April 1, 2019 Council Minutes
Once approved, a link to the official council minutes will be at the bottom.
COUNCIL MINUTES
April 1, 2019
St. Clairsville City Council met in Council Chambers on Monday, April 1, 2019 with the following present:
Tim Porter, Council President Terry Pugh, Mayor
Perry Basile, Council 1st Ward Cindi Henry, Finance Director
Mark Bukmir, Council 3rd Ward Richard Myser, Law Director
Linda Jordan, Council-At-Large Tom Murphy, Planning & Zoning Administrator
Frank Sabatino, Council 2nd Ward Jeff Henry, Police Chief
Jim Velas, Council 4th Ward Jim Zucal, Service Director
Don Smithberger, Director of General Services
The meeting was called to order by President, Tim Porter.
MINUTES: Minutes of the March 18, 2019 meeting were distributed to Council. A motion was made by Jim Velas and seconded by Frank Sabatino to approve the Minutes of March 18, 2019.
Roll Call Vote:
Basile Yes Sabatino Yes
Bukmir Yes
Jordan Yes Velas Yes
Roll Call Vote: Five (5) Yes Zero (0) No Motion Approved
CITIZENS HEARING:
There were no Citizens present who wished to address Council.
REPORTS:
Service Director, Jim Zucal:
I do appreciate Council’s input with paving. If any of you have concerns with areas that need paving, again please forward them to me. Tonight is the second reading of the legislation so we are working on a list. When the list is finalized we will be sure that Council gets it and then it will be released to the public. Any input is greatly appreciated and again I want to thank our crews. I know that Donnie and the electric team have been out repairing poles, they have been very busy.
The next thing I would like to mention is that on Wednesday the 20th at 9:50 in the morning the three tornado warning sirens in the City will do a test run. This will be in conjunction with Ohio Severe Weather Awareness Week. The Street Department is out with the Dura-Patcher. The weather is nice, they patched again today. We are getting caught up on pot holes, I think they are doing a really fine job out there. We look forward to some nice weather to keep the progress going. We are doing storm sewers and culvert replacement at Tudor and St. Clair. We are also fixing a long awaited storm sewer problem on Westminster. Everybody is being productive we are getting things done and if there are any needs, wishes or wants please forward them to me. Frank Sabatino: I was riding my ward a couple of weeks ago and I got to the streets that I recommended paving and I couldn’t help but notice a lot of the work that has been done in my ward. It is just a credit to the Street department. I handed in my list and in a couple of days many of them were patched.
Mayor, Terry Pugh:
The first thing I would like to mention, we did have our test of our sirens. We had a little problem with the main one but Don Smithberger and Steve Mularcik worked that problem out. Today they tested the sirens again and all of them are up and running now, if we need them during a tornado or other severe weather
I want to thank Council for recommending people to be on the Charter Review Committee. The Committee will meet for the first time on Wednesday night at 6:00.
The last thing I want to mention is, at the presentation down at the Recreation Department, a question was asked by a Citizen if any city served by Aqua equal to or smaller that St. Clairsville had been toured. I said no we had only been to the one but since Brewster Martin was the one who asked the question a week from Wednesday we are going to visit two smaller water plants Greene and Struthers. Jim Velas, Ernie Schlatt, Brewster Martin and myself are going to visit those two plants.
Police Chief, Jeff Henry: No Report
Finance Director, Cindi Henry: No Report
Planning & Zoning Administrator, Tom Murphy:
Many of you are probably aware where Rice Energy was located at 252 East Main Street. Rice Energy moved out of the community but the space has already been filled up by a company called Pioneer Production Services. They go out to the well sites for companies like Gulfport and Ascent. They do inspections and make sure that things are running properly.
This evening I was at the Gazebo down by the Bike Trail with the Mayor and Tim Porter. There is something called a little free library. If you haven’t been down there for a while I suggest that you go down and check it out. The whole purpose of it is you can take a book and put another book in there. They are popular around the United States. Lori Hocking came up with the idea. She had seen them in other places. She bought the box and city crews put it in.
Steve Fortunato lives In the St. Clairsville area. He purchases homes and rehabs them. He always does a great job. He is doing it for the community. He adds to the community and does not take away from it.
COUNCIL COMMITTEES:
Finance, Mike Smith: Not Present
Utilities, Frank Sabatino:
Committee met this evening, I want to thank Don Smithberger and Anita Robinson for attending.
Don : AEP is doing maintenance work on their transmission lines and the switching station in Neffs. They will be working on it until the end of May. If you see lights blinking it is not the city it is AEP. Frank: We had a busy evening talking about a number of issues. The status of the city utilities, the water department, etc.
Police, Mark Bukmir: No Report
Street North Side, Jim Velas:
I have been looking at the streets and alleys on the North Side and Perry is looking in his ward also. We are going to get together and make a list for Council. Also the Street Department was in St. Patrick Alley today and they filled in a lot of pot holes especially the ones in the main business district behind Western Division Court. They were doing a pretty good job. Jim Zucal: I really appreciate Council’s support. The Dura Patcher is really an awesome machine to have in the city it does a really nice job and the workers get credit too. Jim Velas: It holds up a lot better than the cold patch.
Street South Side, Beth Oprisch: Not Present
Safety, Jim Velas:
There will be a safety meeting for the employees at the city garage on the last Thursday of the month at 9:00 a.m.
Perry Basile: No Report
Planning Commission: Mike Smith: Not Present
Fire District, Frank Sabatino:
The Fire Board met on Wednesday, March 20th. Board approved resignation of one full time employee who came back as a part time. Approved the hiring of a part timer. Signed a contract with Wheeling Township for fire and emergency service. Accepted a grant of $5,295 from J.B. Green Team to purchase extrication air bags. Work is being done in the kitchen and on the lighting. The next meeting will be Wednesday, April 10th at 3:00 at the main station.
Recreation, Linda Jordan:
The Easter Egg Extravaganza will be April 14th this year. It is a free event for children 12 and under. This year it will be divided into two different sessions 6 and under will be from 1 to 2:30 and the 7 and over will be 2:30 to 4:00. You can get more information on the web site. The next meeting is April 15th.
Park District, Linda Jordan:
The gates are now open daily. There is now a new manager Katie Banks. Anyone wishing to rent a shelter can reach her at 740-298-2787. She is doing a fantastic job, she has a lot of Fresh ideas. She is a great person all around.
As a member of the Belmont County Public Bible Reading Task Force. I would like to remind everybody that the Bible Reading is April 2nd thru May 1st. We do need reader for 15 minute time slots. Also that leads up to the National Day of Prayer which is May 2nd. I heard the speaker is very dynamic. The next meeting for the Park Board is April 8th.
Law Director, Richard Myser:
This evening we have one piece of legislation, it is Ordinance No. 2019-07, it is up for its second reading this evening. This is the Ordinance directing the Service Director to solicit competitive bids for the resurfacing of streets in the city. I have been contacted that we need to go into Executive Session to review personnel matters under Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22 (G) (1).
There was presented and read to Council on its second reading by title only, ORDINANCE NO. 2019-07. AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICES TO SOLICIT COMPETITIVE BIDS FOR THE RESURFACING OF STREETS IN THE CITY OF ST. CLAIRSVILLE AND AUTHORIZING AN EXPENDITURE NOT TO EXCEED $150,000.00 FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2019 AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
NEW BUSINESS: Mayor’s Report
The Mayor’s receipts for March was $2,950.00. A motion to approve the Mayor’s Report was made by Jim Velas and seconded by Linda Jordan.
Roll Call Vote:
Basile Yes Sabatino Yes
Bukmir Yes
Jordan Yes Velas Yes
Roll Call Vote: Five (5) Yes Zero (0) No Motion Approved
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
A motion to go into Executive Session for Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22 (G) (1) Personnel was made by Jim Velas and seconded by Linda Jordan.
Basile Yes Sabatino Yes
Bukmir Yes
Jordan Yes Velas Yes
Roll Call Vote: Five (5) Yes Zero (0) No Motion Approved
RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION:
A motion to return to Regular Session was made by Frank Sabatino and seconded by Jim Velas.
Basile Yes Sabatino Yes
Bukmir Yes
Jordan Yes Velas Yes
Roll Call Vote: Five (5) Yes Zero (0) No Motion Approved
The Next Council Meeting will be Monday, April 15, 2019 at 7:30 in Council Chambers.
There being no further business to come before Council a motion to adjourn was made by Jim Velas and second by Frank Sabatino.