Displaying items by tag: Blue Ribbon Task Force

One recommendation of Akron Mayor-elect Dan Horrigan's Blue Ribbon Task Force has been released.

The first Interim Report released Friday outlines support for natural gas purchasing aggregation, something the city already does for electricity.

In a statement, Mayor-elect Horrigan says he fully supports the idea, which was introduced at Akron City Council.

The body would have to approve putting such an issue on the ballot...an idea Horrigan wants as well for the March 2016 primary ballot.

The task force's full report is due in February.

(Mayor-elect Dan Horrigan, news release) In keeping with his pledge to release all recommendations made by his Blue Ribbon Task Force, Mayor-elect Dan Horrigan today released Interim Report #1.

Interim Report #1 outlines the Task Force's support for gas aggregation relative to the purchase of natural gas, and supports the efforts of the current administration and Akron City Council to place this issue before the voters in the March 2016 Primary Election.

"I'm pleased that the Task Force and Akron City Council independently came to the same conclusion on this important issue," said Mayor-elect Horrigan. "I fully support Akron City Council's efforts to place this before the voters."

Akron's Mayor-elect Dan Horrigan used his first press conference this morning, following his election win Tuesday, to announce details related to a new advisory board that will look into the city's financial and economic health.

"It's just not looking at things that are wrong, but also looking at things that are right and improving them," said Horrigan .

Horrigan announced that the city of Akron will be forming the Blue Ribbon Task Force, which will be led by Tim Ochsenhirt, a retired managing partner at Roetzel & Andress.

"We're going to look at the finances of the city. We're going to look at the operations of the city and some of the opportunities and risks that the city may face," said Ochsenhirt.

The task force will be comprised of several local leaders, including Dan Colantone, president and CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber and David James, superintendent of Akron Public Schools.

According to Horrigan, the task force has been asked to focus on the following areas:

· City finances

· City operations

· Personnel and human resource management

· Economic and neighborhood development

· Risk management

· Charter changes

The budget for the task force has been set at $300,000 to pay for consultant fees and the force itself, but details on the breakdown have not been released.

The task force is expected to present their findings to Akron City Council in February.