Push in Portage for transparency delayed
Michael Gonzalez
Post-Tribune
January 06, 2017
Proposed ordinances to make towing agreements and all other agreements subject to more scrutiny in Portage were delayed even as some city council members wanted them quickly passed in the wake of indictments of the mayor and a towing company owner.
Four council members tried to suspend the rules and get the measures passed on first reading, but Councilman John Cannon (D-4th) voted against rushing a final vote. He has said he is a life-long friend of the son of John Cortina, who was indicted in November along with Mayor James Snyder, and expects to be interviewed by federal authorities about the corruption charges.
"We need to have a little more discussion on this. It's not an emergency to get it done, we've waited all this time," Cannon said. "I believe the only reason it was brought up is because of other issues around the city."
When asked if those other issues were the indictments, Cannon said, "that could be part of it."
Snyder was charged with taking bribes from Cortina's towing company and with tax evasion. He opened the recent council meeting but left soon afterward, citing a scheduling conflict. Council President Mark Oprisko and member Elizabeth Modesto did not attend the meeting.
One proposal would move approval of towing agreements from the Portage police chief to the city's Board of Works. The agreements generally have no dollar amounts, as they are not contracts and require no city funds since drivers bear the costs of towing.
Clerk-Treasurer Chris Stidham said the towing measure would subject such agreements to more public scrutiny.
"It makes (towing agreements) more transparent and open to the public, given everything that's going on," he said.
Portage Police Chief Troy Williams agreed with the Board of Works having authority over approving towing agreements.
"Pretty much everything is the same, but (the ordinance) just adds another level of transparency," Williams said. "(The council) is leaving the managing and overseeing of towing agreements to the chief of the police department."
The council also discussed a second measure to have all agreements entered into by the city go to the Board of Works for approval, even if those agreements cost the city nothing. Such agreements include contracts, where city money is spent, and memoranda of understanding, or MOUs.
Councilman Collin Czilli (D-5th) tried to introduce an amendment to the proposed ordinance that would require the Board of Works, the Port Authority, the Parks and Recreation Departments and the Redevelopment Commission to notify the council of agreements and contracts they enter into, but he later withdrew it.
The two measures overlap and probably could be combined, Cannon said after the meeting.
The council tabled the city agreements policy ordinance for a February meeting.
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