City of Akron Leaf Pickup Schedule

AKRON SETS LEAF PICKUP SCHEDULE
COST CUTTING REDUCES TO ONE TRIP THIS YEAR

The City of Akron Street Cleaning Division will continue to provide leaf removal service to the citizens of Akron despite changes in the city’s economic climate.  The city has made changes to the program to reduce costs while still maintaining a high level of service.

The most obvious change will be that only one round of leaf pickup will be offered.  With only one round, crews plan to begin collections in the first week of November depending on when the majority of leaves actually fall.

Public Works Manager Paul Barnett said today, “This will result in greater efficiency for our crews and reduce the number of call backs for ‘missed leaves.’  We realize that we may need to return to the wards that are at the beginning of our schedule because their leaves may not all be down.  Another change is that the amount of overtime hours will be reduced by more than 30%.”

Additionally, residents may use both of their annual FREE bulk pickups (if not already used) for bagged leaves.  Please call the 3-1-1 call center to arrange pickup at any time during the program regardless of ward.  According to Barnett, these changes have been recommended by a task force of management and union members working jointly towards improving operation and cutting costs.

At www.ci.akron.oh.us, the City of Akron’s web site, the city will be keep providing up-to-date information on the status of the program.  Barnett says he expects to have the first four wards on the schedule completed by mid-November, the next three wards by the end of the month, and the final three by the second week of December.

He added, “The further we get into December, we increase the chance of snow delaying or slowing our progress.  Regardless, we will continue with the pickup as weather allows.  As in the past, we will post signs at intersections in the wards prior to pickup dates.”

The following is the anticipated schedule.  Note that this is only a target at this point.  It will change due to when leaves drop and as weather requires.  The City of Akron will keep citizens informed as we modify our schedule.

Ward        Date To – From

3        Nov 2 – Nov 3

4        Nov 4 – Nov 6

5        Nov 7 – Nov 9

7        Nov 10 – Nov 13

1        Nov 14 – Nov 18

8        Nov 19 – Nov 25

10        Nov 28 – Dec 1

6        Dec 2 – Dec 4

9        Dec 5 – Dec 8

2        Dec 9 – Dec 10

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City clarifies deficit, savings for Council

City clarifies deficit, savings for Council

Akron City Council members received a clearer picture of where the city stands financially during a special caucus held Monday afternoon.

Akron Finance Director Diane Miller-Dawson reported that after a variety of cost-saving measures enacted through September, the city has reduced its overall $10 to $12 million budget deficit, and further savings are expected to produce a balanced budget by year’s end.

“We held the caucus so that all Council members can be on the same page and understand what was done to cut expenses through September,” said Council’s Budget and Finance Committee Chair Tina Merlitti (W-7). “We have three more months to go. If the trend keeps like it is, we think we’re on track to break even and balance the budget.”

Read the complete article on the Council web site.

Recent endorsements

Thank you to the Tri-County Labor Council and Communication Workers of America for their endorsements of my 2009 re-election.

I appreciate your support!

Council scrutinizing city’s paid association memberships

Council scrutinizing city’s paid association memberships

Vote delayed pending review of necessity and benefit of affiliations

Akron City Council is delaying approval on what was a routine request by the city’s Director of Finance to pay $400,000 in annual fees to 15 organizations, associations and agencies.

Council’s Budget and Finance Committee Chair Tina Merlitti (W-7) said some memberships with certain government agencies like the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency are mandatory, but because of the city’s strained budget, renewing other affiliations calls for some scrutiny.

The city spends the most on mandatory license fees related to wastewater treatment activities. The highest expenditure in this category is a $75,000 annual payment to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for annual discharge and sewer sludge treatment.

“The city is routinely assessed mandatory license fees and charges by the Ohio EPA and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources,” Merlitti said. “Our purpose is to take a close look at other affiliations.

“We get quite a benefit from being members of some of the national organizations like the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities,” said Merlitti, who with Ward 4 Councilwoman Renee Greene and Ward 10 Councilwoman Kelli Crawford belong to NLC’s Women in Municipal Government constituency group.

“NLC allows us to share best practices with other communities and provides the best training you can get to be a Council member, but none of us is going to the annual NLC conference this year because we’ve cut our travel budget.”

The $12,242 membership with the National League of Cities also is a tremendous benefit to Akron and Council, but it also will be reviewed, she said.

Even though the city’s previously projected $12 million deficit has been reduced to closer to $7 to $8 million, Merlitti said more sacrifices must be made. Cutting back on associations is one option. “It’s still very little to sacrifice in these times when city employees face job losses and mandatory furloughs.”

Council also will take time to review more specific details on how proposed furlough days will impact city employees’ paid holidays and vacations.

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