Office of City Council At-Large
City of Mansfield
 
Councilman Don Bryant

MEMORANDUM

TO:  All City Employees, Elected Officials
 
RE:  2017 Mansfield City Council Internship Program (MCCIP)
 
 
This year, the program will begin on Tuesday, June 6th.  The MCCIP utilizes a ‘team-mentorship’ concept whereas interns will be working with multiple people and departments throughout the City. This is a teaching and learning program that is geared toward providing interns with the functional knowledge to how our city government works. Thus, interns are not allowed to engage in political activities. The program duration is 10-weeks or minimum of 35-40 hours total. Each week will have a different theme and interns are expected to complete a variety of interviews with community leaders and city officials. This is where the “team-mentoring” concept comes into action.
 
Interns will spend time with department directors and other elected officials throughout the city.
 
Out of the 34 applicants, I’ve selected (2): Olivia Hoppe and Kyle Weese.
 
Olivia is an 18-year-old student at The Ohio State University; she is studying history and political science. Kyle is a 19-year-old student at Ohio University studying business administration and is attending college on a full-academic scholarship. Kyle has no plans to run for office but wants to be a lawyer one day. Olivia on the other hand, says she does want to run for office one day to “make the world a better place.” She states issues such as gender equality and fairness for all people; are very important things to work toward.
 
Thank you to all department heads and elected officials who responded to my requests for team-mentoring. You are appreciated!

This an issue that demands transparency surrounding decisions being made. People want to know what's being done to address animal control. Can we create a new municipal animal control officer position? Councilman Bryant releases his notes on the issue on animal control. The memo below provides background information to the issue and what's needed moving forward. 

Bryant says, "It's important that we don't blame the City, we don't blame the County and especially the Dog Warden. We need to collaborate, pool resources and move forward together without playing the blame game. I'm confident this issue can be addressed; but it cannot be done without the help of the Mayor, Law Director, Finance Director, City Council and the County Commissioners working together."
​##

The 1st Annual Mansfield Winter Classic is taking place December 1-3, 2017 in Mansfield, Ohio at Mansfield Senior High School’s Pete Henry Gymnasium. The Classic is a 2-3 day event full of basketball, fun activities and opportunities to showcase your school and to support the ongoing mission in promoting good sportsmanship. 
 
Mansfield Winter Classic visionary, Christen Lee; is a former Mansfield Senior High School basketball player who lost his mother Evern in 2016 to cancer. Lee says there were always people at his house growing-up, and that his mother loved to go above and beyond to make sure everyone felt at home. Christen, who went on to play college sports; said even in college, his mother made sure to always keep an extra room available for his friends when they drove through Mansfield. Some of these friends include professional basketball players Romeo Travis and Antonio Graves and Akron Fab Five elite—Dru Joyce III; just to name a few people.
 
“My mom believed that everyone could evolve through love and that love has the power to build bridges and connect people to great opportunities in the world. This is a lot to what the Mansfield Winter Classic is about. The Mansfield community loves basketball, many of my friends play professional ball and I love it too. It’s for the love of the game and for those that evolve through it,” Lee stated.
 
Councilman Bryant, Mansfield Senior High School Principal Jose Hernandez and Mansfield City Schools Athletic Director Skip Fulton, have all agreed to serve as hosts of the Classic.
 
“It broke my heart last year to learn of the passing of Chirsten’s mother. His mother and my mom were actually both patients at the same cancer treatment hospital in Chicago,” Bryant said.
 
“I know he and his mom were very close and overall, I know Christen’s heart. He wants to do something that represents his mom’s love for the community and something that is meaningful to our young people. This classic represents the love he has for the city, for our young people, and for the game of basketball.”  
 
Bryant says he has worked with Christen for 7-months to help him develop the Classic.
 
“Christen was in a deep state of grief when we started working on this project. He had a huge vision for this Classic. I was committed to help lift him up to the best of my ability. I rarely see the type of determination and spirit that Christen has demonstrated through working on this project. He’s lost over 90 pounds through daily workouts and changes of diet and has met with me every week since September to make sure this project comes to life.”
 
In addition to general operation costs, ticket sales will go toward supporting the following health initiatives.
 
1.   Cancer Support Services (people going through chemotherapy/other intensive cancer treatments)
a.      Bottled Water
b.      Blankets/Throws
c.      Wig and hair supplies
d.      Makeup
e.      Meal cards
 
2.    Annual donation to Ronald McDonald House (Cleveland)
 
3.   Annual donation to Wounded Warriors Project: Combat Stress Recovery Program
a.       PTSD
b.      TBI: Traumatic Brain Injury
 
Currently, the Mansfield Winter Classic is recruiting teams throughout Ohio to participate and hopes to have a list of invitees formalized by May 5th. For more information on the Mansfield Winter Classic contact Christen Lee: christenlee42@gmail.com

The people of Mansfield are an inspiration to me as a Councilman and as a citizen. Attached is my 2016 Progress and Legislation Annual Review detailing all of the bills/new laws passed this year that are considered to be progressive. Thank you all for a great year. Let's continue to Move Opportunity Forward. Happy New Year and let's make 2017 an even stronger year! 

Best,

​Don

Dear Neighbor,

Please find attached, your copy of the 2017 temporary budget. This legislative item is expected to pass tomorrow night at City Council. If you have any comments or concerns, you are welcome to participate in tomorrow's public comment session during Council. City Council begins tomorrow at 7 pm.

Respectfully,

​Don

​MANSFIELD—Councilman Bryant was reappointed to chairmanship roles over both the Safety and Airport Council Committees. Bryant was also reappointed vice-chairman over Streets & Traffic, Zoning and Public Utilities Committees. Committee terms are for one-year and are voted and approved by Council every December.
 
“It’s an honor to serve the people of this great city and I look forward to continuing my work on developing innovative ways to prevent and to combat crime, as well as, strengthening my partnerships with the business community to bring in new opportunities for our regional airport” Bryant stated.
 
In his Chairmanship of the Airport Committee, Bryant has sponsored legislation and worked on projects to renovate the Mansfield Lahm Airport Terminal Building, to repave runways 5-23 and 14-32 and to remove two taxiways that were not compliant with FAA requirements. Councilman Bryant has also worked in partnership with the mayor’s office and city engineer’s office in developing a partnership with NASA, which involves Mansfield being part of the federal government’s exploratory future mission to Mars. Financially, Bryant has worked extensively with the city engineer’s office, mayor’s office, Ohio House of Representatives and the United States Senate to secure over six-million dollars in state and federal funding for airport projects.
 
As Safety Chairman, Bryant has worked closely with both Mansfield Police and Fire Departments in sponsorship of all safety legislation for the City of Mansfield. Bryant has spent countless hours working with Chief Coontz and Assistant Chief Porch in development of the police department’s Community Policing Bureau. This operation, Bryant says he is most proud of because this section of “our police department strengthens relationships with the Mansfield community at-large.”
 
“You will find our officers at most, if not at every community-wide event in Mansfield. Our officers are out on bicycles, on foot and in vehicle to build positive relationships with Mansfielders of all ages and backgrounds” stated Bryant.
 
But the Councilman also reminds the public of the duties and responsibilities of our firefighters.
 
“Our fire department is one the best safety agencies in all of North Central Ohio. I live close to a fire station and well…I hear the sirens often. I can’t thank them enough for their time and service to our city.”
 
“I want to thank all of our first-responders and members of our safety forces for all they do for this city.”
 
Councilman Bryant says his 2017 Safety Agenda will continue to be community-driven and will focus on further strengthening relationships between the safety forces and the Mansfield community and encourage young people to take a look at careers at the local, state or national levels in safety.
 
“We have one of the most professional and skilled safety departments in all of Ohio and I want to make sure that our young people are exposed to options to pursue and study criminal justice, forensic sciences, and to join the efforts in keeping not only Mansfielders safe, but helping to keep Americans safe in the years ahead.”  
 
When the Councilman was asked whether he welcomes President-Elect Donald Trump’s focus on law and order, Bryant stated,
 
“Once we have more information on the President-Elect’s law and order program, I’d be happy to provide more details. The thing you should know about me, is I am very approachable and am willing to sit-down with government leaders, business leaders or others who are interested in helping move opportunities forward for the City of Mansfield.” 

MANSFIELD--Councilman Don Bryant along with Angel Ross-Taylor, hosted a community-wide event on Saturday called, ‘Richland Stands United.’ This was a community town-hall with two panels, focused on the Issue on Drugs, Gun Violence and Youth Programming in Richland County. The director and organizer of this event was Mansfield native and Kent State University graduate, Trina Floyd.
 
16 County Representatives participated in the adult panel. These representatives include State Rep. Mark Romanchuk, Prosecutor Bambi Couch-Page, Mayors of Ontario, Shelby, Bellville, Lexington, and Mansfield; MPD Chief Ken Coontz and METRICH Commander Petrycki; Mansfield Law Director John Spon, Commissioner Gary Utt, Mansfield Sr. High School Principal, Dr. Jose Hernandez; Shelby Chief of Police, Richland Co. Mental Health and Recovery Services Director Joe Trolian, and representatives from the Ohio Highway Patrol and more.
 
Also present were special guests for the Richland Stands United youth panel: local organizer, Justin Philips; Ocie Hill Neighborhood Center Director, Lisa Hall; Pastor Russel Stanford, CACY Director, Lisa Funk; Mansfield Senior student, Isaiah Slone; Mansfield Sr. student, Brian ‘Toledo’ Benson; and St. Peters student, Tiara Ross. Mrs. Floyd also was a member of the youth panel.
 
Youth panelist spoke powerful truths, that according to Isaiah Slone, “adults and professionals in the community, should take more seriously.” Slone said when asked how gun violence affects young people in Mansfield, he said,
 
“It comes down to whether we want to move our lives forward and become successful, or do we just want to become another statistic, another young person taking risks for a life of crime that’s not likely going to lead anywhere.”
 
On the topic of bullying, youth panelist Brian Benson encouraged audience members, that if anyone sees an act of bullying, to try to stop it or report the behavior to an adult.
 
“People who are bullies, have issues going on inside. I don’t believe that bullies are better than anyone else. If I see one of my fellow peers getting bullied, I’m going to step in and try to stop it. If I feel that I can’t stop it, I’ll get someone who can. There’s no excuse for bullying, ever,” stated Benson.
 
Justin Philips, local organizer and a recovering addict, specifically to heroin; spoke to the issue on drugs and shared his personal story with the audience.
 
“You know, although I am responsible for my actions and choices that I made in the past, I would never wish addiction upon anyone. It’s something that you deal with day by day, year by year.”
 
When asked about steps toward solutions to the drug epidemic, Justin spoke to youth programing and reducing the effects of boredom when possible.
 
“When kids, young people are bored, is when things can really get out of hand. We need to coordinate more activities for our youth. Show them that we care and want to involve them in what’s going on around Richland county, especially during the summers when they’re out of school,” Philips stated.
 
During the main segment, Mansfield Sr. High School Principal, Jose Hernandez, spoke to taking immediate action to help students considered ‘at-risk,’ by connecting them with more services, including a weekly intervention course that Hernandez teaches on Wednesdays.
 
“I believe we need to make extra supports available to all of our students. But for our students who have fallen behind academically, socially or in-terms of behavior; we have created space during the school day, that allows us to bring-in outside supports, including mentoring agencies and groups that promote positive relationship building,” Hernandez said.
 
But focusing on the future of our youth is one thing, and dealing with what is happening now with gun violence and the drug epidemic are completely separate things. When asked how the drug epidemic could be stopped, the panel could not outline a specific plan. However, Richland County Prosecutor, Bambi Couch-Page, says it would be a huge impact if, “we could work on ways to concentrate our communication efforts on what’s out here.”
 
“We live in a county that is full of resources. We need to work to connect people to the services that are already available,” stated Couch-Page.
 
Councilman Don Bryant stated,
 
“Although the panel [including myself] could not outline a specific solution to the situations at hand; I believe they’ve taken meaningful steps forward toward creating solutions as leaders of Richland County. This panel has proven that they are willing to work together to coordinate and to strengthen services. By panelists showing up today, they are proving that they are also open to new ideas and more than willing to work with the public to develop solutions.”
 
“Regardless, as representatives of various levels of government in Richland County, from the state-level to the local and regional levels; we are all actively addressing the on-going issues of drugs, violence and youth issues,” Bryant stated.
 
Youth panelist, Tiera Ross said she appreciated the responses from the government representatives and wants to be part of the solution.
 
Ross said,
 
“Having a discussion on these issues is one step closer to reaching real solutions.”
 
For more information on Richland Stands United, contact Trina Floyd directly or join the Richland Stands United group on Facebook.