Special Meeting Thursday, January 16, 2003 Mayor Cochrun called to order the special Meeting to select a new Council Person. Roll Call: John Synodinos present, Dave France present, Robert Martin Sr. present, Beth Rupert present, Dave Smith present. Officials: Mayor Robert E. Cochrun present, Solicitor Christopher D. Becker present, Clerk Treasurer Mike Payne absent, Administrator Gary R. Folden present. Motion by John Synodinos, second by Dave France to go into executive session to interview candidates for vacant Council position. Vote: John Synodinos yea, Dave France yea, Robert Martin Sr. yea, Beth Rupert yea, Dave Smith yea. Motion passed 5-0. Motion by John Synodinos, second by Robert Martin Sr. to return to regular session. Vote: John Synodinos yea, Dave France yea, Robert Martin Sr. yea, Beth Rupert yea, Dave Smith yea. Motion passed 5-0. Mike Payne - Clerk Treasurer Robert E. Cochrun - Mayor ------------------------------------------------------------- Regular Council Meeting Thursday, January 16, 2003 Mayor Robert E. Cochrun called the meeting to order. Roll Call: John Synodinos present, Dave France present, Robert Martin Sr. present, Beth Rupert present, Dave Smith present. Officials: Mayor Robert E. Cochrun present, Solicitor Christopher D. Becker present, Clerk Treasurer Mike Payne present, Administrator Gary R. Folden present. Moment of Silence Pledge of Allegiance Motion Robert Martin Sr., second by Dave France to approve the minutes from the regular scheduled meeting from January 2, 2003. Vote: John Synodinos yea, Dave France yea, Robert Martin Sr. yea, Beth Rupert yea, Dave Smith yea. Motion passed 5-0. Mayor Cochrun asked Council Members if they would like to vote on their selection for a new Council person? Beth Rupert said she thought Council members would each like to state their preference for the position. John Synodinos said that his choice was Matt Parise. Dave France said his choice was Thomas Bottorf. Robert Martin Sr. said his choice was Matt Parise. Beth Rupert said her choice was Thomas Bottorf. Dave Smith said his choice was Thomas Bottorf. Thomas Bottorf was selected as new Council Person by a 3-2 vote over Matt Parise. Mayor Cochrun swore in Thomas Bottorf as the new Councilperson. Council Members all thanked the candidates for their applying for the open position and encouraged them to consider running for open seats in the future. Thomas Bottorf thanked Council for the opportunity to interview for the position. Persons Appearing Before Council Roy W. Blackwell, 336 Orchard Place, asked Council members why the Village's insurance would not pay for flood damage done to his home when a water main ruptured in his front lawn? He said that on January 2, 2003 at 5:45 AM. He discovered around 8 inches of water in his basement from the water line break. When he contacted his insurance company, they explained they would not pay for the damage because it was the Village's water line that caused the flooding. He said that he then contacted the Village's insurance company and they too said they would not cover the damage. Solicitor Chris Becker explained that unless the Village is negligent with the maintenance of the water lines, then the Village is not responsible for this type of damage under Ohio law. He said the Village has had similar claims before and no coverage was offered by the Village's insurance company or paid directly by the Village. He also said the Village has never even paid residents for their deductibles whenever the resident's insurance paid for most of the damage. Gary Folden said that any property torn up to repair the lines would be repaired by the Village. Betty Stinard said that part of a tree was down on Main Street that needed picked up. She also complained about a trash receptacle that needed picked up. Lou Vandeborne, representing Chief Laman, asked Council to consider paying the Police officers on a 40-hour week including overtime for holidays like all other employees. He said that Mike Payne explained to the officers that they would have to give up the $536 that was currently built into their base pay, but they would still be ahead by making this change as long as they worked at least 4 holidays per year. Lou Vandeborne said the men all were in favor of making this change, except for him and the Chief who wished to keep their pay the same. Mike Payne reviewed the handout that he had given each Council member on the estimated cost to make this change. Dave France said that he would prefer to discuss any changes in wages that would affect the budget next fall, when the budget was being prepared for 2004. John Synodinos said he would like to see this issue discussed further at a finance committee meeting. Robert Martin Sr. said that Council Members already had enough information on the matter to make a decision now. Chris Becker explained how Police could be paid including the option of using a 40 hour week, but paying overtime for working over 8 hours in a day was not an option. Dave France said that wage changes should all be made at the same time of the year. John Synodinos said that he agreed that the budget preparation time in the fall would be a more appropriate time to discuss this issue. Reading of Ordinances and/or Resolutions Ordinance 2002-26: An Ordinance increasing the Police Clothing allowance was read for the 3rd time. Motion by John Synodinos, second by Robert Martin Sr. to approve Ordinance 2002-26. Vote: John Synodinos yea, Dave France yea, Tom Bottorf yea, Robert Martin Sr. yea, Beth Rupert yea, Dave Smith yea. Motion passed 6-0. Ordinance 2002-27: An Ordinance changing the work period for the Police officers was read for the 3rd time. Motion by John Synodinos, second by Dave France to approve Ordinance 2002-27. Vote: John Synodinos yea, Dave France yea, Tom Bottorf yea, Robert Martin Sr. yea, Beth Rupert yea, Dave Smith yea. Motion passed 6-0. Ordinance 2003-01: An Ordinance renewing the Solicitor's contract was read for the 1st time. Reports, Announcements and Communications. Mayor Cochrun read the Police Report for the year 2002. Mayor Cochrun read the Police Report for the month of December 2002. Mayor Cochrun announced that the Village offices would be closed Monday, January 20th for Martin Luther King Day. Mayor Cochrun asked Council members to consider renewing the Village's membership in the Jefferson County Regional Planning Commission in the amount of $125. Motion by John Synodinos, second by Dave France to renew the Planning Commission membership. Vote: John Synodinos yea, Dave France yea, Tom Bottorf yea, Robert Martin Sr. yea, Beth Rupert yea, Dave Smith yea. Motion passed 6-0. John Synodinos said that he was not volunteering, but he said that he would like to see the Village to continue to send a representative to the Jefferson County Regional Planning Commission meetings. Mayor Cochrun selected Robert Martin Sr. to attend these monthly meetings. Mayor Cochrun named Dave Smith, Dave France and Beth Rupert as the audit committee. Mayor Cochrun asked John Synodinos, Robert Martin Sr. and Tom Bottorf to work on finding recreation funds for the Village. Mayor Cochrun thanked Carol Kennedy for her dedication in getting payroll out this week despite the software problems the Village was experiencing. Administrator's Report Gary Folden said that the Village had received no bids for renting out the Woodridge property. He said the current tenant asked if they could have a one-month extension at $800 before they move into their new address. Motion by John Synodinos, second by Robert Martin Sr. to extend the lease by one month for the sum of $800 to the A.L.I.V.E. organization. Vote: John Synodinos yea, Dave France yea, Tom Bottorf yea, Robert Martin Sr. yea, Beth Rupert yea, Dave Smith yea. Motion passed 6-0. Gary Folden told Council members that they each had a copy of bills paid by the Wintersville Area Business Association in relation to their "Snowflake" project. Council Members agreed to review the bills and to decide by next meeting which bills the Village would reimburse W.A.B.A. Gary Folden said that Chief Laman would like to purchase a new cruiser for his fleet. Motion by John Synodinos, second by Robert Martin Sr. to authorize the Administrator to bid out for a new cruiser and to accept the lowest and best bid. Gary Folden said that he had contacted the contractor of the residence's of Sam's Way, but the contractor would not agree to a meeting with Village officials and the residents concerning the road situation. The contractor said that he would contact the residents directly. Chris Becker said that the Village would begin immediately to stop issuing permits for the contractor (AH&L Builders) but he would have to check on the legalities of issuing an injunction on building permits for current construction. Mr. Becker said that he found no documentation in the Planning Commission minutes about exceptions given to AH & L Builders concerning installing a road in this subdivision; therefore the contractor would be made to follow the Ordinances which says that the roadway must be complete. He said that his hope was that a dialogue can be set up to resolve this problem between himself and the contractor's attorney instead of seeking an injunction. Beth Rupert asked the Administrator for a timeline on lots currently in place in this subdivision as well as future developments planned. Gary Folden said that he has plans to obtain sample-zoning guidelines to improve on the Village's current policies. Gary Folden reported that Mrs. Marker, who had an article in the paper about her situation, was very happy that she now had in bathroom facilities thanks to funding through the Jefferson County Housing Authority. Old Business Beth Rupert asked the Administrator to distribute information on CEDA's to the new Council members. Robert Martin Sr. left the meeting at this time. New Business Motion by Dave France, second by Beth Rupert to approve the budget transfers submitted by Mike Payne. Vote: John Synodinos yea, Dave France yea, Tom Bottorf yea, Beth Rupert yea, Dave Smith yea. Motion passed 5-0. Beth Rupert said that she would be following up with a new teacher at Indian Creek about video taping Council meetings. She asked the Administrator to contact the cable company to see what was needed to be done to broadcast the meetings. She also said that she did not believe that broadcasting these meetings would cost the Village anything. Dave Smith said that a decision on whether to make the Clerk-Treasurer position an appointed position needed to be discussed. Dave France said there was several issues involved with this decision and that it could be discussed at an all committee meeting. Mike Payne discussed the budget printouts that he had prepared and asked Council members to review this information and to feel free to ask questions about the comparative figures listed and also suggested that they bring the budget to each meeting so that questions about funding could be quickly reviewed by using this information. Dave France also asked Council to take the time to review the budget printouts and to develop questions for any line item that they might have questions on. Gary Folden said that the first meeting for the combined Community Days-Fireworks event would be held tomorrow night January 17, 2003 at 6:00 PM. Motion by John Synodinos, second by Dave France to pay bills as funds become available. Vote: John Synodinos yea, Dave France yea, Tom Bottorf yea, Beth Rupert yea, Dave Smith yea. Motion passed 5-0. Motion by John Synodinos, second by Tom Bottorf to adjourn. Vote: John Synodinos yea, Dave France yea, Tom Bottorf yea, Beth Rupert yea, Dave Smith yea. Motion passed 5-0. Next regular scheduled meeting is 7:00 PM February 6, 2003 with All Committee Meeting at 6:00 PM. C. Michael Payne - Clerk / Treasurer Robert E. Cochrun - Mayor