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erst News-Times
Wodnosday, November 10, 1999
Amherst, Ohio
50 cents
Nordson vows cuts won't close Amherst site
by KATHLEEN WILLBOND
News-Times editor
Despite a recent announcement
by the Nordson Corporation that
-cutbacks will include a reduction in
workers, officials of the company
say the Amherst facility isn't going
to close.
The company which once earned
an E Star from the government for
its manufacturing capabilities during
World War II announced last week
that it has undertaken a restructuring
move titled "Action 2000."
For 14 hourly employees at the
company's Amherst and Elyria facilities, the restructuring meant layoffs Friday. The layoffs are the first
at the company since 1971, when 30
employees were cut, according to
spokesperson Lisa Bowers.
Action 2000 is designed to "optimize performance and stimulate financial growth," according to a re
lease prepared by the company.
"Our goal is to operationally
propel Nordson Coporation's worldwide performance levels to new
heights, given the strategic positioning we now have in place in our
core business," Edward Campbell,
president and CEO of the company,
said.
Action 2000, which will be implemented over the next two years,
will include several initiatives, including cutting back the number of
employees by five percent
Nordson employs about 4,200
employees globally, with 914 employees at its Amherst facility and
another 65 employees at its Elyria
facility.
In Amherst, 307 of the employees
are members of the International
Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. In Elyria, 57 employees are members of the union.
The Amherst facility houses several aspects of Nordson's global bu
sinesses including powder coating,
liquid coaling, container and automotive as well as electronics. The
facility also is home to some sales,
marketing, manufacturing and administrative offices, according to Peter
Waffen, director of coporate
communications.
"Very clearly, Amherst is not going to close," Waffen said last week.
"It is the hub of our commerce
activity."
But that will not necessarily insu
late Amherst from further cuts, according to Bowers.
"We will be reducing our worldwide headcount by five percent,"
Bowers said. "So there could be
more layoffs there over the next two
years."
Action 2000 includes a number of
strategies which include cuts, as
well as some acquisitions.
As outlined  by  Nordson,  they
CONTINUED on page 3
City officials, MetroParks
turn first dirt on rec plans
A host of cjty officials and contributors met at the West Side Park for
groundbreaking ceremonies on
Saturday.
"We are lucky to get this particular site, there is getting to be so few
spots left anymore in Amherst,"
mayor John Higgins said of the expansive project which is the first
city/county MetroParks project of
its kind.
The 72-acre park is located on
property just south of the Rt. 2 exit
behind the police station on South
Lake Street.
"This will be the first city-
MetroPark in the state, and I think
that makes a statement in itself,"
Higgins said. "The nature program
will be put together by the Metro-
Parks, and maintenance by the city,
who has the tools to do it."
The city of Amherst, the Lorain
County Metroparks, and the Community joined forces to raise the
$1.8 million needed to finish the
project.
"We bring something to the table,
the city brings something to the
table, and the community brings
something to the table — that's
what partnership is all about," Dan
Martin MetroParks director said.
"We're on time and we're on
budget, and if the (city) council approves the $339,000 bid for the new
building, we should be able to get
the contract signed and start moving
dirt within a few weeks."
Martin has been one of the main
organizers for the joint project.
The only "fly in the ointment"
could be noxious fumes released by
the wastewater treatment plant located on Beaver Creek south of RL
2.
According to the mayor, the EPA
is forcing changes that will upgrade
the treatment plant and address any
odor problems at the same time.
Election f99
Nov. 2, 1999
Amherst
Law Director
Kenneth Stumphauzer (D)
1,892
Alan W. Anderson (R)*
857
Council at Large
David C. Kukucka (I))*
1394
Nancy L. Brown (D)*
1308
David T. Williams (D)
1,295
Dennis E. Walters (R)
1,175
Barbara J. Kilgore (R)
1,056
Mark L. Costilow (R)
1,027
Ward 1
Terrence Traster (D)*
431
John J. Dunn (R)
293
Ward 3
Steve P'Simer (D)*
371
Michael Nolle (R)
206
Ward 4
Jennifer Scott-Wasilk (I)
396
John W. Mishak (D)*
265
Nicholas Brusky (I)
183
Elected without opposition were incumbent Demo
crat John G. Higgins as mayor, Democrat John S.
Dietrich as council president and incumbnet Democrat
Edwin R. Cowger in Ward 2.
0.5% income tax renewal,  10 years, roads
,
yes
1,720
no
1,089
School Board
Michael Kent Sutton
2,515
Carol A. Jajack41
2303
David A. Coffman
1,897
Amherst Township
Trustee
David C. Urig*
751
Gary A. Gutman
400
Doris  Jean  Thomas  was  elected  clerk   >
without
opposition.
Referendum to change zoning to allow cluster homes
with reduced minimum lol size.
no
809
yes
153
Those changes are scheduled to take
place before the park opens
officially.
West Side Park will have a 1.5
mile paved multipurpose trail for
biking, walking, running and rol-
lerblading, a soccer field, playground and sheltered picnic area.
There will also be a year-round enclosed pavilion for all nonprofit
community use.
One of the cost cutting issues being discussed is community involvement, such as scout troops and civic
groups to lend a hand with projects
such as rubbish removal.
In attendance at the groundbreaking was Sandra Bitar, daughter of
Jim Abraham. Her family donated
14 and a half acres to the project in
memory of her father, who had
worked in downtown Amherst since
the age of 10, making and selling
homemade candy at Mischka's
Candy Store.
Those attending groundbreaking ceremonies
at West Side Park include Tony Sprenger,
Sandra Bitar, Bill Starbuck, Eric Nord, mayor
John Higgins, Kirk Stewart (behind the mayor),
Sherrill McLoda, Dan Martin and in front is the
mayor's grandson Henry.
Voters prefer new law director
by STEVE BARRY
News-Times reporter
David Moore's personal campaign against city law director Alan
Anderson may have been more effective than anyone might have imagined, as Republican incumbent Anderson was defeated by Democrat
Kenneth Stumphauzer 857 votes to
1,892 votes.
"I feel I have protected my family, and I protected my community,"
Moore said. "He (Anderson) was
out of control  and abused  his
power.
Commenting on any future campaigns he might launch, Moore remarked, "This (the campaign
against Anderson) will be nothing in
comparison to the one I will launch
against city treasurer Kathleen Litkovitz in two years."
When asked about any chance
that he might decide to enter the political arena himself, Moore remarked, "Yes, I would like to, but I
don't know in what capacity."
Moore declined to say exactly
when he might throw his hat in the
ring, but he did say, "I will be involved in the next election a lot
more than I was in this last
election."
Because of the conflict between
Moore and the city, he has begun
moving his business, Crystal Mortgage, out of AmhersL The move
should be complete by March, 2000.
Alan Anderson conceded that,
"We were not able to overcome the
negative campaign conducted
against us."
When asked if he might try politics in Amherst in another capacity
he remarked, "I have not thought
that far ahead."
Anderson has had a law practice in
Amherst for 24 years.
"I will continue to have my law
practice in Amherst, and will be
able to devote 100 percent of my
time to the clients of my private
practice," Anderson said.
Incoming city law director Kenneth Stumphauzer said, "I feel privileged that they voted for me. I intend to keep my pledge to give
timely and quality legal services to
the city of Amherst and its
officials."
Two newcomers will take office
by STEVE BARRY
News-Times reporter
There will be some new faces in
city government in January, most
notably that of Democrat Kenneth
Stumphauzer, who will replace Republican Alan Anderson as city law
director.
There will be two new council
members who will take office as
well.
First time council member Democrat David Williams will represent
Amherst as a council-at-large representative. He won from a slate of
six at-large candidates with an unofficial count of 1,295 votes.
"I was pretty pleased with the
outcome (of the election). People
were pleased with my message, and
I met a great bunch of people who
just came up and volunteered to
help," Williams said last week.
When asked about changes he
would like to see enacted he replied.
David Williams
"You can't be involved in Amherst
without being involved with downtown. For a city our size we don't
have a recreation center or place for
seniors. My concept is more of a
community center, rather than a re-
Higgins to become
first fuii-time mayor
Usually when a person is reelected to a government position, he or she continues in the
same job with the same title.
But when mayor John
Higgins begins his second term
in January, he'll have the same
title, but a different job.
Actually, tiic mayor's job
will be the same, except that it
will be officially a full-time
position. Last November city
council voted to change the
mayor's job from part-time to
full-time due to the increased
responsibility involved in managing the growing city.
Higgins said the city has
grown by about 40 percent over
the last ten years, leading to an
CONTINUED on page 3
'nation center."
Williams believes that such a project is possible, but not without
pooling school, city, business and
individual resources.
"This won't be realized in a year
or two, but it's only going to happen
when somebody starts the dialogue,
and that's why I ran," Williams
added.
CONTINUED on paga 3
Sutton, Jajack to guide schools
Longtime incumbent school
board member Carol Jajack won her
sixth election last week to maintain
her seat on the board, with 2.503
votes.
But it was lifelong Amherst resident Michael K. Sutton, of Sutton
Tire Service, who edged her for the
majority of votes cast for a school
board member with 2315 votes.
"1 would like to express my deepest thanks to all of the citizens who
supported, encouraged and voted for
me in my recent campaign for the
Amherst schools board of education.
1 look forward to working- with the
current board members, the administration and all of the citizens in
our district in attempting to maintain
the high academic standards, while
improving -Mir district whenever we
can," Sutton wrote.
When asked what he felt the biggest challenge of his term is going
to be he mentioned the solution to
overcrowding situation in the Amherst schools.
On Wednesday Nov. 3, someone;
dropped off paperwork about eight
inches thick thai he is to read.
"I'm getting ready to roll up my
sleeves and go to work," Sutton
said.
David Coffman was unsuccessful
in his first bid for public office, lotting to Carol Jajack and Michael Sutton with 1,897 votes.
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