Nell Reardon for Mayor Campaign

Policy Positions

Respond to citizens’ concerns by instituting a City Services Hotline (phone & e-mail) with a guaranteed 48 hour Call-Back to report:

Seek broad citizen input on city projects

Citizens of Wooster recently passed an increase in our local taxes. This money, held in the public trust, must be allocated frugally and appropriately to ensure the most benefit for our city.
Avoid potential controversies such as arose regarding the $1,200,000 city square project by soliciting more input from all segments of our community.
The long range planning process for new city expenditures, including price tags for various initiatives, must be shared MORE EFFECTIVELY with the public.

Address housing issues such as; lack of affordable housing and dilapidated, unhealthy, and toxic housing which does not conform to City Code:

Form a Housing Solutions Task Force with representatives from Wayne Co. Board. of Realtors, Home Builder Association, Landlords, Tenants. AMRE, Health Department, Social Service Agencies, Veterans Services, Churches, Schools, and City Administration to develop an action plan to address housing and homeless issues.
Some rental properties are known drug trafficking sites. This needs to stop! This problem is affecting property values for all homeowners in Wooster.
Hammer down on nuisance ordinances

Confront the serious drug/opiate crisis that exists in Wooster

Institute an Arts & Humanities Council

Work cooperatively with workers and employers to reduce barriers to job growth in Wooster

Acknowledge and address reported drug trafficking
Explore drug abuse solutions and best practices which have had success in similar size communities to Wooster. We can’t just arrest our way out of this.

Establishing an Arts & Humanities Council will promote the A&H, generate revenue for local business, and enrich the quality of life for our citizens.
Enhance our relationship with the College of Wooster - one of our major employers

Our Wooster businesses are having great difficulty hiring qualified employees
Use the research of the AMRE Program (College of Wooster)
Consult with Wooster business owners, educational institutions, local agencies, and workers about this crucial problem and help them develop effective solutions

Promote a ‘Green Wooster’: Save taxpayer money incorporating renewable energy solutions in city buildings and services.

Form a Renewable Energy Task Force with a goal to save taxpayer money for city building utilities
Renewable power works in Wooster, as proven by the College gymnasium and individual properties. Share this information with our citizens.
Investigate grants and government tax deductions available to our citizens and municipal government

Solutions

Policy Points

Listen to experts and community stakeholders and employ best practices to address difficult problems in order to implement effective solutions.
Ensure that our core services (police and fire, water and sewer, parks and recreation, and street maintenance) are top priority
Work with any individual or group, private and/or public, city, county, state or national, interested in securing the economic, cultural, and environmental future of Wooster
Appoint young people, women, and citizens from all backgrounds to boards and commissions to represent us and develop policy. City Boards and Commissions work best when they reflect our community.
Provide the diverse and culturally rich community that our young people seek and that we all can be proud to reside, raise a family, and invest in.
Continue to have high quality administrators and employees. They are in the trenches providing quality city services. -Thank you!