TERM: 2 years ward council memberSALARY: $5000RESPONSIBILITIES: Legislative authority to enact ordinance or resolutions, to pass an annual budget, create the functions of all nonelective city offices, boards and commissions, provide for non-classified employees with the exception only of the offices of the finance director, city attorney and municipal administrator, and determine the terms, method of selection, duties, bonds and compensation relating thereto. Confirm or reject appointments made by the mayor to all boards and commissions and the heads of the following offices: the municipal administrator, the finance director, and the city attorney and the heads of such offices or departments created by action of council or under the laws of Ohio.
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Campaign Phone Number
419-352-6644
Education
Ph.D. in Public Policy & Management (Ohio State), M.A., M.S., B.S. (all BGSU)
Occupation
Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of Findlay
Qualifications
16th year as Fourth Ward Council Member (1984-1991, 2018-present, parts of four decades), former Pres. Pro Tem, former Acting Mayor; 48 years in BG.
As elected representatives, the basic responsibilities are: responsiveness to BG residents, individual safety, and city fiscal responsibility (including prudent spending and proper economic development). These responsibilities must be met. With this in mind, my top three priorities are: (1) Street/sidewalk repair, (2) Sustainability, (3) Neighborhood revitalization (including zoning and housing needs). (1) Street/sidewalk repair-despite Council’s rejection of my proposal for a significant shift in funds for street repair (my thorough argument to Council for the funding can be found at http://www.williamjherald.org in the LWV tab), I will continue working on innovative solutions. (2) Sustainability-as a Council Member who has devoted much work on this, I will continue my efforts. Regarding (3), Council needs to: close some zoning loopholes, revisit bed and breakfast regulations, and look into the city’s role in achieving more housing options (including affordable housing).
The total commitment for the two industries is approx. 1.25 million gallons a day (MGD) [0.600 MGD-Meta, 0.648 MGD-Abbott). The city’s current capacity can handle the increase. Historically, BG Utilities are constantly improving. The Meta facility will have a new 2 MG water tower that will benefit the city. The existing pumping station is being rebuilt/renovated to almost double its capacity to pump to the reservoir. We are also looking into expanding the reservoir. We are modifying the softening clarifiers so that we can request approval from Ohio EPA for an increased plant capacity rating (additional 1-2 MGD). The Maumee River, pumping capability, reservoir volume, treatment ability, and water tower capacity go a long way in handling all but the most extreme situations. To go even further, we should continue discussion with the Northwest Water & Sewer District and Perrysburg to establish an emergency interconnection that would provide Toledo water as some relief in an emergency.
I have been working with members of BG SONG’s Housing Action Team-including Kathleen Dennis-to fashion our proposal for creating a Housing & Neighborhood Commission. The Commission would have helped address housing needs (in part by increasing the options for dwelling ownership) AND it would have had a needed diverse membership to facilitate dialog and cooperation. Although I am ready to introduce the legislation; if it were to pass Council, it would probably be vetoed. (The current draft can be found at http://www.williamjherald.org in the LWV tab.) Regardless, we need to work with different stakeholders (including developers) to fashion innovative, multi-pronged solutions for expanding ownership options. It remains a priority for me.
I have been working on initiatives for years. I’ll list two examples of work I’ve done. First, we needed a mechanism to keep focus on these issues. I wrote-and Council passed-legislation to make a rare change to Council Committees to create the Council Sustainability Committee. Also, I extensively researched and wrote an ordinance to provide incentives for residential renewable resources (e.g., solar panels) for a more diverse and greener electric grid which would decrease purchasing expensive peak energy (see my Web site in LWV tab). It did not pass by a 3-4 vote (Jeff Dennis and Rachel Phipps joined me in voting for it). I may reintroduce it now that we have the CARIP. I will continue being proactive in advancing sustainability issues.
