November 20th, 2017 Council Minutes
Once approved, a link to the official council minutes will be at the bottom.
COUNCIL MINUTES
NOVEMBER 20, 2017
St. Clairsville City Council met in Council Chambers on Monday, November 20, 2017, 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 Cindi Henry, Finance Director
Jake Olsavsky, Council 1st Ward Richard Myser, Law Director
Frank Sabatino, Council 2nd Ward Tom Murphy, Planning & Zoning Administrator
Mike Smith, Council-At-Large
John Tomlan, Council 4th Ward
The meeting was called to order by Council President Jim Weisgerber.
MINUTES
Minutes of the October 16, 2017 regular meeting were distributed to Council. A motion to accept the minutes was made by Jake Olsavsky and seconded by Linda Jordan.
Roll Call Vote:
Bukmir Yes Sabatino Yes
Jordan Yes Smith Yes
Oprisch Yes Tomlan Yes
Olsavsky Yes
Roll Call Vote: Seven (7) Yes Zero (0) No Motion Approved
Minutes of the November 6, 2017 meeting were distributed to Council. A motion to accept the minutes was made by Jake Olsavsky and seconded by Linda Jordan.
Roll Call Vote:
Bukmir Yes Sabatino Abstain
Jordan Yes Smith Yes
Oprisch Yes Tomlan Yes
Olsavsky Yes
Roll Call Vote: Six (6) Yes Zero (0) No One (1) Abstain Motion Approved
CITIZENS HEARING: There were no Citizens present who wished to address Council.
REPORTS:
Service Director: Jim Zucal
I want to bring the Council and the Citizens present up to date on the Commons Mall project. It is progressing well, I am going to ask Tom Murphy to elaborate a little more on some Planning Commission issues but they did put down the asphalt on Dorothy Place last week. The Senior Suites building is progressing very well. I think their intention before the end of the year to have a grand opening. All the utility work is happening and it is successful so it is going very well. There is good news to report, we have not had a water line break in eight months now. Our crews have not been out to fix a break. I attribute that to the fact that we have worked diligently to make the dynamics of the system better. We installed some variable frequency drives on the pumps and with the help of Don Smithberger we have got this system idling like a well-oiled machine. I think that has helped. It wasn’t uncommon to have two or three leaks in a week. I think that is a milestone and it is progressing well.
With the approval of Councilman Bukmir I would like to have a Police Committee Meeting after this meeting.
Frank Sabatino: How long is the leaf pick up going to continue? Jim Zucal: I think it is until the first week in December.
Mayor: Terry Pugh:
I want to thank all the Citizens of St. Clairsville for the support for the renewal of the Police Levy.
I also have thanks for all the people starting with the City employees, the garden club, the chamber of commerce and Chanel 9 for all the beautiful Christmas decorations. The Chamber of Commerce also provided to the City at their expense all the Christmas banners that we have. And for the Parade and Chanel 9 coverage of that.
The other thing is a little over a week ago there was a status hearing with Judge Fregiato involving South Central Power and the City of St. Clairsville concerning power to the Roger Barack property. An injunction was in effect and when the hearing was over the preliminary injunction stays in effect until the middle of February unless there is a ruling by the PUCO prior to that.
Police Chief, Jeff Henry:
We loaned our extra car to the Bridgeport Police Department. They had a crash with their K-9 unit. We had a spare car that was still set up for K-9 unit so the Mayor graciously lent it to them. I have heard nothing but thanks from Bridgeport because they have their dog back on the road. Jim Weisgerber: It is good that we are cooperating with the local towns on a lot of issues. They appreciate it and someday they will help us. Jeff Henry: They do help us. Jim Weisgerber: I want to thank Officer Gazdik and Officer Arbenz for coming to our church to give us an update on what we should do for safety. It is a wonderful service that our Police Department supplies.
Finance Director, Cindi Henry:
I emailed you Ordinance No. 50. That is the funds that we received from AMP to help offset the legal fees involved with the injunction that Mayor Pugh just spoke about. A payment to the lawyer had to be made. I have that set up as an emergency.
For the last four years we have been in contract with the Auditor of State’s Office to preform our GAAP reporting. This year they offered us a two year contract in the amount of $18,250 for each year. I need someone to make a motion to pass this if you want to participate. A motion was made by Mike Smith and seconded by Jake Olsavsky to accept the Auditor’s contract.
Roll Call Vote:
Bukmir Yes Sabatino Yes
Jordan Yes Smith Yes
Oprisch Yes Tomlan Yes
Olsavsky Yes
Roll Call Vote: Seven (7) Yes Zero (0) No Motion Approved
Planning & Zoning, Tom Murphy:
Jim Zucal and I went out to St. Clair Commons, that project is moving along. The surface course is down on Dorothy Place. The parking lot paving is complete, the siding is going up on the structure. One of the things we need to tie down with them prior to the Planning Commission is the bond. I talked to Rick Coley last week and he said they are working on that. The bond is to protect the City if something were to go wrong with any of the utilities, we can access the bond. In most cases there are no issues but with that we would have the protection.
The Planning Commission meeting in regard to the St. Clair Commons final plat is set up for Monday, December 4th at 6:00 p.m. That will be the only item on the agenda.
COUNCIL COMMITTEES:
Finance, Mike Smith: No Report
Utilities, Frank Sabatino: No Report
Police, Mark Bukmir:
Meeting tonight after Council meeting.
Street North Side, Jake Olsavsky: Not Present
Street South Side, Linda Jordan: No Report
Safety, Beth Oprisch: No Report
Building & Grounds, Mark Bukmir: No Report
Planning Commission, Mike Smith: No Report
Fire District, Frank Sabatino:
The Fire Board met on Wednesday, October 25th and discussed vehicle maintenance, we heard from Cornerstone Health regarding insurance. We had a part time employee resign. The next Fire Board meeting will be November 29th at 3:00 at the Main Station.
Recreation, Linda Jordan:
The Recreation Center had a great showing for the Christmas Parade including people helping to decorate and some who walked or rode with the Center in the actual parade. There has been great Community support and involvement lately.
We have some new team sponsorships for bantam basketball including Riesbeck’s, Buckeye Pest Control, Tims Custom Cabinets and Top Notch Cleaning. Bantam Coaches are meeting tonight.
Park District, Linda Jordan: No Report
ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS
Law Director, Richard Myser:
We have two pieces of legislation to bring before Council tonight. For its first reading 2017-50. As the Finance Director indicated, this is an Ordinance for additional permanent appropriations. The Finance Director would like it passed tonight if that is at all possible.
The second Ordinance is one that was read at the last meeting. It is before Council tonight on its second reading. This is Ordinance No. 2017-49. That is to prohibit medical marijuana cultivation, process and retail distribution within the City of St. Clairsville. There is emergency language in this ordinance.
There was presented and read to Council on its second reading by title only, ORDINANCE NO. 2017-49; AN ORDINANCE TO PROHIBIT MEDICAL MARIJUANA CULTIVATION, PROCESS AND RETAIL DISTRIBUTION WITHIN THE CITY OF ST. CLAIRSVILLE AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
There was presented and read to Council on its first reading by title only, ORDINANCE NO. 2017-50; AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE ADDITIONAL PERMANENT APPROPRIATIONS FOR TH NORMAL EXPENSES AND OTHER EXPENDITURES OF THE CITY OF ST. CLAIRSVILLE, STATE OF OHIO, FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 1, 2017 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2017, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Linda Jordan moved that the rules requiring ordinances and resolutions to be read on three separate readings be suspended and declaring an emergency; John Tomlan seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Bukmir Yes Sabatino Yes
Jordan Yes Smith Yes
Oprisch Yes Tomlan Yes
Olsavsky Yes
Roll Call Vote: Seven (7) Yes Zero (0) No Motion Approved
There was presented and rad to Council on its third and final reading by title only, ORDINANCE NO. 2017-50. A MOTION WAS MADE BY John Tomlan and seconded by Jake Olsavsky that Ordinance No. 2017 -50 be passed by Council.
Roll Call Vote:
Bukmir Yes Sabatino Yes
Jordan Yes Smith Yes
Oprisch Yes Tomlan Yes
Olsavsky Yes
Roll Call Vote: Seven (7) Yes Zero (0) No Motion Approved
NEXT MEETING:
The next Council meeting will be Monday, December 4, 2017 at 7:30 P.M. in Council Chambers.
There being no further business to come before Council a motion to adjourn was made by John Tomlan and seconded by Mike Smith.