Guest View- John Musolf: Election Shenanigans By Mayor Hirmath Favor Steve "The Trashman" Solomon

At the March 7, 2012 Regular Town Council Meeting about 2 minutes and 20 seconds into the video, Councilwoman Mary Snider made a Council Report alerting the public that a celebration of the Town Transit Coyote Run and Regional Transit Authority Intergovernmental Agreement would be held at Fry’s on Lambert and La Canada on March 9, 2012.

Mayor Satish Hiremath took this opportunity to comment that signs stating that Councilman Steve Solomon tried to “Kill Coyote Run” were totally incorrect. Mr. Solomon tried to save the transit operation.

Really Mr. Mayor! Let’s look at the written facts.

Prior to a Town Study Session on February 23, 2011 study, Transit Services Administrator Aimee Ramsey was asked to review the Transit Operations budget options for FY2011/2012. 

Staff was asked to bring forward service options for the FY 2011/12 budget. The options proposed are:

• Option A - No change

• Option B - Keep operating Sun Shuttle and Eliminate Coyote Run

• Option C - Eliminate Coyote Run and the RTA will subcontract the Sun Shuttle operation

• Option D - Negotiate with the RTA to give more financial support to Coyote Run

• Option E - Further reduce Coyote Run and Operate Sun Shuttle.

Councilman Solomon was present at that meeting.

At the April 20, 2011 Regular Town Council Meeting, Item 3, there was a discussion and possible action regarding disposition of the development and infrastructure services department transit services division.

A motion was made by Council Member Waters and seconded by Council Member Hornat to direct staff to move forward with Option C (Eliminate Coyote Run) as discussed on February 23, 2011 and begin the processes necessary to discontinue the Transit Services Division.

Council Member Garner stated that he would vote against the motion.

Council Member Solomon asked Council Member Garner how the Council was going to cut money out of the budget if he was going to vote against cost reductions.

                   

Motion carried 6-1 with Councilman Solomon supporting elimination of Coyote Run and Council Member Garner opposed.

Mr. Mayor!!!!! Sounds to me like Councilman Solomon initially voted to “Kill Coyote Run”!

The June 1, 2011 Regular Town Council Meeting, Item 2 was a required public meeting to approve Resolution 11-37 authorizing and approving the elimination of the town of Oro Valley development and infrastructure services department transit services Coyote Run Service.

Over 100 citizens packed the meeting including many ADA (disabled) riders. There was a huge outcry against elimination of Coyote Run. 

A surprise motion was made by Council Member Garner and seconded by Councilmember Gillaspie to maintain Coyote Run service as is and to direct the funding to come from the Bed Tax fund for FY2011/2012.

At this point, Council Member Solomon flipped and said that Coyote Run should be funded for an additional year to allow more time to work with the RTA on integrating the transportation services.

Mayor Hiremath (also a Vice-president of RTA and Chairman of the RTA Transit Working Group)) was the only vote against using the Bed Tax. BIAS? Mayor Hiremath subsequently appointed a sub-committee of two councilmen, Steve Solomon and Lou Waters, to identify Coyote Run alternatives. This information was never immediately made public until a Town Council Special Session on June 29, 2011. Ever wonder how Solomon and Waters were chosen for the sub-committee? Let’s look at the next Regular Town Council Meeting on June 15, 2011 and Special Session Council Meeting on June 28, 2011.

At the Regular Council Town Council Meeting June 15, 2011, Item 6, Councilmember Solomon had requested that the vote on the Coyote Run service be returned to the Council agenda for reconsideration and Council Member Waters had seconded this request.

Council Member Garner felt that reconsideration of Coyote Run equated to going back to square one.  He stated that a safety net was in place and funding was identified to continue the beta testing for the betterment of the services to the citizens.

A motion was made by Council Member Solomon and seconded by Councilmember Waters for reconsideration of the June 1, 2011 denial of Resolution No. (R)11-37 authorizing and approving the elimination of the Town of Oro Valley Development and Infrastructure Services Department Transit Services Division Coyote Run Service.

The motion carried, 5-2 with Council Member Garner and Council Member Gillaspie opposed.

At a June 29, 2011 Special Session Town Council Meeting, Item 3, there was a discussion and possible action regarding the formation of a Council work group for the examination of the Coyote Run transit system.

Solomon had made a motion on June 15, 2011 to reconsider the June 1, 2011 denial of Resolution No. (R)11-37 and was seconded by Council Member Waters. Now we know why these two councilmen were appointed by Mayor Satish Hiremath to the sub-committee. Now we know how our town council really works behind closed doors.

A motion was made by Mayor Hiremath and seconded by Council Member Hornat to appoint Council Member Waters and Council Member Solomon to the sub-committee to work on the examination of the Coyote Transit System. 

Council Member Garner asked if it would be prudent to have Council Member Gillaspie present before the vote.

Council Member Solomon called the question.

MOTION carried, 4-1 with Council Member Garner opposed.