Reese supports pooling resources
Butler mayoral candidate Fred Reese said he wants city government authorities and boards and community organizations to work together to make improvements in the city.
Reese, the Republican nominee for the mayor's office, addressed about 40 people Tuesday morning at a meeting hosted by the Butler AM Rotary at the YMCA.
The Butler AM and PM Rotary clubs are inviting all three mayoral candidates to discuss their campaigns. The Rotary Club of Butler PM hosted Democratic candidate Bob Dandoy last week. Independent candidate Tom Donaldson is speaking Monday at the YWCA.Mayor Ben Smith is not running for re-election.The Rotary is impartial in elections, but wants its members and the public to be informed about candidates and issues, said Audrianna Bly, of the Butler AM Rotary.She said the forum allows candidates to discuss their vision and plans, and helps voters decide who to vote for.Reese has served on the Butler Redevelopment Authority for 19 years, including the last five as chairman. He has also served a four-year elected term and a three-month appointed term on city council. He said he would resign from the authority if he is elected. Reese is a co-owner of the Monroe Hotel in Butler.He said he would like to have all of the city's authorities and organizations work together.“Anytime you get people together and working together, that's the ultimate (goal),” Reese said.The authorities must continue fulfilling their missions, but they could pool a share of their resources and grant money to address certain issues together, he said.As an example, he said resources could be used to pave streets and sidewalks, plant trees and improve landscaping or improve the parks, he said.“Get all city organizations and authorities on the same page. Take resources from each and put them together. It would be more constructive if it was concentrated in certain areas,” Reese said.
The mayor supervises the police department, and Reese said he does not anticipate making any changes to the department if he is elected. He said Chief Bob O'Neill is doing a good job. Reese said he knows some officers and is not aware of any problems in the department.Other issues he wants to address include payments made in lieu of property taxes and grants.He said the city has to try something to obtain payments from owners of tax-exempt properties to help cover the cost of services. He suggested implementing a letter-writing campaign as a possible way to start the program.The city should apply for grant money that is available, he said.“The money is out there. You just have to go get it,” Reese said.Regarding accessibility, he said he would be available to meet with people in the city building. He said he would post the days and times he would be in his office.In addition, he said he would conduct City Council meetings in person and not virtually through Zoom.Reese said he would also talk to business owners to hear their ideas for the city.He also said he would address a pet peeve — the way streets are patched after a utility company excavates a road to make an underground repair.“Sometimes they put a temporary patch in and don't repair the hole for two months,” Reese said.He said utility companies hire contractors to patch streets, and he would work with the utility companies to make sure streets are patched quickly, and the patches don't leave the road bumpy. He cited Penn Street as an example of a road that has been left rough and bumpy from patching.“You pave a road, and they tear it up, and they don't patch it right,” Reese said.
