Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Some question councilman?’s refusal to vote



Opponent of Pickerington mayor says he has reasons


By Kirk D . Richards THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH




Pickerington City Councilman Michael Sabatino, who proudly butts heads with Mayor David Shaver and the four members who support the administration, sat quietly at the council meeting last week while a resident grilled him about abstaining so often.
Moments earlier, Sabatino had abstained on a motion most considered routine: a vote to approve the minutes from the previous meeting on Oct. 4, which he attended.
He said he doesn?’t trust municipal Clerk Lynda Yartin?’s notes to capture debates in the proper context.
So far this year, Sabatino has abstained 88 times at regular meetings.
That is far more than colleague William Wright, who comes in second with 28.
Sabatino and Wright are campaigning together to keep their council seats on Nov. 8.
Councilman Doug Parker, who also disagrees with the mayor?’s slow-growth policies, comes in third with 18 abstentions. Parker is not running for re-election.
The other incumbent on the ballot is Mitch O?’Brien, who is campaigning with three newcomers: Cristie Hammond, Tory Kramer and Keith Smith.
Jeff Fix is running independently but also supports Shaver.
A review of the voting record this year reflects the rift.
Sabatino and Wright came together 33 times to vote against motions that the council approved. On 35 motions that passed, Sabatino stood alone in opposition.
Issues upon which Sabatino abstained included: a 2006 tax budget, an annexation agreement with Canal Winchester and Violet Township and a settlement with developers who sued over a moratorium on building permits.
Sabatino voted against naming Heidi Riggs as council president and a contract for Barb Slaven, a public-relations consultant who he says helps ''the Shaverettes.?’?’
''Everything I do, I have a reason,?’?’ Sabatino said.
The councilman also has been criticized for not abstaining.
Against the advice of interim law director Phil Hartmann, Sabatino voted against an ordinance in August that authorized the city to accept a loan toward a project to widen Diley Road. His mother lives there. The issue passed 5-1.
Sabatino said the previous law director, Bob Mapes, advised him he could vote on Diley issues as long as his mother was not a direct target. Still, O?’Brien and others called the vote a conflict of interest.
In June, Sabatino and his wife, Alice, were the direct beneficiaries of a reimbursement package that the council approved for residents whose sewers backed up as the result of a lift station failing during an ice storm. The couple was slated to receive $12,924, and Sabatino abstained.
But usually, the abstentions from Sabatino seem unnecessary, said Councilman Ted Hackworth, who has not abstained on any votes this year.
''It?’s a backdoor way to vote no without having to say why,?’?’ Hackworth said. ''I feel it?’s important we vote one way or another.?’?’
Sabatino said he typically abstains on the first and second reading of ordinances to give his colleagues time to make amendments that he would agree with.
''Usually it doesn?’t pan out, so I?’ll vote against it on the third reading,?’?’ Sabatino said. ''I?’ve been trying to give things the best opportunity to work out rather than to just say no.?’?’
Sabatino said the election will show whether voters agree with his methods.
krichards@dispatch.com

Hold on one minute

I guess what is not said here is some of the campaign literature finding its way to our door steps. I received a post card from Jeff Fix and in that card he says he ?“CREATED?” the PATA newsletter. I believe that to be an outright lie on Mr. Fix?’s part. The creator of the newsletter was Mr. Harding. In fact Mr. Fix only was editor for a few months and then went on to run for Violet Township trustee and lost.

Mr. Fix didn?’t do any of the research or any of the content he only wrote in a softer tone that the old grumps supplying the actual information for the articles.

I do believe Mr. Fix did invent the internet in the late 90s and from his child hood he invented the hula hoop. I also understand that if Jeff is elected he will create heaven and earth and he will walk across Lake Erie. I believe he will part the lake and find his way to Canada on dry ground.

Then there is the subject of the NW club and what in the hell were they thinking? I believe Jeff Fix was the President during this failure of leadership. First they endorse Terry Dunlap then Dunlap endorses Bill Wright and now I see all over Diley Road, Dunlap has his signs embedded with Sabatino and Wright's and isn?’t Sabatino and Wright the sworn enemies of Jeff Fix? This includes Sabatino?’s Mother?’s home. So who is endorsing whom?

Then you folks in the Township now must worry about your boy Dunlap and where he is heading with his alliance with guys like Wright who a few years ago would not work with the township on any thing. Remember the Pickerington Area Republicans endorsed Harry and Terry in 2001 and they were all pro growth people. I guess if the NW club had been doing its stated job and mission it would have two slow growth candidates on the ballot this year opposing Terry and Harry.




By PATA subscriber

play dough

I guess Dunlap takes the shape of whomever shows up first with the play dough mold...It makes me sick to see the Sabatino/Wright/Dunlap signs together and you are correct we do need to worry in the township...they are provin they have lost their minds.

Sorry to Hear This

I am sorry to hear this about Mr. Dunlap, a gentleman that I have always supported. I cannot in good conscience support anyone who would endorse Wright or Sabatino, who are both wrong for this community.