what a quick search can find:
http://www2.southbendtribune.com/stories/2007/09/18/local.20070918-sbt-MARS-A1-ROSELAND_S.stoRoseland's embarrassment
Townspeople hold hope for change on council
By MARTI GOODLAD HELINE
Tribune Staff Writer
A sign of the times in Roseland.
Tribune Photo/MARCUS MARTER
The involvement of David and Dorothy Snyder (top photo and bottom photo) is behind the dysfunction in town government, some residents say.
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A few opinions
It feels so inflammatory with the existing people; it hasnt settled down as much as I would have liked.
Karen Harrell
Roseland business owner
I hope Jan. 1 comes quickly and Roseland can get a fresh start.
Kelly Catanzarite
Roseland business owner
I think business owners are a little bit at a loss of how to change what transpires.
Pat Griffey
Roseland business owner
ROSELAND -- Three days after another fracas and arrest at a Roseland Town Council meeting, some town residents and business owners are optimistic better days are ahead for the community.
But they also believe there needs to be a better way to remove public officials from office in Indiana.
"I would like to see the town get back to what it used to be -- one that we were proud and happy to live in," longtime resident Pat Szigeti said Monday.
"I think people need the whole story before they make judgments," she added, referring to the latest incident. "I realize it looked bad.... It was shocking."
She was talking about Friday night when council member David Snyder, after being ejected from the council meeting, was involved in an altercation with Town Marshal Jack Tiller that was caught by television cameras at the front door of Town Hall.
Snyder said the marshal lunged and pushed him through the door to the Town Hall, causing him to fall, hit his head and lose consciousness. When he awoke, he was being hit in the face by Tiller, he said.
Television video footage shows the officer on top of Snyder, striking him.
Tiller has said little publicly since then.
Snyder was taken to a hospital for treatment of a concussion and other injuries before he was jailed Friday night for his involvement in the fight.
"It's a disgrace. It's an embarrassment," said Karen Harrell, who's had her business, Harrell Insurance Services, in Roseland for nearly 16 years.
The fighting and name-calling make her think of "teenaged boy stuff," she said.
"It's very sad," added Pat Griffey, owner of Page 1 Benefits, another town business.
"I hope David has consequences for his actions," said Kelly Catanzarite, an owner of Aaron's Plumbing in the town. "I hope people realize what police standards are and how they react when someone is coming at them, what they're trained to do."
Catanzarite was referring to comments from some witnesses that Snyder might have precipitated the incident by attempting to elbow the marshal.
No charges or lawsuits yet
Snyder was released Saturday on $250 cash bond and has an Oct. 4 court date for possible misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
"I'm not guilty of anything," Snyder said Saturday.
The St. Joseph County prosecutor's office decided Saturday not to pursue a felony charge of battery on an officer against Snyder but no decision was made as of Monday on other potential charges.
Snyder said Monday "it's a little premature" for him to talk about whether he plans litigation as a result of the altercation Friday.
"I do need to review the code book and talk to the council about getting rid of the rogue officer," he said.
While people are hopeful there will be a change and town government will improve, at the same time there is talk of getting rid of the people who are causing the problems.
Optimistic about future
"If we get the right team and work together as a team, I think we can get back," said Szigeti. "I would hate for us to give up without trying."
"I hope Jan. 1 comes quickly," Catanzarite said, "and Roseland can get a fresh start."
David Snyder and council President Charley Shields and controversial Clerk-Treasurer Cheryl Gridley all leave office at the end of this year.
"There's such a lack of professionalism," Harrell said.
After getting somewhat involved last year in council matters during a dispute over town citations for lack of business licenses, Harrell has taken a step back this year as have most business owners.
Harrell said she had hoped that after the start of 2007, things would improve with changes on the council.
"It feels so inflammatory with the existing people, it hasn't settled down as much as I would have liked," she said. But she believes there has been improvement since Ted Penn replaced Dorothy Snyder, David Snyder's wife, on the council.
"There are some very good people who care about this community," she noted.
But she fears things will not improve "until the Snyders are completely out of it, because of the hard feelings toward them" from their years of controlling the Town Council.
Those hard feelings wipe out anything positive the Snyders accomplished, Harrell said.
Businesses sit back
A year ago, Harrell, Griffey and other town business owners explored becoming more involved with the town.
"(Now) Roseland business owners are taking a neutral position," Griffey said. "I think business owners are a little bit at a loss of how to change what transpires."
Some people in town would like to be rid of David Snyder going back to when he and his wife both were on the council.
That has led to discussions of Indiana's need for a recall law. Public officials now can be removed from office only for a felony conviction or by action taken by the General Assembly.
Recall law desired
"Indiana needs to have a recall law," Catanzarite said. "Roseland is a perfect example of why."
"Instead of criticizing so much, people in other towns should look to make sure they don't find themselves in the same situation someday without a recall," Szigeti said, urging the entire state to look at the issue.
"There has to be a way to remove people from office when there is gross misconduct," Harrell commented.
State Rep. Ryan Dvorak, D-South Bend, has explored a recall law for Indiana, but got a cold reception from fellow lawmakers.
"I know the people of Roseland would like to see it," he said Monday.
Dvorak said he talked about a recall law with his colleagues and the chairmen of appropriate committees.
"The response I got always was really negative," Dvorak said.
He said he thought it was because some politicians want to avoid a situation like in California where frequent recalls have become disruptive.
"I have an open mind on the issue," said Dvorak.
He pointed out it is not unusual for people in local government to get into heated disputes with others on issues.
"Sometimes they go on for years," Dvorak said, referring to stories he's heard from other parts of the state.
He said he does not know the best way to resolve the situation when personal issues and dislike cause the inability of elected officials to work together.
It may have to be a matter of time, Dvorak suggested, until terms end and new elections bring replacements.
He said such local issues sometimes are best resolved locally.
"There are a lot of good people in the town of Roseland. It's a neat little town. It's sad the way they're being treated. It's an embarrassment," Dvorak said.
