March 7, 2022 Council Minutes
Once approved, a link to the official council minutes will be at the bottom.
ST. CLAIRSVILLE CITY COUNCIL
March 7, 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 Jim Velas at 7:30 pm. President Velas 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
MINUTES: Council President Velas confirmed all Councilmembers received the minutes from the February 22nd Council Meeting. Councilwoman Butler made a motion to approve the minutes from February 22, 2022, Council Meeting; motion seconded by Councilman Thomas.
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 Zero (0) ABSENT
Minutes Approved
Council President Velas confirmed all Councilmembers received the minutes from the February 28th Special Council Meeting. Councilman Thomas made a motion to approve the minutes from February 28, 2022, Special Council Meeting; motion seconded by Councilwoman Oprisch.
ROLL CALL:
Butler YES Thrash YES
Jordan YES Thomas YES
Oprisch YES Vincenzo YES
Smith ABSTAIN
Roll Call Vote: Six (6) YES Zero (0) NO One (1) ABSTAIN Zero (0) ABSENT
Minutes Approved
NEW BUSINESS: Council President Velas asked Council if they had any thoughts regarding revising the Charter. Councilman Thomas stated that he feels that there doesn’t necessarily have to be a complete overhaul of the Charter at this time but rather make cosmetic changes that would allow the City to run more efficiently. Furthermore, Councilman Thomas stated that recommended changes to the Charter could be achieved by forming an ad-hoc committee to review the Charter and see what changes could help the City. Councilwoman Oprisch and Councilman Smith agreed with councilman Thomas that an ad-hoc committee or work session would allow the Council to review the Charter and recommend changes. Councilwoman Jordan suggested that Council form a committee to review the Charter and then submit the recommended changes of the Charter to the Charter Review Committee that is comprised of citizens of the City.
The Council discussed the changing Council meeting time of 7:00 pm and the repercussions for the Finance Committee Meeting and the Utility Committee Meeting who meet before the Council Meeting. The Finance Committee meets the third Monday of the Month at 6:45, and the Utility Committee meets the first Monday of the Month at 6:45. With the Council Meeting time change to 7:00 pm, Finance Committee Chairman Mike Smith and Utility Committee Chairwoman Terra Butler expressed that 15 minute would not be adequate for the Committees to complete all business before the Council Meeting.
Councilwoman Butler made a motion to change the meeting time of the Utility Committee to 6:30 pm, effective May 2, 2022, seconded by Councilman Thomas.
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 Zero (0) ABSENT
Motion Carried
Councilman Smith made a motion to change the meeting time of the Finance Committee to 6:15 pm, effective April 18, 2022, seconded by Councilman Thrash.
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 Zero (0) ABSENT
Motion Carried
CITIZEN HEARING: Bryce Basista of Horizon Telecom spoke to Council regarding a request to place fiber-optic lines on existing municipal utility poles within City limits. Mr. Basista sought Council’s approval for two projects; the first is located on the City’s East End, touching eight utility poles. The second is located at the Digestive Health Complex at 300 West Main Street, touching on four utility poles. The Code does not require a Resolution for the project’s approval, but rather Council’s approval.
Councilman Thomas made a motion to approve both of Horizon’s proposed projects in the City, seconded by Councilwoman Jordan.
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 Zero (0) ABSENT
Motion Carried
CORRESPONDENCE: Councilwoman Jordan read a letter on behalf of the National Day of Prayer Task Force. The Task Force invited Mayor Thalman to do the honorary first reading to begin the 2022 Public Bible Reading Marathon on Thursday, April 28; furthermore, the Task Force asked the City for its permission to use the big tent the City has supplied in the past. Please find it attached at the end of the minutes to read the full letter.
Councilman Smith made a motion to allow the City to provide its tent to the National Day of Prayer Task Force during the 2022 Public Bible Reading Marathon, seconded by Councilman Vincenzo.
ROLL CALL:
Butler YES Thrash YES
Jordan ABSTAIN Thomas YES
Oprisch YES Vincenzo YES
Smith YES
Roll Call Vote: Six (6) YES Zero (0) NO One (1) ABSTAIN Zero (0) ABSENT
Motion Carried
REPORTS: Mayor Kathryn Thalman reported that the City is working with Senator Brown’s office to find grants to possibly rehab the building at the Rec Center. After all the winter storms, the Mayor thanked the Street Department for their prompt clean-up of the bike trail. The Mayor asked everyone to keep Ukraine in their thoughts and prayers as they fight for their freedom.
Service/Safety Director Jeremy Greenwood reported that the City was approached by an Oil and Gas Company about leasing seven parcels of about 62 acres for $4,000 an acre with 20% interest which is about $251,000. The National Road Bikeway Project is set to proceed on March 18th; with no meeting being held before that time, there will be Legislation for the March 21st meeting with emergency language to enter a contract with the company doing the work. A backup generator company did a site visit to see what is needed for having generators for the Lift Stations and the Rec Center. Two loan applications were submitted to the Ohio EPA, one for the I-70 Waterline Project and one for the Water Distribution Project. The Water Department calculated February’s water loss at 41%. The week of March 14th through the 18th, the City will be conducting storm cleanup throughout all the Wards. Mr. Greenwood congratulated Street Superintendent Darin Pytlak on the birth of his daughter. Dustin Hall is March’s Employee of the Month.
Councilman Thomas stated that he has no problem adopting Legislation on an emergency basis to allow the City to receive bids for the oil and gas leases.
Councilman Smith asked what the project entails for the National Road Bikeway Tunnel Project. Mr. Greenwood stated that the tunnel would be renovated and extend the wing walls to avoid erosion and pave the entire bike trail.
Police Chief Matt Arbenz reported 380 calls to service in February, ten crashes, 17 arrests, three warrants served, and two domestic violence calls. Chief Arbenz met with representatives from the Run For The Wall event. In this annual event, they start in Los Angeles and ride motorcycles to Washington, DC, the Vietnam Memorial Wall, and then to Illinois to the Wall erected for all service members killed after Vietnam. The representatives seek Council permission to close the street in front of the Court House on Memorial Day from 8:15 – 8:45 to hold a Memorial Day Service.
Councilwoman Oprisch made a motion to approve the Run For The Wall Event request on Memorial Day, seconded by Councilman Thomas.
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 Zero (0) ABSENT
Motion Carried
Lastly, Chief Arbenz recognized Officer Justin Work for his life-saving efforts to save a young woman who had overdosed. Chief Arbenz awarded Officer Justin Work with the Life-Saving Award Accommodation for saving the young woman’s life.
Finance Director Annette Williams No report.
Planning & Zoning Administrator Tom Murphy No report.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Finance Chair Mike Smith No report.
Utilities Chair Terra Butler reported there was a meeting before the Council meeting where they went over February’s billing report, discussed rate increases, and lastly received language for delinquent, final, and termination of utility services.
Police Chair Beth Oprisch No report.
Streets – North Side Chair Don Vincenzo reported that work is needed on a storm drain on Oak Street. On 8 Willow Road, the snowplow tore out the curb due to not having the proper space to plow because of vehicles parked in the roadway. Lastly, on the corner of Oak and Willow, gravel has collected in drains due to rainfall.
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 No report.
Recreation Chair Mark Thomas reported that ODNR Grant for the Reservoir for parking, sidewalks, and potential boat ramp, was submitted. The Rec Department will submit the Grant for the Capital Bill on or before March 18th. The Indoor Soccer league for Boys and Girls K-6 has begun. There is also a Girls Volleyball League that will be starting.
Park District Chair Linda Jordan No report.
ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS: Law Director Elizabeth Glick
Due to changes in the budget, Ordinance No. 2022-09 was asked to be rescinded and replaced with Ordinance No. 2022-10.
Councilman Thomas made a motion to rescind Ordinance No. 2022-09, seconded by Councilman Thrash.
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 Zero (0) ABSENT
Motion Carried
FIRST READING
Ordinance 2022 – 10 – AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE PERMANENT APPROPRIATIONS 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 Thrash that the rules requiring three separate readings be suspended on Ordinance No. 2022-10 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 Zero (0) ABSTAIN Zero (0) ABSENT
Motion Carried
Councilman Thrash made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2022-10; 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 Zero (0) ABSTAIN Zero (0) ABSENT
Motion Carried
THIRD READING
RESOLUTION 2022-07 – A RESOLUTION MOVING THE TIME OF ALL REGULAR COUNCIL MEETINGS FROM 7:30 P.M. TO 7:00 P.M.
A motion was made by Councilwoman Jordan to approve Resolution No. 2022-07, seconded by Councilwoman Oprisch.
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 Zero (0) ABSENT
Motion Carried
With the passage of Resolution No. 2022-07, the St. Clairsville City Council will meet at 7:00 pm, starting April 18, 2022.
ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to come before Council, Councilman Thomas made a motion to adjourn; seconded by Councilman Smith. The meeting was adjourned at 8:38 P.M.
The next meeting will be Monday, March 21st, 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 attend the in-person meeting in the Council Chambers.