Regular Council Meeting Thursday, December 4, 2003 Robert E. Cochrun called the meeting to order. Roll Call: John Synodinos present, Dave France present, Thomas Bottorf present, Robert Martin Sr. present, Beth Rupert absent, Dave Smith present. Officials: Mayor Robert E. Cochrun present, Solicitor Christopher D. Becker absent, Clerk Treasurer Mike Payne present, Administrator Gary R. Folden present. Moment of Silence Pledge of Allegiance Reading of Minutes Motion by Robert Martin Sr., second by John Synodinos to approve the minutes of the November 20, 2003 Regular Council Meeting. Vote: John Synodinos yea, Dave France yea, Thomas Bottorf yea, Robert Martin Sr. yea, Dave Smith yea. Motion passed 5-0. John Synodinos asked the status of renewing the Dental and Life Insurance Policies. Gary Folden said that he had placed a call to the Village’s Insurance agent concerning getting the renewal date the same as the Main Policy, but had not heard back from Rocco Boniey at this point. He did say that he discovered that the policy was a 15-month policy and would probably be difficult to be coordinate the two policies to mature at the same time. Persons Appearing before Council Jeannette Wierzbicki, representing W.E. Quicksall and Assoc., said her company did not have a final answer on the sewer odor situation yet. She said that her firm would be meeting next week to discuss the problem with Bruce Snider. Some of the areas that she said might be causing the odor were the different speeds of the pumps at the Woody Area lift station, the dip under Route 22, and oil and grease traps not being maintained. Some of the solutions that Quicksall think that might help include: cleaning out the force main and changing to chemicals other than sodium nitrate to treat the problem, since sodium nitrate is expensive. Jeannette Wierzbicki said that she would get back to Council no later that the first of 2004 to report back on this situation. Dave France asked if some of the grease and oil problems could be caused by businesses outside the Village limits. Jeannette Wierzbicki said that this could be the case and that the County had been contacted concerning this possibility. Gary Folden said that the Village and the County have an agreement to share in the costs of work that needs to be done in areas such as the Woody Area station. Donald Eager, Donald Eager and Associates, representing the Fair Lousing Program, said that his company was the resource for any calls or concerns of local residents in the area of Fair Housing. He distributed information to Council Members on the Fair Housing Program. He said that even though the program had no board or regular meetings a representative of his company made regular rounds in the area to respond to complaints or concerns. Robert Herrington, Wintersville Volunteer Fire Department Chief, said he had three issues that he wished to address with Council. 1) He discussed his concerns with the inability of his vehicles to access the Sam’s Way Subdivision. 2) He said he would like the Village to consider moving the fire inspection responsibility from the Village to the Fire Department. He said that if the Village approved of this idea he would work with Chris Becker about the fees charges through the Municipal Court. He said if this change was made, the Fire Department would like to be involved with the 3) Planning Commission including having a representative on the commission. He said he would send a letter to Chris Becker on this matter. 4) Rob Herrington asked that the Village put an additional 2 mill levy on the ballot for the Fire Department. He distributed information concerning the income of the fire department and explained the reason for his request to have this levy placed on the ballot. Included in his explanation was the fact that the current levies contributed only 17% of all income generated by the Fire Department and that income form the Wintersville Levy represented on 3.5% of their total income. He said the current Wintersville ½ mill levy had an effective rate of only .16. He also said that the current cost of fuel, insurance, and utilities alone exceed his levy income. He said that if the levy would pass he planned on changing his paid staffing levels to operate 16 hours a day, 7 days per week. Motion by Robert Martin Sr., second by John Synodinos to place a 2 mill Fire Levy on the ballot in March 2004 for the tax year beginning 2003. Vote: John Synodinos yea, Dave France yea, Thomas Bottorf yea, Robert Martin Sr. yea, Dave Smith yea. Motion passed 5-0. Matt Parise questioned whether this levy was to be a continuing levy. Rob Herrington said that he had no preference on which type of term the Village put on the ballot. He said whether the term was 5 years or continuing it would bring in the same amount of funds after 5 years if it was renewed unless the levy was not in existence for more that one year. Motion by John Synodinos, second by Robert Martin Sr. to amend the previous motion to include the language that the Fire Levy should be for a period of 5 years. Vote: John Synodinos yea, Dave France yea, Thomas Bottorf yea, Robert Martin Sr. yea, Dave Smith yea. Motion passed 5-0. Rob Herrington reminded Council that the deadline to file the request to have the Fire Levy on the ballot was December 18, 2003. Gary Folden said that he would contact Chris Becker concerning this levy deadline and whether or not an Ordinance needed to be done to have it placed on the ballot. Mr. Booth, Beechwood Subdivision, asked how he could file a complaint regarding a Village employee. Mayor Cochrun said he should talk to the Adminsitrator. Mr. Booth said that he still had an issue with a fence that was constructed in his neighborhood. He invited Council Members to come out to 125 Starkey Blvd. and look at the outside of the fence that was constructed there. He said that he did not feel that the way the fence was constructed conformed to the Village ordinance. Reports, Announcements, and Communications Mayor Cochrun read the Magistrate, Police and Building Inspector’s Reports for November 2003. Mayor Cochrun announced that a planning Commission Meeting would be held Tuesday, December 9, 2003 at 6:00 PM. to discuss Variances for property owned by Rob Barker and also by Mr. DiMazzio. Mayor Cochrun reminded everyone that the Ray Laman Children’s Christmas Party would be held Saturday, December 13, 2003 beginning at 10:00 AM. At the St. Florian Hall. Mayor Cochrun read a letter from Gary Folden, which stated he would be retiring January 31, 2004. The letter also stated that his last date of reporting to work would be December 16, 2003. He said he would be using vacation time accrued after that date through January 31, 2004. Gary Folden said that he appreciated working with everyone in the Village and thanked the Village for the opportunity to serve as the Administrator. Administrator’s Report Gary Folden said that he had additional information regarding the Throckmorton property request. He said that they wished to purchase land from the Village that measured 75’ by 325’ to build a two-car garage. Council questioned the size of this request for a garage. Gary Folden said he would go back to the Throckmorton’s and obtain more information regarding this request. Old Business Robert Martin Sr. said he was still reviewing the project to install the lights on Grove Street. He said that when he contacted the State he was told that Cattrell Electric had a electrical contractor’s License but that Petrella Construction did not. Dave Smith said that John Petrella told him that he did have a license to do electrical work. New Business Council agreed to judge the Christmas lights in the Village on Monday, December 22nd from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. and to submit there choices by the next day. Mayor Cochrun suggested that Council give the employees Friday December 26th off as a holiday. Council agreed to giving employees this day off with pay. Employees required to work that day were to receive an additional 4 hours of straight time pay for that day. Members of the Finance Committee agreed to meet Tuesday, December 16, 2003 to discuss next year’s budget as well as other finance issues. Motion by Dave France, second by Robert Martin Sr. to advertise for a new Administrator listing the salary as negotiable. Vote: John Synodinos yea, Dave France yea, Thomas Bottorf yea, Robert Martin Sr. yea, Dave Smith yea. Motion passed 5-0. It was suggested by John Synodinos to place an ad for a replacement Council member for the completion of Dave France’s Council seat. Gary Folden said he would place both of these ads as soon as possible. Mike Payne reported to Council that the $111,000 borrowed from National City Bank had been received. Mike Payne told Council members that the IRS approved travel reimbursement rate used by the Village for seminar travel by Council members had increased to 37.5 cents beginning in 2004. Motion by John Synodinos, second by Dave France to pay bills as funds become available. Vote: John Synodinos yea, Dave France yea, Thomas Bottorf yea, Robert Martin Sr. yea, Dave Smith yea. Motion by Dave France, second by Robert Martin Sr. to adjourn Vote: John Synodinos yea, Dave France yea, Thomas Bottorf yea, Robert Martin Sr. yea, Dave Smith yea. Motion passed 5-0. Next regular scheduled meeting is December 18, 2003 at 7:00 PM. Finance committee meeting is scheduled for December 16, 2003 at 6:00 PM. Robert E. Cochrun, Mayor Mike Payne, Clerk/Treasurer