City of St. Clairsville
City of St. Clairsville

January 18, 2022 Council Minutes

ST. CLAIRSVILLE CITY COUNCIL

January 18, 2022 Meeting

Jim Velas, Council President                                             Kathryn Thalman, Mayor

Don Vincenzo, Council, 1st Ward                                     Jeremy Greenwood, Public Service/Safety Director

Mark Thomas, Council, 3rd Ward                                     Don Smithberger, Super. of General Services

Terra Butler, Council, 4th Ward                                         Annette Williams, Finance Director

Linda Jordan, Council-At-Large                                       Matthew Arbenz, Chief of Police

Beth Oprisch, Council-At-Large                                       Tom Murphy, Planning & Zoning Administrator

JC Thrash, Council 2nd Ward                                            Elizabeth Glick, Law Director

Mike Smith, Council-At-Large

The meeting was called to order by Council President Pro Tempore Beth Oprisch at 7:30 pm. President Pro Tempore Oprisch led Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. Members of the public were thanked for their attendance.

ROLL CALL:

Butler              HERE                                     Thrash             HERE

Jordan             HERE                                     Thomas            HERE

Oprisch            HERE                                     Vincenzo         HERE

Smith               HERE

Seven (7) Present                          Zero (0) Absent

A swearing-in ceremony was held where Law Director Elizabeth Glick swore in Council President Jim Velas and Councilman Donald Vincenzo.

MINUTES: Council President Velas confirmed all Councilmembers received the minutes from the January 3rd Council Meeting. Councilman Thomas made a motion to approve the minutes from January 3, 2022, Council Meeting; motion seconded by Councilman Smith.

ROLL CALL:

Butler              YES                                        Thrash             YES

Jordan             YES                                        Thomas            YES

Oprisch            YES                                        Vincenzo         YES

Smith               YES

Roll Call Vote:    Seven (7) YES    Zero (0) NO    Zero (0) ABSTAIN

Minutes Approved

NEW BUSINESS: Councilman Thomas raised concerns about the Charter of the City. Councilman Thomas explained that many of the changes in the Charter were done in the 1990s. Furthermore, he explained that there are wording issues within the Charter, providing an example where the Charter describes the Finance Director as “he”; moreover, he claims that changes to the Charter could help the City run more efficiently. Mr. Thomas informed Council he has the ballots from the year 2000 and on, where the electors made changes to the Charter, and he wants to confirm that the changes were reflected in the Charter. Councilman Thomas also asked Law Director Glick to see if there is a way to change the Charter outside the five-year requirement.

CITIZEN HEARING: None

CORRESPONDENTS: None

REPORTS: Mayor Kathryn Thalman thanked all the road crews for keeping the streets safe in the City during the season’s first significant snowfall. The mayor thanked Lieutenant TJ Stewart and Councilwoman Terra Butler for opening the diner to provide refreshments as they worked through the night. The mayor announced a proclamation to make the week of January 23rd thru the 29th as St. Clairsville’s School Choice Week.

Service/Safety Director Jeremy Greenwood addressed the Public Record request discussed in the last meeting; Mr. Greenwood explained that he authorized the invoicing of documents provided; he went on to explain further that it was done because the request was for disciplinary records of an employee, and therefore were not needed for any Council vote or action. Mr. Greenwood reported that Four Bids were received for the Insurance contracts; the lowest bid was $74,824, with the highest bid at $123,347. The East End water connection is still at a stalemate as the company is waiting on supplies to proceed with the project. Engineers are working on the cost estimates for the National Road Bikeway Project. Collaboration with the EPA continues to find funding sources for the waterline replacement under I-70. Year to date, there have been four waterline breaks in the City. Mr. Greenwood reminded the citizens that parking on the street is prohibited during snow emergencies. January’s Employee of the Month is Brian Coleman.

Police Chief Matt Arbenz reported that Mike Wheeler was hired to be a full-time officer in the Police Department. On January 10th, Officers Klotz and Yates delivered a baby at a local hotel. Chief Arbenz commended the Officers and presented them with the Life Saving Accommodation Pin.

Finance Director Annette Williams reported that she is working on closing out 2021 and plans to prepare the budget soon.

Councilman Thomas asked Finance Director Williams if the new Councilmembers had been added to the Public Officers Bond. Finance Director Williams stated that they do not usually bond the Councilmembers.

Planning & Zoning Administrator Tom Murphy reported that he has been updating the City’s zoning map, which is part of the GIS mapping system used in the City; this updating is being done to rectify the changes approved by Council in Ordinance No. 2021-38. The updated zoning map is completed and is on the City’s website. While conducting the changes to the zoning map, Mr. Murphy noticed that the zoning layers were not consistent, and he is attempting to make changes to make the zoning map more accurate. Mr. Murphy spoke with engineers about the former NAPA building by Riesbeck’s, but they were unwilling to disclose their plans for the building, and as of yet, the building has not changed ownership. Developers have purchased the Carson property along Barton Road and expressed preliminary plans to construct a housing development on that site.

COMMITTEE REPORTS: 

Finance Chair Mike Smith reported that the Finance Committee met before the Council Meeting. Mr. Smith informed Council that the one piece of Legislation at the meeting was a housekeeping item to move money. As of the meeting, the City has not received the $5 million grant from the State. Mr. Smith outlined the benefits of the new insurance bid; he explained that the bid would save the City about $40,000.

Utilities Chair Terra Butler No report.

Police Chair Beth Oprisch No report.

Streets – North Side Chair Don Vincenzo No report. 

Streets – South Side Chair JC Thrash No report. 

Safety Chair JC Thrash No report.

Building and Grounds Chair Linda Jordan No report.

Planning Commission Chair Mark Thomas No report.

Fire Chair Linda Jordan reported that the Fire Board approved the Fire Emergency Contract between Cumberland Trail Fire District No. 4 and Wheeling Township Trustees and approved the hire of two new part-time employees. The Fire Department was awarded a $1,000 Walmart Community Grant. Structural firefighting gear and self-contained breathing apparatus were put out to bid; the items will be paid for with a $368,000 Federal Grant.

Recreation Chair Mark Thomas No report.

Park District Chair Linda Jordan No report. 

ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS: Law Director Elizabeth Glick 

FIRST READING

Ordinance No. 2022-01 – AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE INTERFUND TRANSFERS AND REALLOCATIONS WITHIN THE FUNDS FOR THE NORMAL EXPENSES AND OTHER EXPENDITURES OF THE CITY OF ST. CLAIRSVILLE, STATE OF OHIO, FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 1, 2022, THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2022, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

A motion was made by Councilman Smith that the rules requiring three separate readings be suspended on Ordinance No. 2022-01 and that the ordinance be passed on an emergency basis; seconded by Councilwoman Butler.

ROLL CALL:

Butler              YES                                        Thrash             YES

Jordan             YES                                        Thomas            YES

Oprisch            YES                                        Vincenzo         YES

Smith               YES

Roll Call Vote:    Seven (7) YES    Zero (0) NO

Motion Carried

Councilwoman Butler made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2022-01; seconded by Councilman Vincenzo.

ROLL CALL:

Butler              YES                                        Thrash             YES

Jordan             YES                                        Thomas            YES

Oprisch            YES                                        Vincenzo         YES

Smith               YES

Roll Call Vote:    Seven (7) YES    Zero (0) NO

Motion Carried

ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to come before Council, Councilman Thomas made a motion to adjourn; seconded by Councilman Vincenzo. Meeting adjourned at 8:16 P.M.

Next meeting will be Tuesday, February 7th, 2022, at 7:30 P.M. All Councilmembers will be present at the City building for the next meeting. Members of the public are welcome to join the in-person meeting in the Council Chambers, masks are required.

January 18, 2022 Council Minutes