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Red light meeting gets personal
(by Rachel Scofield, Staff Writer - March 19, 2009)
When Pickerington councilman Brian Wisniewski spoke to the dozen people who gathered for the Citizens Against Red Light Enforcement (CARLE) meeting, he said he did not "personally believe" that council would approve red light cameras.
He was right. The following day, council voted against installing the cameras.
Wisniewski also explained that the idea originated from police chief Mike Taylor who saw the cameras as a means to "stretch his staff as far as he could."
However, despite the councilman's statements, Cincinnati attorney Chris Finney who represented CARLE, accused Wisniewski and his fellow elected officials of taking bribes from Redflex, the company that provides the cameras.
"I would love to hear how you all heard about it," Finney said. "Redflex goes from city to city - maybe greases a few palms."
"Time out!" Wisniewski interjected. "I have been against (red light cameras) from the start. You throw everybody into the same garbage can without knowing me, without knowing that I work 30 to 40 hours per week for a whopping $7,200 a year. I got involved because of problems in this city.
"Sorry, good luck," Wisniewski said and exited the meeting.
The other elected officials in attendance - councilman Jeff Fix and mayor Mitch O'Brien followed Wisniewski's example as did several community members.
Pickerington resident Doug Brown, who organized CARLE, apologized before O'Brien left the room.
"I just want to do what I think is right," Brown said.
"I accept your apology," O'Brien told Brown.
Had council approved the cameras, CARLE planned to gather signatures for a referendum that would have placed the issue on the ballot.
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