July 5, 2022 Council Minutes
Once approved, a link to the official council minutes will be at the bottom.
ST. CLAIRSVILLE CITY COUNCIL
July 5, 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 7:00 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: President Jim Velas confirmed all Councilmembers received the minutes from the June 18th Council Meeting. Councilman Thrash made a motion to approve the minutes from June 18, 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
NEW BUSINESS: None
CITIZEN HEARING: None
CORRESPONDENCE: None
REPORTS: Mayor Kathryn Thalman thanked the Rec Center for all their hard work in making Community Days happen. The Mayor expressed her best wishes to Debbie Reed of the Rec Center as she has taken a new job. The Mayor attended a meeting in Steubenville to discuss the possible upcoming funding from the Appalachia Community Grant that Governor DeWine announced in the spring. On July 27th, Japanese Dignitaries will be in St. Clairsville looking for potential investment opportunities. Mayors Court was held the week of June 27th; several individuals did not show up. Lastly, the Mayor shared her support for the administrative raise legislation that the Council will vote on during the meeting.
Councilwoman Oprisch asked the Mayor what consequences face individuals when they do not show up for Mayors Court. The Mayor stated that depending on the severity of the case, a warrant could be issued for the individual’s arrest.
Service/Safety Director Jeremy Greenwood reported that the Street Committees need to discuss the direction they would like to go regarding refuse haulers in the City. The Gas Aggregation Program will be coming before Council shortly. Sewer Smoking started in Ward 1; there have been multiple violations discovered. Due to ODOTs current highway project and contractor constraints, the I-70 Waterline Project is not expected to start until October or November. The Paving in Edinburgh is almost complete. Furthermore, the Rec Center Lights are expected to be replaced in the coming week. There have been nine Waterline breaks so far this year. The Street Department is patching streets as needed. Lastly, July’s Employee of the Month is Planning & Zoning Administrator Tom Murphy.
Councilman Thrash asked Mr. Greenwood if he had received all the quotes for treating the wood on the Amphitheatre. Mr. Greenwood stated that Rec Director Eric Gay has been busy preparing for Community Days but hopes to get the remaining bids shortly.
Councilman Vincenzo asked Mr. Greenwood how many Fire Hydrants are out of service in the City. Mr. Greenwood stated that about 10 out of 80 hydrants are currently out of service.
Police Chief Matt Arbenz reported that in the Month of June, there were 462 calls to service, 13 crashes, 39 arrests, seven warrants served, one domestic violence call, and 143 traffic stops.
Finance Director Annette Williams reported that the Levy Renewal had been certified by the County Auditor, and the remaining piece of Legislation to pass before sending the Levy to the Board of Elections will be presented to Council at the next meeting.
Planning & Zoning Administrator Tom Murphy
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Finance Chair Mike Smith expressed that he would like to table Resolution No. 2022-26 until the next meeting to have more time to review the figures.
Utilities Chair Terra reported that before the Council Meeting, the Utility Committee met and reviewed the billing report and the upcoming Sewer Smoking that will be continuing in the City. Due to the insufficient time to complete the Utility Committee meetings, Councilwoman Butler asked to change the meeting time to 6:15 pm rather than 6:30 pm
Police Chair Beth Oprisch reported that the Police Committee met after the Regular Council Meeting on June 21st. At the meeting, the Committee discussed the speed radar signs and their benefit to the City. Furthermore, the Committee discussed purchasing a Kinetic Breaching tool to assist Officers in breaching hard targets. Lastly, the Committee discussed the timeline for receiving the new handguns purchased.
Streets – North Side Chair Don Vincenzo reported that the paving on Edinburgh Way is almost complete. As anticipated, the street did not have any base underneath. Lastly, Councilman Vincenzo asked Mr. Greenwood about the catch basins on Commons Mall Crossing. Mr. Greenwood stated that he thinks that the phone or gas company cut the drainage line when they were doing work. Mr. Greenwood noted that the City is getting estimates to fix the issue.
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 an IT contract with the Educational Center for $4,500. Lastly, The Board approved the plan to allow the Chief to submit a Recruitment Retention and Residency Grant for $185,640.
Recreation Chair Mark Thomas No report.
Park District Chair Linda Jordan No report.
ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS: Law Director Elizabeth Glick [ABSENT]
THIRD READING
Resolution No. 2022-26 – A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY COUNCIL TO INCREASE THE YEARLY COMPENSATION OF SOME OF ITS EMPLOYEES AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
Councilman Smith made a motion to table Resolution No. 2022-26 until the next meeting, motion seconded by Councilman Thomas.
ROLL CALL:
Butler NO Thrash NO
Jordan YES Thomas YES
Oprisch NO Vincenzo NO
Smith YES
Roll Call Vote: Three (3) YES Four (4) NO Zero (0) ABSTAIN Zero (0) ABSENT
Motion Lost
Councilwoman Oprisch made a motion to pass Resolution No. 2022-26, seconded by Councilwoman Butler.
ROLL CALL:
Butler YES Thrash YES
Jordan NO Thomas YES
Oprisch YES Vincenzo YES
Smith ABSTAIN
Roll Call Vote: Five (5) YES One (1) NO One (1) ABSTAIN Zero (0) ABSENT
Motion Carried
Ordinance No. 2022-28 – AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE I, ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, CHAPTER 105, WARDS AND BOUNDARIES, SECTION 105.01, DIVISION INTO WARDS OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF ST. CLAIRSVILLE
Councilman Thrash made a motion to pass Ordinance No. 2022-28, 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
ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to come before Council, Councilwoman Butler made a motion to adjourn; seconded by Councilman Smith. The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 P.M.
The next meeting will be Monday, July 18, 2022, at 7:00 P.M. All Councilmembers will be present at the City Building for the next meeting. Members of the public are encouraged to attend the meeting in the Council Chambers.