June 3, 2019 Council Minutes
Once approved, a link to the official council minutes will be at the bottom.
COUNCIL MINUTES
June 3, 2019
St. Clairsville City Council met in Council Chambers on Monday, June 3, 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 Don Smithberger, Director of General Services
Jim Velas, Council 4th Ward
The meeting was called to order by President, Tim Porter
MINUTES: Minutes of the May 20, 2019 meeting were distributed to Council. A motion was made by Mike Smith and seconded by Jim Velas to approve the May 20th 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
CITIZENS HEARING: There were no Citizens present who wished to address Council.
REPORTS:
Service Director, Jim Zucal
I have before you a presentation of a synopsis of events in replacements and repair work in the water plant since 2016. I would appreciate it if you would take the time to read that. You will see the two page document that I have written, then you will see a following sheet of all of the repairs and replacement work from 2016 until now. It is broken down by contractor and how much we have spent. The following page will have a chemical expense sheet. Please take notice of the changes in amounts of chemical expenses. Laboratory testing is part of the EPA requirement. The last page is a diagram that I put together of the water system from the intake to the tap. Where those changes are located are in red. There are some important numbers and some important documentation. Again it is a two page document spelling out all the changes and the work we have done as a team. There were many people involved to make changes in a positive manor to keep the plant in the capacity that it needs to be. Also recently within the last week over Labor Day weekend the pedestal tank, the tank to the north that was built in 1984, the contractor Pittsburgh Tank and Tower evaluated that tank. There were some safety needs had to be done. There were some vents that had to be closed. You will see there is a new railing all the way around on the dome of the tank which was an interesting process where individuals went up and welded that railing on top. That will be part of when the antennas are moved from the 1929 tank to that tank, preparing for this fall when that tank will come down. Now the 1984 tank has been inspected, properly treated for safety reasons and planning ahead for the future. That tank should give the city service for many years to come.
Mayor, Terry Pugh:
In the AMP newsletter it mentioned that on May 29th our electric crew went to mutual aide to Woodsfield because they had a lightning strike that burnt their sub-station. Don Smithberger and Dustin Hall went over and by about 8:30 that night they had the power back on. Not only do the people from Woodsfield appreciate our aide but it was also noted in the AMP newsletter. I commend Donnie and Dustin.
We will be starting to meet with the committee that has been made up to evaluate the bids on privatizing the water and wastewater and we are going to have our first meeting on Friday at noon. The committee members are Kathryn Thalman, Jeff Vaughn, A. J. Smith, Bill Brooks, Tim Porter, Jim Zucal and Myself. We will be evaluating the bids.
Police Chief, Jeff Henry: No Report.
Finance Director, Cindi Henry:
I have two resolutions. 2019-14 is for an across the board non-union raise affective July 1. We did this last year at the same time because that is when AFSCME gets their raise. 2019-15 is for supplemental appropriations. This is just a formality to have it appropriated to the Street Department. It is our motor vehicle license tax that the County Engineer houses until it gets appropriated and the Commissioners approve it. Once I get it approved we will have the money to pay the vendor that does our paving. Beth Oprisch: Both of these have emergency language, do they both need to be passed as an emergency? Cindi Henry: The raise, I would prefer that it go that way so it can go into effect July 1st. The other one we are not paving right away so I don’t care about that one it can wait.
Our GAAP report is done, I put copies in everybody’s mailbox.
Beth Oprisch: On Resolution 2019-14 the increase, what was the Union increase? Cindi Henry: Theirs was 2 ½% plus they have 1% safety. They bargained for the additional 1% every time a raise goes in because they took a safety course.
Planning & Zoning Administrator, Tom Murphy:
I gave you a report related to Horizon Telecommunications. They are requesting permission to locate new Broad Band fiber on poles owned by the City. The purpose is to improve service to various businesses in and around St. Clairsville. Don Smithberger and I work with Horizon to insue that the routes proposed do not negatively affect the City or any of our utility poles. Don has been satisfied with their proposed routes, we did adjust them a little bit and they responded positively to that. The five locations at this time are at Unified Bank at Plaza West, Belmont Savings Bank on West Main Street, an ODOT traffic control box located at the intersection of Route 40 and Mall Road, Unified Bank at Stewart Drive & Rt. 40 and a Verizon tower at Ashburn Greene just east of the City. There is no action required at this time. Horizon will be at the next Council meeting in case there are any questions. Around two years ago Horizon came before Council with another location and Council granted them approval. Next meeting all that will be required of Council is a vote. If any Council members have any questions on these locations or if you would like to see the map you can contact me and I will go over that with you. Mike Smith: Didn’t we do something with Horizon a year or two ago? Tom Murphy: Around two years ago we did something with them I think it was at Plaza West. They are good to work with.
- Pizza Milano is moving forward that is good news.
- Great news is the house on the corner of N. Sugar and Newell Avenue is being demolished. I have had a lot of positive comments on the visibility when you come down Newell Ave. and make the turn right or left.
- Sharp Thinkers Tutoring has opened in the Lundy Building, 164 E. Main St.
- A physician’s office has moved into the Wilson Building behind the City Building. They moved into the City limits.
COUNCIL COMMITTEES:
Finance, Mike Smith: No Report
Utilities, Frank Sabatino:
Utility Committee met tonight. I want to thank Don Smithberger and Anita Robinson for attending. Thanks to Donnie and Dustin for the mutual aide to Woodsfield. We had a very busy meeting. Anita had six issues that we discussed. Jim Zucal gave a very nice report about the Water Plant.
Police, Mark Bukmir: No Report
Street North Side, Jim Velas: No Report
Street South Side, Beth Oprisch: No Report
Safety, Jim Velas:
Last months Safety Meeting was on Defensive Driving it was very informative. The next Safety Meeting is the last Thursday of the month.
Building Perry Basile: No Report
Planning Commission: Mike Smith: No Report
Fire District, Frank Sabatino:
Fire Board was held on Wednesday, May 29th at 3:00 at the Main Station. The Fiscal Officer recommended that we approve the budget for 2020. We approved the hiring of a part timer to full time status. We also approved the hiring of a part time employee. The next meeting will be Tuesday, June 25th at 3:00.
Recreation, Linda Jordan:
Tomorrow starts the Concert Series. Hoard & Jones are opening for us. I highly recommend that you come out for that. Community Days are set for June 29th. This year Riesbeck’s and Unified Bank are not having the Plaza West Feast this year and they have teamed up with us to sponsor the fireworks. Next meeting will be June 17th.
Park District, Linda Jordan:
Tuesday & Thursday from 8 to 10 they will have moonlight swims. They are $3 per person and that is depending on the weather. The next meeting is June 10th.
Law Director, Richard Myser:
We have four pieces of Legislation tonight to address. 2019-09 is on its third reading.
The next piece of legislation is 2019-13, as all of you know our Charter requires that every five years the Charter be reviewed by a Committee appointed by the Mayor. That Committee, and I commend them have been very diligently meeting and any changes that they come up with have to be submitted to the electorate to be voted on. Council must authorize the changes. They are not open for debate by the Council but they are simply to be approved. This is to be read on its first reading tonight and at the next two Council meetings.
The next Resolution to be read tonight is 2019-14, this is the Resolution that the Finance Director discussed with Council. It authorizes to increase the Yearly compensation of some of its employees. The next Resolution is 2019-15, it is a Resolution to make supplemental appropriations within the 2011 Fund.
There was presented and read to Council on its Third and final 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. A motion was made by Beth Oprisch and seconded by Linda Jordan that Resolution No. 2019-09 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
Resolution No. 2019-09 was declared adopted.
There was presented and read to Council on its first reading by title only, ORDINANCE NO. 2019-13; AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE ELECTION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY CHARTER PURSUANT TO THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
There was presented and read to Council on its first reading by title only, RESOLUTION NO. 2019-14; A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY COUNCIL TO INCREASE THE YEARLY COMPENSATION OF SOME OF ITS EMPLOYEES AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
There was presented and read to Council on its first reading by title only; RESOLUTION NO. 2019-15; AN RESOLUTION TO MAKE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS WITHIN THE 2011 FUND FOR THE NORMAL EXPENSES AND OTHER EXPENDITURES OF THE CITY OF ST. CLAIRSVILLE, STATE OF OHIO, FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 1, 2019 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2019, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Next Council Meeting will be Monday, June 17, 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 seconded by Perry Basile.