CONNEAUT — A boisterous exchange between City Council members Monday night provided a rowdy welcome for new City Manager Robert Schaumleffel Jr.
Schaumleffel had barely settled into his seat before Ward 1 Councilman Dave Campbell began questioning the leadership of Council President James Jones during the city's looming budget crisis. Campbell said Jones and Councilman-at-Large Jacob Chicatelli — the senior members of council — aren't doing enough to address the situation, Campbell said.
“It shouldn't be the rookie councilmen bringing these things up,” Campbell told the pair.
Also during the meeting Campbell — in response to criticism council hasn't sacrificed — said he was willing to give up a percentage of his pay equal to concessions the city’s union employees may accept.
Schaumleffel was formally hired last week by council. He last worked as city manager in Creedmoor, N.C., and has more than 30 years experience in public administration in Ohio and around the country.
“I'm happy to be here,” Schaumleffel said after he was introduced by Jones. “I look forward to working with (council), the staff and the community. I think you'll like what you see..”
Schaumleffel comes at a time when Conneaut faces an $801,000 general fund deficit by the end of 2009, Finance Director John Williams has said. Department supervisors have been ordered to cut their next year budgets by 15 percent, and council has discussed ways to reduce expenditures.
Campbell said he tended to agree with people in the town who say council should lead by example. As a result, Campbell said he would forego a percentage of his $500 monthly council wage equal to the givebacks approved by union members.
“If the unions what to match percentage-wise, I'm willing to do it,” he said.
Campbell said everyone on council except Chicatelli and Jones have suggested ways to cut the budget. During Monday's meeting he zeroed in on Jones, saying the long-time councilman “is not showing any leadership.”
An angry Jones said he has plenty of ideas, but he can't act because he hasn't yet been presented with proposed a budget prepared by the administration. “We don't know yet what departments have made their cuts,” he said, referring to the budget-slashing order.
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