Did Russo pay cash for his house in Gates Mills?

Created 7/29/08 by Ed Morrison

It's somehwat surprising that a public official can afford a house in Gates Mills. But the rumors surrounding the house go beyond that. Some suggest that Russo paid cash for his house.

In Forum: Chase the rumor

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Tim Ferris

1 post

8/12/08

The county record for the property now says that there is a mortgage lien held by Park View Federal

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Anonymous User

ipnewsgirl

8/20/08

THE PARMA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT TAXPAYERS NEED TO WAKE UP.
The district is a target of the corruption scandal and the scandal is explocive.Everyonein Cleveland is following the corruption scandal in Cuyahoga County,which appears to be focused on three government officials, Dimora,Russo, and Kelley, who appear to have been involved in some sort ofkickback schemes and quid pro quo shenanigans in which theyabused the public trust. The FBI raided their offices and homes andexecuted search warrants, including Kevin Kelley's office at the ParmaCity School District where he was the Board of E ducation President. As recently reported in Education News (www.ednews.org) this corruption has been linked to the Parma City School District. Everyone needs to read it.
Parma City Schools are in rough budgetary shape. They currently aretrying to pass a levy that will increase taxes significantly. The Boardis rightly concerned that the levy will not pass because of the publicbeing outraged by the Parma Board's and Administration's link to thecorruption. Board Vice President Rosemary Gulik and other boardmembers are campaigning for the levy, trying to divert attention fromtheir culpability in the corruption scandal. Yes, we said "theirsculpability." It did happen under their watch, and this board did allowKelley unusual control of decision-making, which by the way hecontinues to wield. Why?
One of the dynamics of the Parma Board is that Kelley is the onlymale member. The other members are older women, who Kelley has takento bullying. Even in recent executive session, when some of thesewomen attempted to suggest Kelley resign for the good of the District,Kelley became verbally aggressive, which stifled the women. At thatpoint, Kelley quickly changed the subject to forcing an internal audit,as he believes this a move that will help cover his tracks. He knowsthat an internal audit is not going to show that he and his fellowconspirators were give n anything directly by the District. Once thisinternal audit is complete, he intends to waive it around in attemptsdefend himself. But as was laid out in the Education News piece, thecorruption involved benefits that do not show up in the books of theentities being ripped off.
Parma School Board Vice President Rosemary Gulik recently was aguest on WTAM 1100 campaigning for the levy. She explained in theinterview that Parma's special education budget is $700,000 under whatit needs. How does this happen, when a great percentage of specialeducation money comes directly from the State and the Federalgovernments? Well, it's simple. Litigation co sts. Parma has been incontinuing litigation with one family and has spent nearly $3,000,000on that litigation, equating to about $700,000 each year. Yet theprogram that they are litigating over for this child only has a valueof about $60,000 per year. Why would any entity pay ten times theamount of a program to lawyers instead of providing the specialeducation services to the child? There is a great deal of talk thatKelley was getting kickbacks from the firm. (Squires Sanders andDempsey is the firm representing the district.) And as is pointed outin the Ed News piece, Vincent Carbone (convicted of bribery recentlyand now alleged to be in the protection of the FBI due to affidavitsprovided to them as part of his plea deal in which he ratted outKelley, Dimora and Russo) was a board member in the Orange City SchoolDistrict and special education litigati on costs there shot through theroof, also with Squires Sanders and Dempsey being the firm involved. And all of Cleveland has observed that this firm seems to be linked tothe "players" in nearly every scandal that breaks into the news,whether it is a construction related, a bond issue, or something else.The interview of Ms. Gulik can be heard on the following link:
http://www.wtam.com/cc-common/mainheadlines3.html?feed=122520&article=4107388
What makes these legal costs particularlysuspicious is that the Parma Schools, throughout most of thelitigation, has had insurance.
The insurance company Ohio Casualty (formerly IndianaInsurance) has provided the school district an attorney to defendagainst the parents claim, and the insurance company has paid Britton,Smith, Kahail and Peters to provide one of their partners, Scott Petersas the attorney. Yet still, Christina Peer of the Squires firm sits atevery day of hearing billing, and the Squires firm has had over 20attorneys working on the case duplicating the work of the Brittonfirm. This is highly unusual. One of the primary purposes of thistype of insurance is to protect a district from the cost of having topay an attorney to defend it. What financial protection has thisarrangement provided the Parma District?&nbs p; None. They arepaying for the high cost insurance AND the attorney fees. And why hasthe Parma Board made this arrangement? Because it was instigated byKelley! Does anyone really think that the scandal is only related toconstruction contracts?
Take a look at the double-dipping of the Parma superintendent. This superintendent is an empty chair. Kelley and the Board hadcomplete control over administrative decision-making, includingcontracts, hiring, legal issue, etc. Sarah Zatik has no authority inthe District, as supers do in other Districts. All she has done isagreed to sit quiet while these shenanigans go on. Her payoff? Well,when her contract expires they allow her to retire to collect herpension and then rehire her on a salary. She brings in nearly half amillion dollars a year with this double dipping arrangement at taxpayerexpense. A payoff for her keeping quiet about the corruption? Thatwhat we are hearing.
Kelley made very clear that he is not resigning from the Board,despite attempts to discuss it in executive session by other Boardmembers. Why? Because Kelley knows that he needs to stay close toParma so he can anticipate where the investigation is going and be in aposition to cover his tracks—just at Russo and Dimora have no intentionof going anywhere. They have their networks of others who are involvedin the corruption, and should they lose their holds on these networks,they will fall apart, and new individuals will come in and be able toexpose more of the scandal.
Kelley is deathly afraid of the special educationscandal coming to light, which involved the Squires firm. One of thekey players in that scandal is the Director of Special EducationMichelle Nolan. Nolan was brought into the District by the Board whenKelley was president. She came from Lakewood School District where shewas an ill thought of low level special education administrator. Sources there indicate she had been relegated to a back room and menialtasks because of her general inabilities. Out of nowhere, and withoutthe legally required posting for the position, she gets hired as theSpecial Education Director in Parma. Since then, she has been integralin driving up the District's legal costs. < /span>Well, whatmight the payoff have been to Nolan? The Lakewood health insuranceplan would not cover her gastric by-pass surgery. (Reportedly shetipped the scales at over 400 lbs. at one time) But she gets broughtinto Parma and special arrangements had been made to cover this surgeryand she takes medical leave for the surgery almost immediately aftershe is hired. Then she returns to work and engages in a pattern ofconduct that appears intended to drive up legal fees. Kelley must stayon the Board to try to protect the others who are integral players inthe shenanigans. Kelley will not be stepping down from the Board.
On Kelley's old radio show and in interviews he has had with thepress in the past, he was known to often quip, "It's for thechildren." We should no w be asking Mr. Kelley what part of thisscandal was for the children. It really seems as if these schemes werewell orchestrated by and for Mr. Kelley and the connections he has withorganized crime. If Kelley really wanted to do something for thechildren, he'd step down from the Board of Ed, disclose all of thiscorruption to the FBI so that all those responsible can be heldaccountable.
Parma taxpayers, do you really want to funnel more of your hard earned money into the hands of organized crime?
Ohio School Watch
http://www.ohioschoolwatch101.com/

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Anonymous User

Fairplay

9/6/08

It's simply pathetic that the weak and cowardly instigators of Internet inuendo, lies, and twisted facts continue to be permitted to post vicious and destructive material without regard for basic human integrity. With all of the benefits afforded individuals by the Internet unfortunately comes the ease of taking cruel potshots at any individual or organization with which one has even a minor concern. It is all well and good to allow factual, corroborated material to be spoken of in order to communicate an opinion; it is even necessary in order to right a wrong. What is terribly unfair, however, is to attack people, people with families, careers, and good reputations, in order to heap misery and pain. If a person has commited an illegal act, let the judment come in the form of the due process that our constitution permits and even demands. Cheap shots, such as those directed at certain employees of the Parma Schools, come with a high price. While it certainly makes for good Internet fodder, in the end it only appeals to those ghoulish mentalities that love to dwell in the vilest pits of rumormongering. I suggest that the initiators of Internet trash consider the ramifications of the same being directed to their loved ones. Yes, nearly everyone has people they, too, care about. You don't have to be Christian to understand that basic human kindness is desperately wanting in the people that produce the kind of filth (yes, filth) rampant in the "Wake Up" article. Perhaps one should take the time to investigate the good things that go on in all school districts, including Parma. I have no idea about the guilt or innocence of a Kevin Kelley, but I do know that it will find its resolution in the near future through the proper channels. But, if you want to know the facts about a superintendent's salary, take your lawyer and go to the schooldistrict's treasurer and get an education. If you are interested in a special education director, go to her boss and get the facts as well. You'll be surprised at the fairness you find every step of the way in either case. Regarding that special education director, do you think the parents of all of the thousands of special education children that are receiving wonderful educations care a hill of beans about someone's alleged weight loss surgery? I suspect that there is some disgruntled, miserable person out there that thinks that the rest of society is as cruel and vindictive as he or she obviously is. It is easy to be a villain; hard to be a hero. I guess that's why heroes get written about so much less than the real criminals that commit horrendous acts so frequently.

To those people who would expect fair play in their lives, I encourage you to take all of the inuendo and lies portrayed in this article and seek the truth from the many impartial and decent people that can help you. Believe me, you'll sleep better in the long run.

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Anonymous User

RMill

9/10/08

I agree with Fairplay. Is there any fact checking going on or just monitoring of the Rumor Mill. I would have expected more from someone like Mr. Morrison.

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	Anonymous User 10 posts

Did Russo pay cash for his house in Gates Mills?

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