December 3, 2012 - Meeting Minutes

MINUTES

BREWSTER VILLAGE COUNCIL

DECEMBER 3, 2012

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 K. Kris King followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Mike Schwab, Mayor

Sherri Bichsel, Council Member

Dave Duff, Council Member

Dave Godwin, Council Member

Tom Hilliard, Council Member

Jay Huff, Council Member

Steven Tharp, Jr., Council Member

 

VILLAGE OFFICIALS PRESENT:

Chris Colucy, Fire Captain

Steve Hartman, Village Administrator

K. Kris King, Clerk-Treasurer

Al McCallin, Solicitor

 

MINUTES FROM THE NOVEMBER 19, 2012 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING:

Mayor Mike Schwab asked if there were any additions or deletions to the November 19, 2012 Council meeting minutes.  There were none.

 

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

 

PRESENTATION OF BILLS:

COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL and motion carried to accept the bills for the amount of $ 116,232.09.  The vote: All yes.

 

AUDIENCE:

Chris Colucy, 275   West 5th Ave, wanted to know when the problem with parking at the corner of 5th and Wabash was going to be taken care of.  He said he was told the curb would be painted yellow so people knew not to park there.  Fire trucks and ambulances can not get through when there are activities at the churches.  VA Hartman stated the Village can paint a 25' radius on the corner.  Council Member Godwin stated it is the same at 2nd   Street by the Moose. 

 

The following residents were present: Dale Fox, Paul and Cindy Mackey, Joe and Titus Strausbaugh, Ray and LaVonne Heitger, and Linda Taylor.

 

CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCES:

RESOLUTION 38-2012: A Resolution authorizing a three year contract with LOGIC/RED Center for dispatching of Police and Fire Departments was given third reading.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER THARP MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD and motion carried to pass Resolution 38-2012 as read.  The vote: All yes.

 

Council Member Duff asked Capt. Colucy about CenCom dispatch because REDCenter is going to be raising their rates.  Capt. Colucy stated all Brewster's mutual aid agreements are with departments that use REDCenter except North Lawrence.

 

A Resolution of Temporary Appropriations was given second reading.

 

An Ordinance of Supplemental Appropriations for the Fiscal Year Ending on December 31, 2012 was given second reading.

 

An Ordinance Transferring Funds from the General Fund to the Fire Fund was given second reading.

 

An Ordinance setting Compensation for Village's Elected Officials for 2013 (Village Clerk a 2% increase; Council and Mayor no increase) was given second reading.

 

An Ordinance authorizing payment on the Electric/OMEGA JV2 note ($290,000 on principal, interest, legal fees, and bond study) was given second reading.

 

An Ordinance authorizing a Change Order for the 2012 Street Improvement Project of $6,019.64 was given second reading.

 

An Ordinance authorizing a 35mph speed limit on Route 62/Navarre Rd SW in front of the Fairless Middle and High Schools was given second reading.

 

A Resolution authorizing a grant application to ODNR NatureWorks Program for a gazebo project for BimelerPark was given second reading. 

 

A Resolution of Necessity requesting CountyAuditor to certify the revenue generated by a new 4 mill Fire Levy was given first reading.

 

A Resolution of Necessity requesting CountyAuditor to certify the revenue generated by a new 5 mill Fire Levy was given first reading.

 

Mayor Schwab and Solicitor McCallin explained that the only way to know how much a levy will generate is to do a Resolution of Necessity and send to the county.  Because the last levy is effective through 2015, there are only two options available.  One is to piggy back a levy but it will mean there will be levies on the ballot about every other year.  The other is to do an additional levy for the full amount needed to run the fire department 2014 to 2018.  If that passes then pass an ordinance that cancels the levy that was passed for 2011 to 2015, leaving only the new levy.   

 

A Resolution authorizing a Village Investment Policy was given first reading.

 

Councilman Godwin has requested that the ordinance adjusting the wage & certain benefits of Village employees (2 % increase in 2013) that was considered & failed on 11/19 have renewed consideration.   A motion to renew with a successful vote would be the first step.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUFF moved to reconsider the ordinance adjusting the base wage and certain benefits of Village employees (2% increase for 2013).  Council Member Hilliard called point of order.  Council Member Tharp stated Robert Rules of Order was not being followed. 

 

COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUFF to propose a motion to draw up an ordinance adjusting the wage and certain benefits of Village employees(2% increase in 2013).

 

Council Member Hilliard stated that Council Member Godwin wasn't here to hear the points discussed at the last employee committee meeting.  He said that Council just finished discussing needing levies passed and now Godwin wants to give raises.  Hilliard is not against raises but wants to wait until next year to see what happens because of cuts in funding.  He doesn't want to lose a cop or part-time employee.  He had an employee come to him and say he was well compensated.  He said the employees got raises the last three years and it needs to be nipped in the bud.  Council Member Duff asked how he would like it if he didn't get a raise.  Council Member Hilliard stated he has not received a raise in fourteen years.

 

Council Member Tharp brought up the wages of the newest full time patrolman.  His benefits  are almost as much as his wages and the two total over $55,000.  He thinks it should be put off until next year, see what comes down the pike.  The employees deserve it, but the Village can't afford it.

 

Council Member Huff stated he is not 100% against it.  That is why he wanted it tabled last meeting.  He thinks there is common ground.  It could be hammered out in committee.  One of the things that bothered him was they were still fighting about it at two minutes until seven.  It can't be crammed-n-jammed.

 

Council Member Duff wants it back on the table. Council Member Bichsel stated that no one at this table can agree on anything.  Council Member Duff stated it is always a three to three battle. 

 

Council Member Godwin stated that 2% is nothing.  Barely a cost of living raise.  Council Member Huff stated nobody at this table can work together.  Then arguing ensued.

 

The motion proposed was to amended to propose a motion to draw up an ordinance adjusting the wage and certain benefits of Village employees(2% increase in 2013) as it was amended and on which it was voted on November 19.

 

The Mayor asked for a vote:  Bichsel, yes; Duff, yes; Godwin, yes; Hilliard, no; Huff, no; Tharp, no.  The Mayor broke the tie with a yes vote.

 

Council Member Duff said to Council Member Hilliard that he thought this was what he wanted.  Council Member Hilliard stated he was concerned about the money.  He doesn't want to see the 5th officer or part time employees cut in one or two years or have insurance increases.

 

Mayor Schwab stated it should go back to committee.  Council Member Bichsel stated she will not be the head of the committee because all she was doing was butting heads and no one will cooperate.  She handed her paperwork to Huff and Duff volunteered to take over as chairperson.

 

MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS:

Fire Department: Chief Rick Patterson

Capt. Jen Mohler: Purchase Fire House (ACS) software renewal and support = $ 735.00.  Due 12/06/2012.

 

Police Department: Chief Harry Porter

November incident report.

 

Part-time Officers Parr and Keener were sworn in this afternoon.

 

Council Member Hilliard: A lot of people are parking in the fire lane at the FairlessMiddle School.  He would like the police to patrol more often.

 

SOLICITOR: Attorney Al McCallin

Review of proposed Fire Levy report.

 

Provided info on Fire Levy and ordinance reconsideration issues.

 

Solicitor McCallin stated he was proud serve a council that is this passionate about the Village.  The definition of politics is the art of possible.

 

COMMUNICATIONS:

Fairless Youth Baseball Association has submitted a Donation Application.

 

Brewster Post Office new likely hours: Mon - Fri 7am to 3:45pm with lunch 11 - 1:45pm; Sat 8:30am - 12pm.

 

Columbia Gas Letter: Will make application to PUCO to recover investments for infrastructure and energy efficiency investments; proposed Rider IRP of $1.21/month & Rider DSM = $0.21/month on residential bills.

 

2012 materials for the Stark County Community Action program need to be removed.  New material will be out after the first of the year.

 

VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR: Steve Hartman

Village:

VA Hartman attended the Post Office public meeting.

 

VA Hartman read into the minutes the Resolution from American Municipal Power commending the Village on its 100th anniversary of it's electric system.

 

Electric:

The Electric garage is progressing.  The floor has been poured and the overhead doors have been installed.

 

The Department is working on a line at the railroad.  We are waiting on the metering.

 

Sewer:

We have issues with the sewer line on East Second Street from Wabash Ave to Cleveland Ave.  We televised the line and found extensive problems that cannot be repaired by relining the line.  A rough estimate to dig up and replace is $50,000.  We are trying to get a more accurate cost.  Wenger Excavating of Dalton has submitted a quote for less than $50,000.  We are trying to get another quote.

 

Surveyors are in to begin field work for the Pump Station.

 

Street:

The department has been picking up leaves.

 

Central Allied has finished the paving project.  A change order in the amount of $6,019.64 will be needed.  The Mayor needs the breakout.

 

The storage area in the Village Hall attic is progressing.  VA Hartman thanked the guys for the great job they are doing.

 

Council Member Duff asked the VA to let him know when quotes for the cameras from Massillon Cable TV(MCTV) come in for the park parking lot where people are dumping tires.  He had called Quality Computers for a quote but they never returned his calls. The cameras he looked at in the stores would require the batteries to be changed every four hours.  MCTV would come out and install cameras that could record for five days on a DVR with infrared.  The only cost is for the cameras and installation.  There would be no monthly fee.

 

MAYOR’S REPORT:

The following PD Officers have completed their Six Month Probationary period: Chief Harry Porter, Patrolman Level II Officers Benny Truman & Nathan Taylor and Patrolman Level I Officer Keith Creter; Village’s Basic Code requires a final appointment; Mayor recommends that final appointment be made for these Officers.

 

Proposal: Draft of an ordinance that restricts the parking of commercial and recreational vehicles and trucks on residential streets.  Council has a draft.

 

Proposal: ordinance that updates and outlines Full Time & Part Time Employee Benefits.  Council has a copy of a draft.

 

Recommend purchase of Christmas Turkeys for all Full Time & Part TimeVillage employees.

 

From Mayor & Councilman Hilliard : draft of an ordinance creating a Neighborhood Watch Officer in the PD with no compensation.

 

Proposed PD Garage Project; Direction ? design blueprints for a 36’wide x 28 deep stand alone structure = $ 320 Materials for that size structure around $12,000; once scope decided suggest Village solicit contractor quotes; Suggested that the project could be funded from Capital Projects Fund.  Parks/Grounds/Buildings Committee asked to keep project moving.

 

Council Members Bichsel and Duff suggested the employees get hams instead turkeys for Christmas.

 

VILLAGE CLERK-TREASURER’S REPORT:

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

 

Request to encumber $600.00 plus travel expenses for annual report preparation.

 

November Month-to-Date and Year-to-Date Financial Report.

 

Meeting with Ohio Insurance Services, Aultcare, and employees on Wednesday, December 5, 2012 to discuss employee issues.

 

Discussion of the $ 53,000 for the Ambulance Replacement Fund.  Suggested that since $53,000 that is in the EMS Fund came originally from Township contracts, not EMS fee, that $53,000 intended for the EMS Fund could be diverted to the Ambulance Replacement Fund.

 

Part-time hours report.  All part-time employees are under 1,000 hours as per ordinance.

 

Firemen's pay = $ 30,890.68

 

"VILLAGE SPEAKS"

From the Clerk: Complaints on Constitution Gas Company salespeople.

 

From the Clerk: Request from a resident for the gazebo to be decorated.  Tim Stith accommodated the request.

 

From Council Member Hilliard: Someone had been to BeachCity's Christmas in the Village and thought it would be nice if Brewster would do one.

 

COMMITTEE OR COUNCIL REPORTS:

Employee Committee meeting from November 19, 2012.

 

Street and Alley Committee met this evening.  The street improvement levy and street/alley opening procedures were discussed.

            Note: The Goal of any committee meeting is to discuss an issue or proposal and to             provide by a consensus of the committee members a recommendation to Council.

 

Reminder: Council's FEMA training available at http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is908.asp; it is an hour course. 

 

EXPENDITURE REQUESTS from past Meetings:

None.

 

PENDING PROPOSALS from past meetings:

Elton Street/N. Wabash   Avenue Intersection Upgrades-awaiting proposal costs from Engineering Associates.

 

Police Garage proposal: Architect Jeff Day's has provided estimates of $ 134,500+.

 

Community Area Reinvestment Area (CRA); Suggested modifications from the Mayor being reviewed by Economic Development Committee; Mayor would ask that they also look at commercial plan changes.

 

A Village Social Media Policy from the Mayor; referred to the Employee Committee.

 

Alley and Street Opening Procedures draft from Mayor (referred to Street Committee).

 

On Call schedule for the Electric Utility

 

OLD/NEW BUSINESS:

COUNCIL MEMBER THARP MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL and motion carried to pay the fire payroll at a cost of $30,890.68 from the EMS and Fire Equipment Funds.  The vote: All yes.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN and motion carried to make the final appointment of Harry Porter as Police Chief, Benny Truman and Nathan Taylor as Patrolmen Level II, and Keith Creter as Patrolman Level I.  The vote: All yes.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL and motion carried to draw up an ordinance based on the Mayor's handout for the opening of paper alleys and paper streets with an addition to section one being notification of abutting properties.  The vote: All yes.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THARP and motion carried to purchase Firehouse ACS at $735.00 with 75% from EMS and 25% from Fire Equipment Funds.  The vote: All yes.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN MOVED to draw up a resolution of necessity for the income tax levy.  After a short discussion about whether a resolution of necessity is required for an income tax measure, it was decided to hold off until the Solicitor could provide clarification.  Council Member Godwin withdrew his motion.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER DUFF and motion carried to purchase hams for all employees from their respective funds.  Council Member Bichsel suggested semi boneless since there were no turkeys given this year for Thanksgiving.  Council Member Hilliard suggested $50 gift certificates for Belloni's.   The motion was amended by Huff and Duff to purchase semi-boneless hams.  The vote: All yes.

 

Council Member Huff suggested proposing a set rate on donations for next year.  Council Member Duff thinks they should be looked at individually.  Council Member Tharp stated that there was only one more meeting this year.  Council Member Godwin suggesting looking into how many it served.  The Mayor suggested the Finance Committee look into it.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER DUFF MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD and motion carried to hold an employee meeting on January 7th at 6pm.  The vote: All yes.

 

It was clarified that the Economic Development Committee meeting is scheduled for December 17th at 6pm.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD MOVED to permit the Mayor to encumber $320 for garage plans.  The Mayor asked Council if they wanted a stand alone garage or an addition to the police station.  Council Member Huff would like to see if we could find funds for the addition because it would look nice nicer and be more practical.  Council Member Hilliard withdrew the motion.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER DUFF MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF and motion carried to hold a Parks/Grounds/Buildings Committee meeting on January 21st at 6:30pm.  The vote: All yes.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER THARP MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL and motion carried to adjourn the meeting at 8:27pm.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 ____________________________________

K. Kris King, Village Clerk-Treasurer

 

 

 ___________________________________

Mike Schwab, Mayor