Regular Council Meeting Thursday, March 16, 2006 Mayor Dave France called the meeting to order. Roll Call: Robert Cochrun present, Jason Mattern present, Robert Martin Sr. present, Bob Gale present, Matt Parise present, Thomas Bottorf present. Officials: Mayor Dave France present, Solicitor Christopher D. Becker present, Clerk Treasurer Mike Payne present, Administrator Walt Ziemba present. Moment of Silence Pledge of Allegiance Reading of Minutes Jason Mattern noted that under new business Robert Martin's comment concerning odor problems had the street listed as Beechwood instead of Garden Drive. Motion by Robert Martin Sr., second by Robert Cochrun to approve the Minutes from the March 2, 2006 as corrected. Vote: Robert Cochrun yea, Jason Mattern yea, Robert Martin Sr. yea, Bob Gale yea, Matt Parise yea, Thomas Bottorf yea. Motion passed 6-0. Persons Appearing Before Council Sheila Riffle, a Village resident, asked Council to consider passing a resolution waiving the payment of the wage tax for Village residents who are going to receive severance pay from Mital Steel. She said that according to RITA, this option was available for Council to approve. Council Members discussed this issue briefly and decided to discuss this issue further at a Finance Committee Meeting. Motion by Robert Martin Sr., second by Thomas Bottorf to discuss the issue of waiving the wage tax for severance pay for Mital Steel employees at Finance Committee Meeting. Vote: Robert Cochrun yea, Jason Mattern yea, Robert Martin Sr. yea, Bob Gale yea, Matt Parise yea, Thomas Bottorf yea. Motion passed 6-0. Reading of Ordinances and/or Resloutions Ordinance 2006-03: An Ordinance regarding Water Tap Fees was read for the third time. Motion by Thomas Bottorf, Second by Bob Gale to approve Ordinance 2006-03. Vote: Robert Cochrun yea, Jason Mattern yea, Robert Martin Sr. yea, Bob Gale yea, Matt Parise yea, Thomas Bottorf yea. Motion passed 6-0. Ordinance 2006-04: An Ordinance regarding Sewer Tap Fees was read for the third time. Motion by Thomas Bottorf second by Robert Martin Sr. to approve Ordinance 2006-04. Reports, Announcements and Communications Mayor Dave France read the highlights from the minutes of the recent meeting of the Wintersville Betterment Association Committee. He said that one of the projects the committee was working on was the improvement of the in town park area near Bank One. Robert Martin Sr. suggested that the Committee consider helping improve some of the other parks in the Village as well. Matt Parise said he was concerned about the safety factor for people using this area. Robert Cochrun suggested that the table in this area needed "spruce up" and that the Village should start putting this table in storage over the winter. Robert Cochrun asked if an Ordinance could be prepared to address the issue of doubling fines for drivers who speed in areas where Village Workers are working. Chris Becker said that there was already an Ordinance on the books that allowed the Village to post signs saying that fines for speeding in those area would be doubled. He said the Village could not change the speed limit for those area. Thomas Bottorf reported that the Finance Committee Meeting met last week and recommended that the Village approve paying Prestige Video $100 per meeting for 6 months to video tape regular Council meetings. Motion by Matt Parise, second by Robert Martin Sr. to pay Prestige Video $1,200.00 in advance for the period April - September 2006 to video tape Council Meetings. Discussion on the Motion Bob Gale said that he had discussed this issue with the owner of Prestige Video who would like to have the Village agree to a 12 month contract for his services. Motion by Robert Martin Sr., second by Matt Parise to amend the motion to pay Prestige Video for 6 months in advance for their services but to agree to extend the period that Prestige Video would tape the meetings for a total also 12 months. Discussion on the Amended Motion Jason Mattern asked what would happen if Council felt that the taping of the meetings were not beneficial to the Village. He also asked how the benefits of taping meetings should be evaluated at the end of the 12 month period. Matt Parise said that he would support the taping only if it was not edited. Bob Gale said that the only editing of the taping might be at the beginning or end of each meeting when information regarding how to contact Council members would be listed. Vote on the Amended Motion: Robert Cochrun yea, Jason Mattern yea, Robert Martin Sr. yea, Bob Gale yea, Matt Parise yea, Thomas Bottorf yea. Motion passed 6-0. Thomas Bottorf thanked Bob Laukert for all his help with the RITA tax issues. Thomas Bottorf reported that a representative from Quicksall presented ides to Council regarding helping the Village with its water loss problems. Administrator's Report Walt Ziemba reported that the only bid for the Village's sludge truck was from Hopedale for $18,001.00. Motion by Robert Martin Sr., second by Jason Mattern to accept the bid from the Village of Hopedale for $18,001.00 for the used sludge truck. Vote: Robert Cochrun yea, Jason Mattern yea, Robert Martin Sr. yea, Bob Gale yea, Matt Parise yea, Thomas Bottorf yea. Motion passed 6-0. It was agreed by the Clerk and Council that funds from this sale should be split between the water and sewer funds. Walt Ziemba reported that the Beechwood project was on budget. Walt Ziemba said that Council had a quote in their packet for the cost of an arrowboard in the amount of $4795. Robert Gale suggested that if this was purchased that it be used in the Village's subdivisions to show people how fast they were driving in these areas. Walt told Council that he put a copy of an e-mail in their packet regarding the question of obtaining a permit to dismantle certain water connections. Walt Ziemba updated Council on the costs of installing of L.E.D. modules and themodification of the current agreement with Traffic Control regarding traffic lights and the savings these changes would have for the Village. Walt Ziemba told Council that Comcast cable had forwarded a letter that described a few cable channel changes. Walt Ziemba told Council that the Village would be using D.J.L. for crack sealing for several streets again this year at a cost of approximately $10,000. Matt Parise asked that next year the Administrator try to obtain some quotes for this purchase from other vendors. Walt Ziemba told Council that he had included in their packet a quote from Kalkreuth Roofing to do some repairs to the Village roof in the amount of $1695. Walt Ziemba told Council that the had included a letter in their packet asking the County to address several issues including the ongoing odor problem, water loss caused by a County repair, additional telemetry costs, and possible discrepancies in the County and Village water purchases. He said that Jack Gilmore had given the Village a credit of $115 for water loss during the period that they were doing repairs. He also said that Mr. Gilmore reported that the master meter regulating water purchases from the County is going to be tested on March 28, 2006 by Badger Meter Company. Unfinished Business Walt Ziemba said that letters had been sent out to the owner of Riesbeck's about paving their lower lot. He said that Chris Becker and Chuck Antill were still working with another business about paving. Chris Becker said he was still researching the issue of whether Village services could be offered to a business that was not contiguous to the Village. Thomas Bottorf cautioned that the Village needed to watch not to exceed the Village sewer limits. He also asked if Mr. Mitchell would be obtaining the necessary permits required for this sewer connection. Walt Ziemba said that Mr. Mitchell would be obtaining these permits. New Business Robert Cochrun said that the fence at the tot lot at Sunset Gardens needed repaired. Matt Parise said that since their was a request to advertise on the Village website that Council should take the issue to the Finance Committee. Chris Becker cautioned Council that opening advertising to businesses on the website might open the door to advertising by Companies such as 1-900 number sites. Motion by Matt Parise, second by Robert Martin Sr. to not allow business advertising on the website. Vote: Robert Cochrun yea, Jason Mattern yea, Robert Martin Sr. yea, Bob Gale yea, Matt Parise yea, Thomas Bottorf yea. Motion passed 6-0. Matt Parise said that the issue of water taps needed to be addressed before Meridian Green opened up its units. Robert Martin Sr. said that the car lot owned by Mr. Rice needed to have a fence put around it or something done for safety reasons in that area. Matt Parise asked about a right of way sign being put at the top of Grove Street. Motion by Matt Parise, second by Robert Martin Sr. to change the Clerk/Treasurer position back to an elected position for the Village. Discussion on the motion: Thomas Bottorf said his feelings on this position had not changed on this issue and he still felt that with all the computerization in this area that having someone in the position with the proper qualifications should be appointed, and not elected. Matt Parise said that the position should be elected by the people so the person would not be beholding to Council members. Jason Mattern suggested that Council put minimum qualifications on the appointed Clerk/Treasurer position. Chris France told Council that if this person was elected by the people they may not know the qualifications of someone running for that office. Motion by Bob Gale, second by Jason Mattern to table the vote on the motion until the next meeting. Vote: Robert Cochrun yea, Jason Mattern yea, Robert Martin Sr. yea, Bob Gale yea, Matt Parise yea, Thomas Bottorf yea. Motion passed 6-0. Jason Mattern asked that someone give him the rules regarding annexation. Jason Mattern asked if he could take a few Village employees to the Chemical drill his company would be holding in May for safety training purposes. For the Good of the Village Lee Tobias, Leonard Ave., asked why Council was not addressing the water loss and the 8 hour reserve issues. Mayor Dave France said that those issues were being addresses and that the Village would find out the cause of the water loss. Walt Ziemba said that the reserve issue would only be a problem if something like an oil spill happened in the Ohio River. If this happened he said the Village could also have problems with the lines if they were completely drained. He said a plan had been developed to address these emergency issues. Betty Stinard thanked the Village for fixing the pot holes near the Post Office. Motion by Thomas Bottorf, second by Robert Martin Sr. to pay bills approved by Council including the payment of Prestige Video in the amount of $1200 for taping meetings for April through September 2006. Vote: Robert Cochrun yea, Jason Mattern yea, Robert Martin Sr. yea, Bob Gale yea, Matt Parise yea, Thomas Bottorf yea. Motion passed 6-0. Motion By Robert Martin Sr., second by Robert Cochrun to go into executive session to discuss contract negotiations and personnel matters concerning discipline matters. Vote: Robert Cochrun yea, Jason Mattern yea, Robert Martin Sr. yea, Bob Gale yea, Matt Parise yea, Thomas Bottorf yea. Motion passed 6-0. Motion by Robert Martin Sr., second by Robert Cochrun to return to regular session. Vote: Robert Cochrun yea, Jason Mattern yea, Robert Martin Sr. yea, Bob Gale yea, Matt Parise yea, Thomas Bottorf yea. Motion passed 6-0. Motion by Robert Martin Sr., second by Thomas Bottorf to adjourn. Vote: Robert Cochrun yea, Jason Mattern yea, Robert Martin Sr. yea, Bob Gale yea, Matt Parise yea, Thomas Bottorf yea. Motion passed 6-0. Next Regular Scheduled meeting is 7:00 PM on April 6, 2006. Disclaimer: These are a draft of the minutes and not deemed official until approved by Council. Mike Payne, Clerk Treasurer Dave France, Mayor