Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

I read with interest the article in the Times-Sun about Mitch O?’Brien being removed from the zoning commission. Something really smells here and I for one would like to hear the truth. What did Mitch do that resulted in his removal? Did he violate the charter or some ordinance? Did he violate the zoning regulations? He is but one vote on this commission. How could he have done something alone that could be considered serious enough to remove him without consultations with the chairman of the commission or at least someone from council?

I just don?’t buy these lame excuses made by the mayor that this is like the Maxey appointment several years ago. Although new to the community then what I do remember is that Maxey came in dead last in the election and then suddenly John Washington resigns for ?“health reasons?” and Maxey gets reappointed. This was council folks - not some volunteer committee. If Shaver makes Mitch his appointment at a December council meeting as posted in this site and now suddenly fires him, I can?’t believe that unless Mitch did something illegal in either December or January, that Shaver could suddenly have this epiphany that this appointment reeks of ?“recycling our own team?”.

I supported the self-proclaimed Team 4 Change in 2003 and was glad to see Mitch join it in 2004. I don?’t know Mitch all that well but I have had interaction with him when he was on council and in the city events he attended. I found him to be honest, forthright, responsive, committed to the city and ?“the team?” and the most unlikely person to have committed some offense that could result in his removal from a committee just after getting appointed to it. So again I ask, what did he do? Do we have people sitting on council or commissions that are committing the offenses that will result in Shaver firing them too? Is this incident the tip of the iceberg?

Shaver appoints this Sower guy from his republican club. He says Sower brings new blood. What he really brings is obviously political favors. What committees has he sat on and for how long? Does he bring over 2 years of experience in zoning matters to the table that Shaver is giving up in O?’Brien? Again, something smells.

I hope someone with insight into this matter can better explain a couple of things. First is this lame explanation of this dismissal. Second is what did Mitch do to deserve this disrespectful treatment? And third, won?’t someone tell the truth for a change? What is up with this sudden cloak of secrecy from council and the zoning commission? Council has always been outspoken when they thought someone was being treated unfairly. I seem to remember O?’Brien, Hackworth and Wisniewski coming to the Shaver?’s defense when all this hit and run talk was front page news. Obviously Mitch has alienated Ted and Brian if they didn?’t say a single word in Mitch?’s defense when Shaver made these ridiculous statements. Obviously Mitch has alienated Christie Hammond and Keith Smith, his running mates last November because they also sat silently as Shaver said this stuff.

So I open the floor to Ted, Brian Christie or Keith. I think you have all posted on here at one time or another. What did Mitch do that was so bad that Shaver fired him and you all sat silent. Is this how you treat friends and those you served with all this time? If it is, it gives me a pretty good understanding of why things in the city are going to pot if you believe even half what you read on this site.

Has our Team 4 Change become Team 4 Ourselves and screw our buddies. Team, your silence indicates agreement with Shaver on this subject. I am disappointed in all of you. Your silence speaks volumes.


By Bill B.

My response

Bill -

Rest assured that the recent events with the Planning and Zoning commission have not gone unnoticed. Last night I read a statement into the record that addressed this situation and exactly how I felt about it.

As the Vice Chairman of P&Z, I felt it was my responsibilty to respond and I did. My statement was written solely by me and was not reviewed nor influenced by anyone.

Post it here

Post it here.

Ok ?– I?’ll bite.

I tend to shy away from this site due to increasingly negative comments but I believe PATA does have value if for nothing other than letting people vent their feelings and frustrations. Some very good questions and comments are unfortunately overshadowed by some very negative and even vile postings.

However in your case Bill, I?’ll go against my better judgment and take the massive piece of bait you placed in the water and bite.

I?’m sorry you took my silence as lack of support for Mitch. I agree Mitch is everything you mentioned and even more. He did nothing wrong and the change in P&Z should not be looked at other than it simply being the Mayor?’s decision to change his appointment. I spoke with Mitch in length about the Mayors decision and even visited with him and his wife regarding the reversal.

Many people have commented here, and to me personally, on the negative light that shines upon the city when fighting among elected officials is public.

Following the elections I met with Mike Sabatino to try and bury the hatchet and open up lines of communication. As you know Mike and I had it out over a few issues last year. I didn?’t like how it got portrayed nor did I like who I became when tempers flared. Will Mike and I see things the same ?– unlikely in some, possibly many, instances. However, we have agreed to disagree where necessary, try to find common ground when we can and move on when we can?’t.

Public in-fighting is counter-productive to the city and something that should rarely occur. If I am reading your posting correctly Bill it appears I should have ?“stood up?” to the Mayor and made a huge spectacle of this event, even though it would have accomplished nothing. I spoke with the Mayor in private about this change immediately after his announcement and that discussion is better left in private.

The Mayor?’s car accident was extended in the papers because of the circus it turned into with supporters and detractors becoming polarized. Nothing positive occurred for the city during those reports and silence is something I should have employed then.

Mitch is and will always remain my friend. Because of that friendship I am honoring his desire to not turn this into a public spectacle.

Please read, or re-read Mitch?’s posting regarding this change.
http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/public/clubDiscussion.html?ntopicid=476185381&ndepth=2&nid=966360112&nclubid=68303919&nsupercity=437534213

?“Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go?… And a time to pick up the pieces when it?’s all over?” Gloria Naylor