City Manager Tim Riordan said he is trying to rally volunteers willing to mow the vacant lots that he said are left neglected by “deadbeat owners.” Mayor Gary Leitzell said it’s time for residents to get involved in cleaning up their neighborhoods and volunteer to mow.
Overgrown, trash-filled lawns were at the center of numerous complaints Riordan heard last summer during his “listening tour” to gauge reaction to an income tax increase. Some suggested the city purchase lawn mowers for citizens to use and said they would mow lawns for free.
The City Commission is expected to hear a proposal from city staff next week about a volunteer program the city plans to implement that does not include rewards or incentives.
The city has struggled to keep the weeds down at the vacant lots because of budget cuts that have trimmed nearly 700 positions since 2001.
In other Commission business:
• Commissioners unanimously approved the city’s contract with the firefighters union. The union agreed to about $1 million in wage and health care concessions, but firefighters will still receive step raises.
The agreement comes as Senate Bill 5, which would restrict collective bargaining for public unions, was passed by the state Senate on Wednesday night and sent to Gov. John Kasich for his signature.
The city now has all three of its major unions — police, fire and public service — under contract, with the police contract expiring first at the end of this year. The fire contract is good through May 2012.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2494 or lsullivan@DaytonDailyNews.com.
About the Author