May 20, 2019 Council Minutes
Once approved, a link to the official council minutes will be at the bottom.
COUNCIL MINUTES
May 20, 2019
St. Clairsville City Council met in Council Chambers on Monday, May 20, 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
Beth Oprisch, Council-At-Large Jim Zucal, Director of Public Services
Frank Sabatino, Council 2nd Ward Jeff Henry, Police Chief
Mike Smith, Council-At-Large
Jim Velas, Council 4th Ward
The meeting was called to order by President, Tim Porter
Mayor Pugh: It is my pleasure to present a Certificate of Appreciation to Officer Mike Duplaga for Outstanding Service and Professionalism as the St. Clairsville Richland School Resource Officer to Assure the Safety and Well Being of the Students and Staff of the St. Clairsville-Richland School District. Superintendent Walt Skaggs: On behalf of the School Board, our students, our staff and our community we want to thank Council. Michael has been an outstanding addition. Any time you have change people are apprehensive but bringing Michael onboard he stepped right up. Officer Gazdik had been with us for 18 years and did an outstanding job. We have not missed a beat. Michael interacts with the kids in a positive manor. He supports the staff, the parents and the community. He is everywhere, he is in all of the buildings. You never find him in his office. I told him when he came onboard “I don’t want to see you in your office” I want to see you interacting with the kids, reading to the kids, giving a safety program. He has put together several programs, drug & alcohol awareness. He put together programs for the entire student body. We are so pleased with the job he has done this year. We thank the Mayor & Council for recognizing him. It was important for our team to come here and recognize the great job that Michael has done.
Officer Mike Duplaga: Thanks for everybody who gave me the opportunity, I appreciate it very much. I didn’t know exactly what the job was like. I was used to working the road for six years in Bridgeport so there was obviously a huge change. I went blind and kind of learned as I went with every incident that popped up. I am still learning, I think I will continue to learn. Everybody from the school have been instrumental in helping me and teaching the difference in how to handle things in the school verses Juvenile Court. They have all been great. I would like to thank Chief Henry for helping me get in that position. I didn’t know how much I would like it but I really do. I want to thank the City and the School for all their help. Chief Jeff Henry: Michael has exceeded my expectations as a School Resource Officer in his first year. Walt is right he is not in his office. I caught him the other day playing kickball with the fourth graders. He has really fulfilled our need at the school and that is an important spot.
Tim Porter: Next we will go to the minutes. The April 15th meeting there were a couple of corrections. The changes are highlighted in the Council copies.
MINUTES: Minutes of the April 15, 2019 meeting were distributed to Council. A motion was made by Beth Oprisch and seconded by Linda Jordan to approve the April 15th minutes with the corrections.
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
Minutes of the May 6, 2019 meeting were distributed to Council. A motion was made by Jim Velas and seconded by Mike Smith to approve the May 6th minutes.
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
Minutes of the May 15th Special meeting were distributed to Council. A motion was made by Mike Smith and seconded by Jim Velas to approve the May 15th minutes.
Roll Call Vote:
Basile Abstain Sabatino Yes
Bukmir Yes Smith Yes
Jordan Yes Velas Yes
Oprisch Yes
Roll Call Vote: Six (6) Yes One (1) Abstain Zero (0) No Motion Approved
CITIZENS HEARING: There were no Citizens present who wished to address Council.
REPORTS:
Service Director, Jim Zucal
Lindsay Piccolini did resign as the Recreation Director effective today. I met this afternoon with the Recreation Board, Linda Jordan and Cindi Henry were present. It is the recommendation of the Administration to promote Sean Hanley to be the Director. We have a new person who came onboard Olivia Ooten who will be replacing Sean in the Program Director position. Both of those position were approved by the Recreation Board. We wish Lindsay well, she served the City for 3 ½ years. She was ok with me telling you that she accepted a job with the Federal Government in Wheeling. Good for Lindsay, we appreciate what she has done and we have a good plan in place. Beth Oprisch: The reason for her resignation was another job opportunity? Jim Zucal: Yes she took a job with the Federal Government in Wheeling. Beth Oprisch: What kind of notice did she give? Jim Zucal: She gave us about a 10 day notice. She had to make the decision. I am sure it was a tough decision for her. She felt it be not as demanding on her physically. She shared with us that she has some health issues and this would be a structured day job with set hours and easier on her health.
On to the paving, we had legislation before you tonight that Mr. Myser prepared. There is actually two pieces of legislation. I put before you a bid summery from the bid opening on May 15th. We had three contractors bid on our paving. The lowest bidder was Shelly & Sands for $191.196. We have a very aggressive paving program a lot like last year that was around the $200,000 mark. We thought the funds were trimmed down a bit this year. The Mayor, Cindi and I met and felt comfortable that we could come up with the additional $50,000 to make it $200,000. If Council so wishes I am asking for emergency passage so we can get all of this done before School starts in August. The two pieces of legislation allows us to go up to $200, 000 and awarding the bid to Shelly & Sands who was the low bidder. Beth Oprisch: Who did the paving last year? Jim Zucal: The paving last year was done by Shelly & Sands. They did a nice job last year, we were happy with it. We think this year’s program is equal or slightly better than last years.
I would like to tell you we have a great summer crew this year. They have been working Donnie and Darin have had them working downtown. They have been weeding, mowing, sweeping, and cleaned the downtown up very nicely. They went to the Commons Mall Crossing today and worked out there. The worked on the entrances to the City where the welcome signs are. They are just a great crew and really doing a great job. I have heard some really good complements from residents. If you are around Tudor Drive we put in a new storm sewer collection system. We are looking at an aging infrastructure on Westminster where there has been a storm sewer problem. We are fixing that. I have had people stop and say thank you, we have been waiting years for this. We are working on it. We are getting things done and again it is a team effort the whole group is working well together. We had our Arbor Day Program and again the City has met all the requirements for a tree city. That is so important for grant applications and the status of our city.
Mr. Brooks has asked many times for information. I do have a packet for him that dates back to 1984 where various Chemists and Engineers have looked at our water and sewer systems. There is even a flash drive in here because there is so much information we could not copy it all.
Mayor, Terry Pugh:
As Jim mentioned the Arbor Day, Tree City Organization presented an award to the City for 20 years of participating in Tree City USA. By being a Tree City USA it does help with certain Grants if there is money available especially with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
I hope you have seen that we have installed the additional two flags poles out by the East end sign. One is for the State and one is for the POW flags. Last year we put up the main flag pole. It is completed now and is lit. Frank Sabatino: I was glad to see that. Was that a City endeavor? Mayor Pugh: Actually, the City paid for everything, the Electric Department did most of the work. The American Legion did provide the U.S. Flag. Frank: It is a welcome addition.
Thursday will be the employee’s safety picnic at the garage. It will start at 11:30, everyone is welcome.
Police Chief, Jeff Henry: No Report.
Finance Director, Cindi Henry:
We are going to have our annual Budget Hearing at 7:00 on July 1ar. I will advertise it. Normally it is about two weeks later on our second meeting but we are going to hold it on our first meeting.
We got our 100% participation from Workers Comp. again this year. It helps us save about 4% of our Workers Comp.
Planning & Zoning Administrator, Tom Murphy:
Some good news for City Council. There is a new business moving in to 110 East Main Street that is directly to the right of Changes Family Hair Salon. It is a sewing and alterations business called Custom Fashions so we will have two businesses in town like that. It is always great to see that type of business open up in town. The new Pizza Milano building is moving along. Now that that project is moving forward there is really only one structure in town that really needs some improvement that is the 166 East Main Street structure that is the old Prime Time Video. I have been in contact many times with John McNab. He has an Architect hired he just hasn’t proceeded forward yet with presenting any plans. I did contact the Historic Preservation Tax Consultant. If he is successful in getting tax credits that will help his project move forward. That would be great to see.
There is a tentative Board of Zoning Appeals meeting set up for June 20th. There could be three items on the agenda depending on if the applications are submitted. One is a Variance, one is a parking lot and the third would be for a possible new electronic message center sign for Belmont Savings Bank.
There will be a Planning Commission Meeting on July 1st. Hopefully it will be the final plan approval for the parking lot for Print N Copy. St. Clair Commons will be submitting their preliminary plan for the remainder of their site.
COUNCIL COMMITTEES:
Finance, Mike Smith:
When is the paving going to start if the ordinances pass tonight? Jim Zucal: I talked with Shelly & Sands and they would like to start in June. Beth Oprisch: Do we have an update of the paving list? Jim Zucal: It is the same list that I handed out before. The reason for the increase it the price of asphalt has gone up.
Utilities, Frank Sabatino: No Report
Police, Mark Bukmir: The Police Committee will meet tonight.
Street North Side, Jim Velas: No Report
Street South Side, Beth Oprisch: No Report
Safety, Jim Velas: The Safety Meeting for this month will be Thursday, May 23rd and the program will be Defensive Driving.
Building Perry Basile: No Report
Planning Commission: Mike Smith: No Report
Fire District, Frank Sabatino: Fire Board Meeting will be Wednesday, May 22nd at 3:00 at the Main Station
Recreation, Linda Jordan: Next meeting will be Monday, June 17th at the Rec. Center
Park District, Linda Jordan:
The Park District will be offering swim lessons this year. The fee is $25 per child. The next meeting will be May 28th. The pool will open Saturday, May 25th. Discount pool passes will be until Memorial Day.
Law Director, Richard Myser:
Three pieces of Legislation this evening. The first one is Resolution No. 2019-09 up for its second reading tonight. This is the Resolution to transfer the balance of the funds that we have in the utility department and transferring them to the General Fund. We will have the second reading tonight. The next piece of legislation we have is 2019-11. This is an amendment to Ordinance No. 2019-07 which asked Council to authorize resurfacing of streets with an expenditure not to exceed 150,000. You saw the bids and they were all over $150,000. We are asking you to amend that to not exceed $200,000. The last Ordinance is 2019-12 is an ordinance to award the contract for the paving to Shelly & Sands.
There was presented and read to Council on its second reading by title only, RESOLUTION NO. 2019-09: A RESOLUTION TO TRANSFER BALANCE OF ALL FUNDS FROM THE UTILITY DEPOSIT REFUND FUND TO THE GENERAL FUND AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
There was presented and read to Council on its first reading by title only, ORDINANCE NO. 2019-11; AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2019-07 AND 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 $200,000 FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2019 AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Mike Smith moved that the rules requiring Ordinances and Resolutions to be read on three separate readings be suspended and declaring an emergency; Jim Velas 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. 2019-11. A motion was made by Frank Sabatino and seconded by Jim Velas that Ordinance No. 2019-11 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. 2019-11 was declared adopted.
There was presented and read to Council on its first reading by title only; ORDINANCE NO. 2019-12; AN ORDINANCE DETERMINING THE LOWEST AND BEST BID FOR RESURFACING OF STREETS IN THE CITY OF ST. CLAIRSVILLE AND AWARDING THE CONTRACT TO SHELLY & SANDS, INC., OF RAYLAND, OHIO, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. 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 2019-12. A MOTION WAS MADE BY Linda Jordan and seconded by Jim Velas that Ordinance No. 2019-12 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. 2019-12 was declared adopted.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Next Council Meeting will be Monday, June 3, 2019 at 7:30 in Council Chambers.
There being no further business to come before Council a motion to adjourn was made by Perry Basile and seconded by Jim Velas.