Cleveland.com
BROOK PARK, Ohio — Legally and politically, can Mayor Tom Coyne defy a firefighting ordinance that swept every precinct in Feb. 3 special election?
By more than a 2-1 margin, voters supported an ordinance submitted by petitioners that calls for reopening the Ruple Parkway station and posting two firefighters there per shift. The ordinance also calls for five firefighters per shift at the only station currently open, on Holland and Engle roads.
After the election, as before, Coyne says he won’t comply with the ordinance. He maintains that defying the ordinance is legal and crucial, though impolitic. “Politics can go to hell,” the always outspoken mayor said. “I’m going to do the right thing for the town.” Ironically, he hopes to reopen Ruple, but for private emergency medical technicians, not for firefighters.
Full story: Brook Park Mayor Tom Coyne says ‘politics can go to hell’ after firefighting ordinance passed