October 3rd, 2016 Council Minutes
Once approved, a link to the official council minutes will be at the bottom.
COUNCIL MINUTES
October 3, 2016
St. Clairsville City Council met in Council Chambers on Monday, October 3, 2016 with the following present
Jim Weisgerber, Council President Terry Pugh, Mayor
Mark Bukmir, Council 3rd Ward Jim Zucal, Service Director
Linda Jordan, Council-At-Large Jeff Henry, Police Chief
Beth Oprisch, Council-At-Large Tom Murphy, Planning & Zoning Administrator
Jake Olsavsky, Council, 1st Ward Richard Myser, Law Director
Frank Sabatino, Council 2nd Ward Cindi Henry, Finance Director
Mike Smith, Council-At-Large Don Smithberger, Electric Superintendent
The meeting was called to order by Council President Jim Weisgerber
MINUTES
Minutes of the September 19, 2016 meeting were distributed to Council. A motion to accept the minutes was made by Beth Oprisch and seconded by Linda Jordan.
Roll Call Vote
Bukmir Yes Olsavsky Yes
Jordan Yes Sabatino Yes
Oprisch Yes Smith Abstain
Roll Call Vote: Five (5) Yes Zero (0) No One (1) Abstain Motion Approved
CITIZENS HEARING:
Stephanie Harris, Race Director
I was here last year and with your approval we held the first Spring into Shape 5k for St. Mary’s. On May 7, 2016 we had 223 participants and raised just under $10,000 for the School. With that success of course I am back again asking for approval for the road closure and we also need to use the Biketrail for May 6, 2017. A motion to approve the Spring into Shape 5k for St. Mary’s was made by Jake Olsavsky and seconded by Mike Smith.
Roll Call Vote
Bukmir Yes Olsavsky Yes
Jordan Yes Sabatino Yes
Oprisch Yes Smith Yes
Roll Call Vote: Six (6) Yes Zero (0) No Motion Approved
REPORTS:
Service Director: Jim Zucal
I am still focusing on Utilities and the Mayor and I reviewed today a report, an agreement for utility rates study and I think we are going to finalize that.
I have a meeting tomorrow with the County Water & Sewer District to come up to speed on their agreements with the City looking at the overall picture to try to get the big picture items together so we can work on what needs to be done at the City.
I had one other request and I had spoken to Mr. Weisgerber about the request from the Cumberland Trail Fire District to look at the agreement with the City because they are going to look for outside funding to possibly enlarge or upgrade their facility and without a long term lease or ownership of the facility they may lose out on the opportunity. They would like City Council to look at that. That was presented to me by Fire Chief Lance Rice and there is a letter here if Council wants to act on it. Jim Weisgerber: We have a lease in effect now. It is a term lease, how long is it for?
Jim Zucal: They are asking for a longer term lease or ownership of the facility so they can seek outside funding for expansion. I am sure they are willing to have a discussion. Frank Sabatino: As a member of the Fire Board, we gave a longer term to the School Board and as with the Fire Board there is always the stipulation that if they would no longer need the building it would revert back to the City. Jim Weisgerber: If I remember correctly we upped the lease on the football field from 50 years to 99 years with the same clause. Richard could we just ament the lease on the Fire House? Richard Myser: Absolutely. We will want to take a look at it, if it is a year to year lease we could make it a lease for a definite term.
Mayor, Terry Pugh
I went with Don Smithberger to the AMP-Ohio Conference. I thought it was a very worthwhile conference. For me especially the Ohio Municipal Electric Association part. The same Organization but separate. The AMP is more the technical and the OMEA is more the regulations. It is political with lobbying. I can say I went to a lot of meetings. Did I understand everything that was on the AMP side, have you ever listened to an electric engineer who never cracks one joke and talks about something that you are trying to follow? I learned a lot but I have a long way to go. From the meeting I learned that this week is designated Public Power Week. The City did receive two awards from AMP-OH the first award is presented to the City especially to the Electric Department for the system improvement award honorable mention for underground primary upgrade. The second award I feel is even more important is for Transmission Distribution Safety Award for Donnie and his men.
Police Report for September 2016
Calls and Complaints 237
Special Teams Call Outs 1
Accidents 7
Arrests 23
Parking Tickets Issued 45
Traffic Stops 53
Miles put on Cruisers 5,910
Gasoline Used 633.3 gallons
Police Chief, Jeff Henry: No Report
Finance Director, Cindi Henry: No Report
Planning & Zoning, Tom Murphy
The Planning Commission met last Monday, Sept 26th. Beth was present at that meeting on behalf of Council. The Planning Commission did approve the final site plan for the new office building that was proposed for the Dairy Dream site. They hope to start as soon as possible however this time of year the weather is always a question. Their idea is to get it under roof at least before snow flies. They hope to be open late spring or early summer.
The Board of Zoning Appeals will meet on Thursday, October 13th at 6:00 p.m. That is related to an electronic message center sign that is similar to the sign at Convenient.
COUNCIL COMMITTEES
Finance, David Trouten: Not Present
Utilities, Frank Sabatino
Utilities met this evening. I want again to congratulate Don Smithberger and his men. I never get tired of saying it, that is an award we will take every year. Don Smithberger: On the same token I would like to thank Council and the Administration for your support and giving us the tools that we need to get things taken care of. Jim Weisgerber: Be sure and let the crew know that we appreciate the job they do.
Police, Mark Bukmir: No Report
Street North Side, Jake Olsavsky: No Report
Street South Side, Linda Jordan:
They have made numerous repairs to the streets at least in my area. They are doing a great job. Frank Sabatino: Last meeting I talked about an issue in my area on Locust Lane. Is there any further action that you would recommend that we proceed with on that issue? Jim Weisgerber: You are talking about the parking? Yes I would recommend we move that to the Street South Side and the Police Committee. Let them discuss the issue and come back with a recommendation.
Safety, Beth Oprisch: No Report
Building & Grounds, Mark Bukmir: No Report
Planning Commission, Mike Smith – No Report
Fire District, Frank Sabatino
The Fire District met last Wednesday. A number of issues were covered. At the last meeting I mentioned that we appointed a Township Representative and I said once that individual accepted I would announce that person’s name. That individual is Mr. Todd Witchey. We had an update on Health Insurance renewals. We had an update on a FEMA grant that we applied for and received about $22,000 it is going to replace hoses, nozzles, etc. We talked about Fire Station improvements. After 20 years we updated our thermal imaging camera. We bought three of them. What a difference in the technology. The next meeting will be Tuesday, October 25th at 3:00 at the Main Station.
Recreation, David Trouten: Not Present
Park District, Linda Jordan
The repairs are supposed to start sometime this month, repairs on the paving, the retaining wall and the drainage system. They have gone to once a month meetings and the next meeting will be October 24th.
ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS
Law Director, Richard Myser
We don’t have any ordinances or resolutions to act on however, we will be going into executive session this evening for consultation with Counsel regarding pending litigation. That particular section of the Ohio Revised Code is 121.22 (G) (3).
NEW BUSINESS: Mayor’s Report to Council
The Mayor’s Collection for September was $3,588.40. A motion to approve the Mayor’s report was made by Jake Olsavsky and seconded by Linda Jordan.
Roll Call Vote
Bukmir Yes Olsavsky Yes
Jordan Yes Sabatino Yes
Oprisch Yes Smith Yes
Roll Call Vote: Six (6) Yes Zero (0) No Motion Approved
Beth Oprisch: I got a call from one of the Auditors and the question was do we take minutes at all of the committee meetings. I said we didn’t that I know of. I just wondered if that was something that had been passed on. That recommendation is that all committees should keep minutes. I don’t know if that is something that we need to do something about. I got that phone call and that information I thought we needed to discuss that. Jim Weisgerber: If the Auditor’s recommend that I think we should just start taking minutes. Clerk: The three meetings that Tom Murphy is in charge of we do minutes. That is Planning, Zoning and Architectural Board. Jim Weisgerber: I think that is something that the head of each committee needs to take care of. Either do it or have someone do it. Richard Myser: That lends itself to the question when you take these minutes what are you going to do with the minutes? Are we going to record them and keep them someplace? Is Kathy going to keep a set of minutes for each one of these committees? Mayor Pugh: One thing we have talked about is getting a transcriber. Clerk: They just have to be notes really. They don’t have to be as detailed as I do because we won’t be recording them. They just need to be notes on what was discussed. Cindi Henry: Our minutes are not minutes they are transcriptions here. They need to be brief scenarios of what occurred at this meeting and motions that are made and approved of ordinances and resolutions. Reporting of these meetings are verbatim. Anybody who give any classes on minute taking it is just a brief synopsis and that is just basically what the Auditors are looking at for the different committee meetings also. They want to know if different things were brought to the committee. I bring the bank reconciliations in and the committee signs off on them. I also distribute them in Council. I think the minutes here at this level should reflect a motion and a second by someone on finance to prove that they were accepted and distributed accordingly. As it is we are only doing it in Finance. Committee. There are several things that we are working with the Auditor’s to straighten out that has not been done around here.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
A motion was made by Linda Jordan and seconded by Mike Smith to go into executive session per Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22 (G) (3) for consultation with Counsel regarding pending litigation
Roll Call Vote
Bukmir Yes Olsavsky Yes
Jordan Yes Sabatino Yes
Oprisch Yes Smith Yes
Roll Call Vote: Six (6) Yes Zero (0) No Motion Approved
A motion was made by Jake Olsavsky and seconded by Linda Jordan to return to regular session.
Roll Call Vote
Bukmir Yes Olsavsky Yes
Jordan Yes Sabatino Yes
Oprisch Yes Smith Yes
Roll Call Vote: Six (6) Yes Zero (0) No Motion Approved
NEXT MEETING: Monday, October 17, 2016 – 7:30 p.m. in Council Chamber
There being no other business to come before Council a motion to adjourn was made by Jake Olsavsky and seconded by Linda Jordan.