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January 6, 2011

Council approves 2011 appropriations McGregor, McAlister vote against ordinance that shows $585,847 deficit By MARLA K. KUHLMAN ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Gahanna City Council began its new year Jan. 3 by approving the 2011 budget appropriations without consensus; however, all members pledged financial prudence for the future. The budget was approved 4-2, with Beryl Anderson, Shane Ewald, Brian Larick and David Samuel voting yes and John McAlister and Nancy McGregor

dissenting. The administration had proposed — and council approved — using money that each city department had identified as cost-saving measures, totaling $726,000, that were returned to the general fund to balance the appropriations. According to finance director Angel Mumma, the city’s 2011 general fund showed a deficit of $585,847, with $22,419,142 in revenue and $23,004,989 in expenses.

McGregor voted against the appropriations ordinance, saying it still has a structural deficit with the city spending more than its income. “When Gahanna citizens have their incomes cut, they have to cut expenses,” she said. “I think Gahanna should lead the way and show we can cut our own expenses.” McAlister said the only place he sees to cut is salary and benefits. “I’m for that, but our hands are tied on

the largest part,” he said. “We have contracts out of our control. I will vote no and keep looking at it.” Ewald said he doesn’t disagree with his colleagues who voted no. “I’m not willing to shut the government down to make a political point,” he said. “I appreciate the position of my peers. The mayor and directors will continue discussing it throughout the year. … Maybe some state law will change in June that would have an impact mid-year.”

GJEF to issue $35,000 in minigrants

See COUNCIL, page A2

Kneeland leaves council to take city IT position By MARLA K. KUHLMAN ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Longtime Gahanna City Council member Tom Kneeland has resigned his at-large council seat to accept the city’s position of information-technology (IT) director beginning Jan. 10. His base salary will be $82,162, according to human-resources director Kristen Treadway, who said that salary is the market rate for that particular position. The total annual cost for his position, including health, dental, vision, life and Medicare insurance and retirement and workers’compensation, will be about $116,557. Kneeland, who served as Tom Kneeland 2010 council president, called the move a “bittersweet” change in his life. “I’m at a point where legislatively I accomplished the goals I set for myself over almost 18 years,” he said. “This was an obvious transition to me to realize a final goal in helping the IT department move to the next level.” Kneeland began his political career in 1992 as Ward 1 council representative until 2001. After five terms as a Ward 1 council member, he took a short absence to finalize retirement from then SBC, the local telephone company, where he

By MARLA K. KUHLMAN ThisWeek Community Newspapers

The Gahanna-Jefferson Education Foundation recently funded about $35,000 in mini-grants, and it’s looking to the 2011 “Celebration of Excellence” to fill more requests. Dale Foor, foundation president/G-J schools community-services coordinator, said the grants would support a wide range of projects to benefit district programs. Blacklick Elementary School will receive $2,500 for 12 digital cameras and $2,500 for hands-on science activities. Chapelfield will receive $300 each for health snacks for students in after-school intervention programs, DVDs for positive-behavior intervention support plans and fitness- and physical-education programs, $1,407 for “smart” response clickers, $559 for Project Biz participation and $1,385 for science small group. Goshen Lane will get $300 each for fifth-grade camp, materials to assist at-risk students, math “camp in” supplies and math intervention supplies, $2,100 for a natureclassroom camp trip and $1,385 for science small groups. Jefferson will receive $300 for after-school reading programs, $278 for digital books for at-risk students, $500 for an iPad and $2,500 for mp3 players with video recorders.

Samuel agreed that the 2011 appropriations involve a “Band-Aid” approach but that council would continue to scrutinize finances. “We have a good group working for Gahanna,” he said. “Unions, you need to step forward and help us out.” Samuel said council would continue discussions with the citizens financial advisory committee.

See KNEELAND, page A2

Shull-Headley

Cage Classic champions

By Tim Norman/ThisWeek

Reyna Montgomery (32) of the Gahanna Lincoln High School girls basketball team vies for a rebound with New Albany’s Elyse Naddaff during the host Lions’ 58-44 victory in the final of the Gahanna Cage Classic on Thursday, Dec. 30. See Sports, page B1.

Township gets $500,000 for curve fix By MIRIAM L. SEGALOFF ThisWeek Community Newspapers

See GJEF GRANTS, page A2

Get Moving Team

Walking group started to help residents get fit By MARLA K. KUHLMAN ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Gahanna residents are invited to join a walking group called the Get Moving Team (GMT) every Saturday morning at Creekside. The GMT meets throughout the year and trains for such walking events as the Columbus half marathon. GMT leader Liz Plott plans to walk a half marathon on the Great Wall of China in May. “I enjoy walking marathons,” Plott said. “I love walking and have walked 70-plus marathons or half marathons since 1995.” Gahanna parks-rec superintendent Mike Musser said Plott, 60, is responsible for more weight loss in the community than anyone he knows.

“She has See related story, helped a lot of page A3 people reach personal goals,” he said. Plott said a key to reaching personal health objectives is to establish realistic goals. In addition, she said, people need to eat healthful foods. “You can occasionally have something you want that is not the healthiest thing See WALKING, page A2 By Tim Norman/ThisWeek

Gahanna Get Moving Team members (from left) Liz Plott, Beth Watkins, Cindy Turvy and Kim Ebright walk along a path near Creekside on New Year’s Day.