Meet the Richfield Village Council candidates

Seven candidates are running for Richfield Village Council. Six are facing off for three seats with four-year terms. Ralph Waszak Sr. is running unopposed for an unexpired two-year term. Following are questions the Richfield Times posed to all of the candidates, and their responses, which were limited to 250 words. 

1. What impact would you like to have on our village government?

Beshara: As mayor and former council member, I do my best to make decisions based on what is best for our residents. It’s important for an elected official to listen to the needs of our constituents and to truly give their attention to each situation. I have the energy, passion and knowledge to continue keeping Richfield a great place to live, work and enjoy. My administration received $2 million in grants resulting in keeping your taxes low and our community safe. During my tenure as mayor, income tax collections have increased by more than 30 percent, which directly results in lower property taxes.

Boester: Having been on the Planning and Zoning Commission for 32 years, 26 as chairman, and working with three planners and four mayors, I have the knowledge and expertise to continue to evaluate, re-evaluate and encourage the continued growth and development of the village in a positive manner.

Campbell: The families in the village of Richfield have an abundance of hope, vision, opportunity and concerns. As an elected council member, I will strive to work as a leader and voice for the families of Richfield, helping the village council to focus on these items. This includes everything from economic development, infrastructure, fiscal responsibility and zoning and all points in-between. All while making sure we stay focused on the forward progress of our village as we continue to embrace and protect our strong and proud Richfield heritage. I will work for you. I will earn your vote by working for you every day, beginning on Day 1.

Dobbins: I want to have a positive effect. Would work programs for the residents.

Philippbar: To serve the community honestly, openly and with fiscal diligence.

Stoppenhagen: I’d like to impact the village government by helping to complete legislation that has become stagnant. The village has started many projects but many of those have not been completed. We need to finish or abandon these projects as a priority for the betterment of the community.

Waszak: Respectful and fiscally responsive government that addresses current needs and plans for the future. My in-depth knowledge and experience in land planning, economic development, village sanitary sewer, Cleveland water, transportation, grants, land preservation, historic preservation and municipal finance will help the next mayor and council face challenges of the future. It is my hope that we can have quality, controlled growth while maintaining Richfield’s semi-rural character, quality services and low taxes.

2. Do you agree with the current administrative policy that prohibits council members and village staff from communicating with each other?

Beshara: There is no policy that prohibits council members from communicating with village staff.

Boester: I am unaware of this policy. It seems that council members should be able to discuss pertinent issues with the staff to make informed decisions.

Campbell: Council members are elected to be the voice of the residents in Richfield Village. Open two-way communication is imperative to the success of our village.

Dobbins: No, open communication is important for progress in the village.

Philippbar: As long as council members are in compliance with The Ohio Open Meetings Act, they should be able to freely exchange ideas and request information for decision-making purposes.

Stoppenhagen: I would not agree with this policy. Open communications between council and the village staff at all levels is important. We need to be able to freely discuss ideas with and provide direction to anyone who is directly involved when needed.

Waszak: As Richfield’s mayor, I had an open door policy that allowed free access to department heads by council … and Richfield citizens.

3. If you had been on council would you have voted to remodel the service garage on Brecksville Road for over $1 million or build a new one on the rear of the property and sell the front of the 29-acre property?

Beshara: I pursued this early in my administration with council, however there wasn’t a consensus to sell some acreage and I will again pursue this.

Boester: This issue was presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission after $80,000 had been spent on engineering plans to fix up the old facility. I voted against the remodeling as did the commission, which recommended building a new service facility that would meet the needs for the future and sell off the front parcel to help pay for the new facility.

Campbell: As a council member, prior to moving ahead with a plan to spend any significant amount of money, I would have made sure we had completed a thorough and comprehensive review of all possible options.

Dobbins: I will not comment on this because I don’t have the information that they had.

Philippbar: A new building may have been more functionally suited to the service department’s needs and possibly less expensive. When projects such as these are proposed, I will thoroughly assess all alternatives before making a decision. Thoughtful planning usually results in cost savings and better outcomes.

Stoppenhagen: I feel we should have sold the front of the parcel on Brecksville Road and constructed a new building at the rear of the property. This would have allowed the Service Department to construct a building that better fit its needs.

Waszak: As a member of the planning commission, I voted against the remodeling of the 8,500-square-foot building. At $1.5 million, the remodeling cost a whopping $176 per square foot. Regrettably the building does little to address current or future needs. There was no cost/benefit analysis. A lot on Brecksville Road could have been sold to a tax revenue-generating company. Going forward the village needs to analyze existing buildings and land to intelligently determine the future needs of the Service Department.

4. What is your position on the recent compensation increases for employees and elected officials of the village, with some of the decision makers ultimately benefiting?

Beshara: My position is very clear and that is why I vetoed the ordinances. I felt this was political. Council and mayors work extremely hard to run our community and especially a community with a $30 million budget, three major interstates and a population that triples during the day.

Boester: I think employees and elected officials should be compensated comparable to similar communities. Perhaps a resident review committee could be established to evaluate and determine salaries and potential increases.

Campbell: Richfield residents benefit from having quality employees and elected officials. Each deserves fair compensation. Some residents may look at these folks as volunteers. However, what they may fail to realize is that these individuals spend a great deal of time, energy and commitment every day to ensure the quality of life and security of Richfield families.

Dobbins: I was against it. Members must vote on legislation, I applaud them for voting on unpopular legislation.

Philippbar: The jump in council’s pay in 2015 was excessive. I view being on council primarily as a servant role. The increase in the mayor’s pay in 2015 was also large, however, had the mayor’s pay been reviewed and adjusted appropriately over the past 10-plus years prior to 2015, it probably would not have been such a significant increase. The pay of the mayor, department heads and employees should be reviewed every two years. No one should vote on their own salary.

Stoppenhagen: I feel being adequately compensated for work performed is a fundamental right. However, I do not feel that any legislature should be able to vote itself a raise that is beyond the rate of the annual cost of living increase given to its employees.

Waszak: I do not believe “bonuses” should be given to fairly compensated village employees. Based on comparisons with other nearby progressive, larger communities, I voted in favor of the ordinance that would have cut salaries for the mayor and council.

5. Do you feel that council was properly informed and that Section 9.06 of the village charter was followed in the development of land for the Hawkins Road Park?

Beshara: Yes. I believe council received proper notification regarding the development of these donated properties. It was discussed at length in a joint council/P and Z meeting. P and Z unanimously approved the grading plan for the sledding hill, which is now part of an overall master plan for the property. Council, through resolutions, accepted these properties.

Boester: I think council was informed. Section 9.06 requires the Planning and Zoning Commission to review it. It was presented to Planning and Zoning. Discussion was held with favorable opinions but no formal decision was made. This was because the land was donated, the dirt and grading was donated, and the labor was donated. The developer owned the land and needed to dispose of excess topsoil. I think the Hawkins Road Park will be an excellent addition to the village and a good use for that particular parcel.

Campbell: Council was not informed as well as it could and/or should have been. The village acquired the Hawkins property from a donation made by the owner.

Dobbins: I don’t know what information they were given.

Philippbar: The Hawkins Road Park dock and parking lot were in the 2019 capital budget and approved by council in December 2018. The dirt deposits were reported to have been discussed in executive session (as part of the property donation agreement) in early 2019. The dirt was discussed in planning and zoning and council meetings in May, but some dirt had already been deposited by then. The sled hill plan should have been fully approved prior to depositing any dirt.

Stoppenhagen: I don’t have all of the information surrounding the construction of the park. What I have been able to find indicates that Planning and Zoning only approved the grading plan for the sledding hill in the May 21 2019 work session. I did not see where there was a proposal made for a park, as Section 9.06 of the charter requires.

Waszak: I do not believe the charter was followed. The park board did not approve the project and felt there were other projects that were approved. Priorities need to be established.