January 22, 2019 Council Minutes
Once approved, a link to the official council minutes will be at the bottom.
COUNCIL MINUTES
January 22, 2019
St. Clairsville City Council met in Council Chambers on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 with the following present:
Tim Porter, Council President
Perry Basile, Council 1st Ward Cindy Henry, Finance Director
Mark Bukmir, Council 3rd Ward Richard Myser, Law Director
Linda Jordan, Council-At-Large Tom Murphy, Planning & Zoning Administrator
Beth Oprisch, Council-At-Large Jim Zucal, Service Director
Frank Sabatino, Council 2nd Ward Jeff Henry, Police Chief
Mike Smith, Council-At-Large Don Smithberger, Director of Services
Jim Velas, Council 4th Ward
The meeting was called to order by President, Tim Porter
MINUTES: Minutes of the January 7, 2018 meeting were distributed to Council. A motion was made by Beth Oprisch and seconded by Linda Jordan to approve the Minutes of January 7, 2018.
Roll Call Vote:
Basile Yes Sabatino Yes
Bukmir Yes Smith Yes
Jordan Yes Velas Yes
Oprisch Yes
Roll Call Vote: Seven (7) Yes Zero (0) No Motion Approved
CITIZENS HEARING:
There were no Citizens present who wished to address Council.
REPORTS:
Service Director, Jim Zucal:
I want to assure Council and our Constituents’ that we are busy. I want to complement our Street workers and the leadership. They have done a fine job during this horribly inclement weather. I shared with the finance Committee tonight that the City is fortunate to have good employees and good equipment. We didn’t have any breakdowns or accidents. Friday I talked to a guy who said he was going to send you home safe to your families. It seems like we keep getting these weekend storms but they are doing a good job. If you do have any concerns please contact me and we will try to address those. Again all the crews are doing a great job. We had some water breaks today and the utility department was out working on those. So again tough conditions but pretty tough guys and gals and everybody is doing a good job. If there is anything I can help you with please let me know.
Beth Oprisch: How is that working out not having an on call? Jim Zucal: We haven’t noticed much of a difference. It was unscheduled stand by and it was really just in the utilities. I can tell you this, in 2016 when I first started we averaged six to eight leaks a week. Today is the worst day we have had, we two minor and one service leaks. We normally don’t have more than two or three a month. It is just from being on a more even keel with the variable drives, etc.
Perry Basile: What is the standard protocol for the City when storms are coming? Do we pre salt? Jim Zucal: What we normally do is we watch the weather very closely. It seems like we have had weekend storms. The Street Department and the Electric Department are put on stand-by. They have a rotating list that they fill out. We meet with the Superintendents on Fridays The Police Department watches the weather very closely. Don Smithberger is at the top level in General Services we get out there and get started. We don’t pre-treat. I always defer to ODOT and they put down brine. I have been talking about brine with Cindi and the Mayor. Brine is a great pre-treatment product. Rock salt is not because it blows off the travel lane, so that is why they pretreat with brine. It is really cheap, we can buy it off of ODOT. It is a simple system to set up. I actually wanted to try it this year but we had not gotten around to that. We will try it next year. Donnie likes two hour lead time so we keep a good check on the weather. I think they do a really good job. We need to share with the public that when it snows and there are cars parked on the street it is hard for the guys to plow around the cars. Beth Oprisch: Is it possible to get the brine this year? Jim Zucal: We can it is not a real sophisticated system. We are going to keep looking at it and finding the right truck to put it in also. Beth Oprisch: Is there a certain pattern that we plow? Jim Zucal: The Guys have their own routes. They work on the mains and the hills first. I have been told they have run this pattern for a long time and they know where to go. They come back later and address the secondary roads and the alleys.
Mayor, Terry Pugh: Not Present
Police Chief, Jeff Henry: No Report
Finance Director, Cindi Henry: No Report
Planning & Zoning Administrator, Tom Murphy:
You have before you Ordinance No. 2019-03. That is the Ordinance that we talked about last meeting for the rezoning of 243 West Main Street from Corridor District to Down Town District. The Wodarcyk’s are present and there is emergency language in the Ordinance.
William Hooker is a member of the Architectural Board of Review, his time has expired and he has expressed a desire to be reappointed. A motion was made by Beth Oprisch and seconded by Mike Smith to reappoint Bill Hooker to the Architectural Board of Review.
Roll Call Vote:
Basile Yes Sabatino Yes
Bukmir Yes Smith Yes
Jordan Yes Velas Yes
Oprisch Yes
Roll Call Vote: Seven (7) Yes Zero (0) No Motion Approved
COUNCIL COMMITTEES:
Finance, Mike Smith: No Report
Utilities, Frank Sabatino:
I would like to reiterate what Jim said and give thanks to our department members out there on the cold days and nights taking care of leaks, the roads, etc. What a commendable job.
Police, Mark Bukmir: No Report
Street North Side, Jim Velas: No Report
Street South Side, Beth Oprisch: No Report
Safety, Jim Velas:
The City Safety Meeting will be this Thursday at 10:00 at the City Garage.
Building and Grounds, Perry Basile: No Report
Planning Commission, Mike Smith: No Report
Fire District, Frank Sabatino:
The Fire Board met on Wednesday, January 9th. It was our regular reorganization meeting. I was appointed as the Rep. for the City on the Fire Board. We rotate between the City and the Township for the Chairman of the Board. I was appointed Chairman this year. Chief John Slavic who was with us for a couple of years, he always said it was short term, submitted his resignation and Tim Hall was appointed Chief immediately. We want to thank John for bringing us some Big City Ideas. The next meeting will be Wednesday, February 5th at the Main Station.
Recreation, Linda Jordan:
Roller Hockey signups for ages 4 to 13 is open
The Center is accepting sponsorships for the Summer Concerts
Next meeting is Monday, January 28th at 4:30 at Rec. Center
Park District, Linda Jordan:
No Meeting – Next Meeting will be Monday, February 11th at 4:30 at Home Savings Bank.
Law Director, Richard Myser:
We have one piece of Legislation tonight. It is Ordinance No. 2019-03 the Ordinance that Tom addressed. Two weeks ago we discussed this Ordinance in detail. We can suspend the rules and pass it tonight and I think the Wodarcyk’s would appreciate that so they can move on.
No one has contacted me about going into Executive Session this evening.
There was presented and read to Council on its first reading by title only, ORDINANCE NO. 2019-03. Jim Velas moved that the rules requiring Ordinances and Resolutions to be read on three separate readings be suspended and declaring an emergency; Linda Jordan seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Basile Yes Sabatino Yes
Bukmir Yes Smith Yes
Jordan Yes Velas Yes
Oprisch Yes
Roll Call Vote: Seven (7) Yes Zero (0) No Motion Approved
There was presented and read to Council on its third and final reading by title only, ORDINANCE NO. 2019-03. A motion was made by Linda Jordan and seconded by Mark Bukmir that Ordinance No. 2019-03 be passed by Council.
Roll Call Vote:
Basile Yes Sabatino Yes
Bukmir Yes Smith Yes
Jordan Yes Velas Yes
Oprisch Yes
Roll Call Vote: Seven (7) Yes Zero (0) No Motion Approved
Ordinance No. 2019-03 was declared adopted.
The Next Council Meeting will be Monday, February 4, 2019 at 7:30 in Council Chambers.
There being no further business to come before Council a motion to adjourn was made by Mike Smith and second by Perry Basile.