the green light to the $7.6 million project.

In the meantime, representatives are agonizing over next year's budget and appear anxious about whether they can even afford to build the new station.

At the Tuesday finance committee meeting, council members Rick Weber and Mark Masser argued that the public should be given one more chance to speak out about such a large expenditure - even though the public has been mostly mute over the 10 years the project has been debated.

On the table is an ordinance that would okay spending an additional $850,000 on the construction of the station. The ordinance received its first reading at a special council meeting after the finance committee discussion.

It is expected to have a second reading and a possible vote at the October 14 meeting.

The added expenditure became necessary when the first round of bids came in $1 million over the architect's original estimate, which has since been revised upward.

In the second round of bidding, Thomas and Marker Construction came in with the lowest offer of seven companies with a bid of $5,424,400.

Finance Director Beecher Hale has included the almost $500,000 in debt payments on the financing of the full project in next year's budget.

That budget estimates $11.5 million in spending through 2009, and $9.2 million in revenue, for a budget deficit of $1.6 million.

That scenario would deplete the city's fund balance, taking it from this year's $2.1 million to a little over $400,000 by the end of next year.

The city also has a $1 million rainy day fund for emergencies.

Hale blamed the persistent spending gap on tax revenues that have remained flat over the last several years, coupled with increasing labor, health care and other costs.

He pointed out that Mayor John Brennan and members of the administration have reduced spending requests for 2009 by a little over $600,000 in comparison to the current budget.

That might not be enough, some council members said.

Councilman Ben Kessler suggested that the administration should continue to tighten its belt until the projected fund balance for next year is at $1 million.

Mayor Brennan responded that he might be able to squeeze the budget a little more and get the year-end balance close to $500,000, but doubted the city could reach the $1 million mark.

"I think I've skinned the cat pretty well," Brennan said.

Councilman Weber interjected that the city could improve its bottom line by having residents vote on a tax issue to pay for the police station.

Councilwoman Robyn Jones floated the idea of requiring a balanced budget, but Brennan said that would be a mistake and would require laying off employees, including police officers.

Councilman Jed Morison suggested revisiting the budget in six months, but Kessler is worried that the city doesn't have six months before the global financial crisis worsens.

The budget picture ultimately affects large projects such as the police station, and the current fiscal crisis has officials questioning whether this is the best time to borrow.

Part of Brennan's plan to improve the city's financial standing is to convene a task force of citizens who would study the budget situation and make recommendations on cutting spending and boosting revenue. Those interested can get more information on the city's web site.

This could include a tax increase request next year. Brennan said he would prefer to ask for the increase before the school district places an issue on the ballot in 2010.

Councilman Masser expressed his approval of having a citizens' task force and added that the city needs to find a way to increase its revenue. Masser has been an advocate of a "tax equalization" plan that would bring the income tax rate paid by people who work in Bexley with residents who work outside the city.

WCRX-LP Editorial Collective
Bexley Public Radio Foundation broadcasting as
WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM, Local Power Radio
2700 E. Main St., Suite 208
Columbus, OH 43209
Voice (614) 235 2929
Fax (614) 235 3008
Email wcrxlp@yahoo.com
Blog http://agentofcurrency.blogspot.com

Bexley Public Radio Foundation broadcasting as WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM is exempt from federal taxes under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Donations are deductible from federal income taxes for individuals who itemize. Checks may identify the payee as Bexley Public Radio Foundation WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM.

Design is copyright 2008. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Foundation. Text is copyright 2008. All rights reserved. John Matuszak.