What they didn’t tell you November 1st….

Jack claimed in his mailing that the current financial problems in the Village are the fault of the actions of prior councils in buying the former Crest Hills golf course, now Amberley Green.

But theVillage Manager showed at the public meeting last week on village finances that the total expenses for the village in 2011 will be $5.5 million, while the total costs for the Green for interest payments on the loan, lawn mowing and other upkeep will be $200,000 or a total of 4% of the budget.  If the budget deficit is $1.5 million and the Green costs $200,000 to maintain, how is that the reason for the village’s financial problems. The Crest Hills property had an assessed value by the Hamilton County Auditor of less than $3 million.  As a result of the lawsuit filed by Jack’s country club in 2004, the Village was forced to rezone the property to residential zoning and the country club was able to extract from Amberley Village $8.75 million for the property.  ($2.9 million paid by the insurance company and $5.8 million paid by Amberley.)  Isn’t it enough that Jack’s country club made $5 million off the residents of Amberley and spent it remodeling their club in Pleasant Ridge.  No home builder or country club should ever profit off of the Village Assets.  If and when the Green is developed, it is the residents of Amberley that should profit from it first.  Jack has ALWAYS put his country club first, he did so 7 years ago when his country club filed suit against the village and he is of like mind now. (See linked deposition of Jack taken June 23, 2005, as part of the country club suit against the village, see page 25, lines 17-24; page 36, lines 6-12; and pages 43 & 44).  Amberley First endorsed candidates will always put Amberley FIRST, unlike Jack.

Fran claimed in her mailing that she alone was the voice of financial reasons for the last 14 years on council and that her slate should be elected as the new faces to correct old problems.

But Fran is the only current council member who was on council in 2004 and voted to deny the zone change sought by the country club’s developer to build 1/3 acre lot houses on the Green; and she voted to defend the lawsuit filed by Jack’s country club against the village to force a zone change and she voted in 2008 to settle the lawsuit by having Amberley buy the Green; and she voted to finance the purchase with a bond one year later; and she voted in 2009 and 2010 to roll over the bond; and throughout that entire run, she never voiced any concern in any public meeting that the actions of the councils regarding the Green were a problem for Amberley finances.  In the meeting her team hosted on November 1, 2011, at the J, she stated that for 14 years she claims that the votes were ALWAYS 6 to 1 and she was always trying to be the voice of reason.  Could it be at 84 years of age her memory is failing.  In fact, as chairman of the Police Committee, Fran advocated for pay raises and increased benefits for all employees every year.  That is the real cause of the current financial difficulties.  Fran claims that she put together a slate to push out the old council who created all of these financial problems, but her opponent wasn’t on council, nor were several of the other people running for council this election.  Only Fran was there from the beginning creating the financial problem.  ( See linked photo of Fran at a committee meeting.)

****Jack’s deposition is posted below to read double click on the image.