January 20, 2014 - Meeting Minutes

MINUTES

BREWSTER VILLAGE COUNCIL

January 20, 2014

7:00 P.M.

 

Brewster Village Council met in regular session with Mayor Mike Schwab presiding.

 

7:00 P.M. – CALL TO ORDER

 

Council Members bowed their heads for the invocation provided by Clerk-Treasurer Kris King followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Mike Schwab, Mayor

Dale Fox, Council Member

Dave Godwin, Council Member

Tom Hilliard, Council Member

Paul Mackey, Council Member

Joe Strausbaugh, Council Member

 

VILLAGE OFFICIALS PRESENT:

Kris King, Clerk-Treasurer

Al McCallin, Solicitor

 

VILLAGE EMPLOYEES PRESENT:

Mike Maybaugh, Sewer Superintendent

Rick Patterson, Fire Chief and Street Superintendent

Harry Porter, Police Chief

Jim Spivey, Village Technician

 

COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FOX and motion carried to excuse Council Member Tharp from tonight's meeting.  The vote: All yes.

 

MINUTES FROM THE JANUARY 6, 2014 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING:

Mayor Mike Schwab asked if there were any additions or deletions to the January 6, 2013 Council Meeting minutes.  Council Member Strausbaugh questioned the motion for the Parks/Grounds/Building Committee.  There were none.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FOX and motion carried to accept the minutes.  The vote: All yes.

 

PRESENTATION OF BILLS:

COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MACKEY and motion carried to accept the bills for the amount of $ 401,924.70.  Council Member Godwin was taken back by the background check for the new Village Administrator costing $ 1,850.00.  Council Member Hilliard stated he would like a detailed bill from EDDS.  Mayor Schwab stated that they did an extensive background check including calling former employers.  The vote:  All yes.

 

AUDIENCE:

Residents in attendance: Ray and LaVonne Heitger, Cindy Mackey, Judy Maybaugh, and Jenny Spivey.

 

CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCES:

An ordinance authorizing the adoption of the Community Comprehensive Sustainability Plan prepared by EDDS (Economic Development Data Services) in August of 2013 was given first reading.

 

An ordinance authorizing a Contract with Kenmore Construction of Akron for the Sweetwater Pump Station             Project (WWT) recommendation by Engineer, Hazen & Sawyer, brings cost to $ 4,182,900; Supt Maybaugh gave a brief review of the project.

 

From Mayor: Draft of a Village Employee Wage Ordinance for 2014, 2015, 2016; submitted to initiate discussion.

 

MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS:

Fire Department: Chief Ricky Patterson

Chief Patterson will have a quote for a tablet for one of the squads that they would like to purchase with grant money.

 

Police Department: Chief Harry Porter

Chief Porter used his public relations skills to get a response vehicle.  RG Drage has the vehicle and has gone over it and will be painting it for $800.

 

Chief provided a report of the OVI/Saturation and Click-it or Ticket reports.

 

Council Member Hilliard asked the Chief when he will be getting an estimate for a new cruiser.  They are looking at purchasing a 2015 four-wheel drive vehicle.

 

Chief reported they were able to recondition one of their shotguns with money donated to the department.

 

Wastewater Department: Supt. Mike Maybaugh

There will be a brief overview of the Sweetwater Pump Station Project slated for Council's contract authorization on February 3.  They are replacing three pump stations with one.  The equipment in the old ones are obsolete.  The plant was built in 1991.  The line to the new pump station will be 35' deep.  The new pump station will drastically cut maintenance costs.

 

SOLICITOR: Attorney Al McCallin (Per Procedures the Solicitor will be excused after his spot)

Update on a February 4^th Sheriff Sale for the Ahbay Stores property on S. Wabash.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FOX and motion carried to go into Executive Session for conference with Attorney to discuss pending purchase of property for public use at 7:17pm.  The vote: All yes.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FOX and motion carried to exit executive session at 7:27pm.  The vote: All yes.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN and motion carried to designate Solicitor Al McCallin as the Village agent for bidding on the Ahbay property at the February 4, 2014 Sheriff Sale and to authorize a minimum bid only on the Ahbay property and to provide a check to the Solicitor made out to the Stark County Treasurer for $ 6,500 to cover the required 10% down at the Sheriff Sale .  The vote: All yes.

 

Solicitor McCallin stated there are two changes in the 2014 Ohio Basic Code that Council needs to be made aware of: Executive Session can be used for community development and Council can be decreased to five members instead of six.

 

COMMUNICATIONS:

Ohio Valley Energy representative Kelly Clarke email concerning proposed gas well on Zearley property in a residential area adjacent to Elm Street (Council copy); Mayor suggested that she meet with Council.

 

Employee Tom Keen Letter: Advises Village he will not be available for seasonal mowing in 2014 VA normally advertises for & hires seasonal employees.

 

AMP – A series of Webinars to educate community officials about subjects ranging from Electric 101 to Financial; Live sessions followed by recordings available for 2 weeks; urge Council to register by 01/24 deadline; you may need to create an AMP Extranet account to have access (amppartners.org).

 

Ohio EPA – WPCLF Loan and the required Operation & Maintenance (Council copy).

 

VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR: Position is currently vacant

New Administrator Rob Pauley to start on 02/24; all preliminary pre-employment measures completed successfully, employment agreement is signed & he is exploring housing in Brewster.

 

Acting VA Klein has been working to complete the Electric Garage w/contractor Roseman; $10,000+ retained.  Garage’s back wall & light/outlet installations to be completed.

 

First Energy Harmon Substation Proposal; FE Board will meet 01/22 to review Village’s proposal.

 

Council Member Hilliard asked about the back wall in the new electric garage.  The Mayor stated that instead of finishing it with metal they wanted to use plywood so they could hang equipment on the wall.

 

VILLAGE MAYOR: Mike Schwab

Copy of 2014 Council Committee assignments per 01/06 Council approval; updated Village contact sheet will be available upon new VA’s start;  Also, Copy of Council Rules dated 2014.

 

Gazebo Natureworks Grant – Awaiting formal notice of approval from ODNR; project will be assigned to new VA.

 

Working with Departments on 2014 Five Year Plan.

 

Working with Utility Supers on consolidation of Utility Department Regulations into one document for each utility.

 

State of the Village Report: Part I – Water, Sewer, Electric, Capital Projects, & General Funds (Council copy).  A copy is on the Village web site at brewsterohio.com

 

Council Member Hilliard stated the money is available to hire an additional lineman but questioned whether it would be more beneficial to hire someone to replace Supt Radich that could train linemen.

 

VILLAGE CLERK-TREASURER’S REPORT: Kris King

Remind Council to look over and sign the check register on the table. 

 

Income Tax computer: Quote provided. 

 

Village Administrator computer: I've asked him to choose what hardware he would prefer and his selections and costs will be provided at the next meeting.

 

The 2014 Certificate of Total Amount Available has been prepared.  This is due to the County by January 31.  The Finance Committee has been given a copy.

 

Brian Bankert of Government Accounting Solutions was in on Jan. 14th to prepare the 2013 Financial Statement.  It is available for viewing in my office.  It will be advertised shortly.

 

ACA Update: Currently looking to exclude Volunteer Fireman hours from the Full Time Equivalents.

 

Christmas lights: Council has a copy of the quote from Bronner's.  This is to fill in where the lights looked sparse and to cover the bushes around five of the light posts.  We are looking into putting snow flakes on the remaining two light posts.

 

Continuing to work with Scott Ankrom on the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund.  Once the agreement is signed we will be required to have a letter from the Solicitor and a General Certificate Letter.  I will prepare them as soon as needed.

 

Need a count of how many are going to the Government Law Seminar in Canton on February 8, 2014.  Mayor Schwab, Council Member Fox, and Council Member Mackey are planning to attend.

 

"VILAGE SPEAKS"

Council Member Hilliard stated Mr. Hunter had not received his abatement on his current taxes.  He will be contacting Jon Oates from the Stark County Auditor's Office.

 

Council Member Hilliard would like the Street Department to scrape off the storm sewer by his house.

 

COMMITTEE OR COUNCIL REPORTS: :*NOTE: The Goal of any committee meeting is to discuss an issue or proposal and to provide, by a consensus of the committee members, ONE recommendation to Council.

Building, Parks, & Grounds met on 01/13; Report.

 

Solar Planet/Jerry Corbin provided a presentation to Utility Committee this evening at 6 pm.

 

Reminder – Finance Committee meeting on 02/03 at 6 pm to review Electric Dept’s lineman wage scale.

 

State Senator Frank LaRose used Village Hall as a satellite office on 02/18.

 

VA Search – Final Invoice totaled $ 11,289.05 for consultant, background check, travel reimbursements, etc.

           

PROPOSALS PENDING:

Purchase of the American Legion Building (Will call Commander Lutz to set up a January sit down).

 

Sewer Rate Study Recommendation – Sewer Rate Increase (Info provided to Council on 12/02/2013).

 

OLD/NEW BUSINESS:

COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD and motion carried to create an ordinance adopting Ohio Basic Code - 2014 Edition and declaring an emergency   The vote: All yes.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MACKEY and motion carried to purchase a laptop for the Income Tax Administrator at a cost of $619.98.   The vote: All yes.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MACKEY and motion carried to remodel Village Hall at a cost not to exceed $ 20,000 from the Capital Projects Fund.  There was a discussion concerning ADA compliance and some heating issues.  Supt Patterson discussed the plans.  The vote: Mackey, yes; Strausbaugh, no; Fox, yes; Godwin, yes; Hilliard, no.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER MACKEY MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN and motion carried to appropriate $45,000 for a storage building from the Capital Projects Fund.  There was a lengthy discussion on why it should or should not be done and how it should be done.   The vote: Mackey, yes; Strausbaugh, no; Fox, yes; Godwin, yes; Hilliard, no.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN and motion carried to draw up an ordinance amending the Brewster Tax Ordinance of 1953 by increasing the municipal income tax from 1% to 1-1/3% to provide for the maintenance and construction of Village Streets, Storm Sewers, Curb and Gutter, and Sidewalks only and declaring an Emergency.  The vote: Mackey, yes; Strausbaugh, no; Fox, no; Godwin, yes; Hilliard, yes.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN and motion carried to draw up a resolution for submitting to the electors at the primary election on May 6, 2014 the question of a temporary increase from 1% to 1-1/3% to provide additional revenues for the maintenance and construction of Village Streets, Storm Sewers, Curb and Gutter, and Sidewalks only and declaring an Emergency.  The vote: Mackey, yes; Strausbaugh, no; Fox, no; Godwin, yes; Hilliard, yes.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FOX and motion carried to earmark $ 62,000 for the Ahbay property from Capital Projects.  The vote: All yes.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FOX and motion carried to earmark $ 64,800 for the Elton Street improvements increasing the radii from the Capital Projects Fund.  The vote: All yes.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MACKEY and motion carried to set aside $ 45,510 for the gazebo project.  The vote: All yes.

 

Council Member Godwin thanked the Mayor for all his work on the Natureworks grant for the gazebo.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FOX and motion carried to adjourn the meeting at 9:02pm.  The vote:  All yes.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

_____________________________________

K. Kris King, Village Clerk-Treasurer

 

 

____________________________________

Mike Schwab, Mayor