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Groups collaborate to answer questions about regionalism

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January 11, 2009

by Laura Freeman

Reporter

Hudson -- A series of programs open to the public this winter will provide information about regionalism.

The Hudson Library and Historical Society and the Northeast Ohio Region League of Women Voters will co-sponsor three programs on regionalism in January and February.

Organizers define regionalism as a way to address economic issues and global market competition by having neighboring cities and counties work together toward economic growth, new employers and jobs, and maximizing resources.

Belinda Wing, president of the League of Women Voters of Hudson, said Northeast Ohio is active in its pursuit of bringing regionalism to the area, with the Northeast Ohio Mayors and City Managers Association as one of the prominent groups.

The Northeast Ohio Mayors and City Managers are pursuing a regional economic revenue study about regional planning for economic growth and sharing a portion of new taxes that result among the municipalities. They are working on the second phase that includes a plan for 16 counties in Northeast Ohio to share revenue on new developments.

The League of Women voters wanted to do a study on the impact and tax base sharing by having three town meetings.

"We hope other leagues in the area will expand on what we cover," Wing said. "We are doing basic regionalism 101."

Wing said in each of three programs, panelists will present for an hour before opening the town hall meetings to questions and answers.

"That's where we get the best input," Wing said. "We call it a study for the league but it's really a study for the public. We just host it."

The Jan. 29 program -- "What is the economic future for Northeast Ohio, What is regionalism, competition or cooperation, an overview of the Advance Northeast Ohio Project" -- will include speakers James Robey, vice president in research for Team NEO and adjunct member of the economic development faculty of Cleveland State University's Levin College of Urban Affairs, and Laura Steinbrink, the director for the Fund for Our Economic Future in partnership with Advance Northeast Ohio.

Robey will address economic conditions and will focus on Northeast Ohio, Wing said.

"We hope to bring experts to tell us about [regionalism], how it will impact the area," Wing said. "We want to increase public awareness with specific facts, educate and then let people decide."

The Feb. 12 program -- "Elected officials talk about revenue sharing" -- focuses on the impact tax base sharing has on community's economic development and speakers include Mayor Bruce Akers from Pepper Pike, Mayor Jay Williams from Youngstown and Mayor William Robertson from Rittman.

"We brought in three different mayors which represent very different areas to discuss how it all ties together -- the negative and the positive," Wing said.

The Feb. 26 program -- "Regional Prosperity Initiative" -- will have speakers Hudson Mayor William Currin, who is president of the NEO Mayors and City Manager Associations, and Richfield Mayor Michael Lyons.

The programs begin at 7 p.m. in the Flood Family Meeting room at the Hudson Library and Historical Society. They are free, and no registration is required. An opportunity will be made available for audience members to ask questions of the panelists.

For more information, call the library's reference department at 330-653-6658 ext. 1010, visit
www.hudsonlibrary.org or www.lwvhudsonohio.org.

E-mail: lfreeman@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3150




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