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Dominic Ruscio: 'This is far from over'

City Hall says his campaign to abolish the Downtown Association has failed. But for Dominic Ruscio, this thing isn't over. Far from it. First, the owner of the Day's Inn and Suites on Bay Street wants to see exactly how the City of Sault Ste.

City Hall says his campaign to abolish the Downtown Association has failed.

But for Dominic Ruscio, this thing isn't over.

Far from it.

First, the owner of the Day's Inn and Suites on Bay Street wants to see exactly how the City of Sault Ste. Marie calculated the results.

Then, he wants to check his legal options: he and fellow downtown dissident Joe Bisceglia don't interpret every jot and tittle of business improvement area law the same as the city does.

Even if he's found to have lost fair and square - and Ruscio concedes that's probably what happened today - he insists there's still stuff that needs changing.

"Obviously we failed," Ruscio tells SooToday. "But at the end of the day, people realize there are some big issues that need to be fixed."

According to unofficial numbers released today by City Hall, 67 requests to abolish the Downtown Association were received.

That's 43.8 percent of the 153 eligible business and property owners.

Ruscio needed at least 50 percent to win.

'Fifty percent of people are still unhappy'.

The law also required those who signed requests to represent at least half of general municipal taxes paid by business and property owners in the area.

Ruscio also came up short on that amount.

Those making requests, as calculated by the city, represented 47.5 percent of taxes.

"Fifty percent of people are still unhappy," Ruscio says.

"I think we've brought to light that there are some serious issues. I for one will be very happy to see what kind of changes they're going to make."

Ruscio says some property owners initially signed requests, but became upset when their names started appearing in media reports and somehow he was blamed for that.

$100,000 should be returned to businesses

Others changed their mind after meeting with Duane Moleni, the Downtown Association's new manager.

With a new board of directors and a new manager, they decided to give the association a chance to show what it could do.

"Somehow these new people were going to make these changes," Ruscio says. "They've got an extra $100,000 sitting in their coffers which means we've been way overcharged."

Should that money be returned to the businesses that provided it?

"In good faith, that's what I think they should do,' Ruscio says.

He says the one important result of the dissolution campaign was the discovery that, for years, the Downtown Association hasn't had the required number of municipal representatives on its board.

"The board has no choice. They have to restructure the board. They haven't followed the guidelines. The composition is not as legally required," he says.

'There are people on that board who think they are above God'

Ruscio believes the assocation's chair and its entire board should now step aside.

"A fresh start is absolutely a must," he says. "They need to appease the 50 percent of people who are still unhappy with them."

"You can't change someone who doesn't see an issue with their actions. There are some people on that board who think they are above God. This is far from over."

Joe Bisceglia told SooToday tonight that he was pleased to see Duane Moleni's commitment today to "continue the restructuring efforts that are well underway, and set a new direction and plan for the street."

"At least there is an indication of restructuring " Bisceglia said.

"The repeal movement had a positive effect. It is now acknowledged, given the number of votes, that restructuring needs to take place. I'm grateful to hear that Duane Moleni is continuing that process."

Final results from the petition campaign will be presented to City Council on September 14.

Earlier SooToday coverage of this story
 

Downtown Association survives. Ruscio petition fails on all counts

Mayor Provenzano's downtown action plan

 

 


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David Helwig

About the Author: David Helwig

David Helwig's journalism career spans seven decades beginning in the 1960s. His work has been recognized with national and international awards.
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