February 2, 2015 - Meeting Minutes
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
Dave Godwin, Council Member Chuck Hawk, Council Member
Tom Hilliard, Council Member Paul Mackey, Council Member
COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MACKEY and motion carried to excuse Council Member Fox from this evening's meeting. Council Member Hawk asked why he wasn't here. Council Member Fox is under the weather. The vote: All yes.
COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN and motion carried to excuse Council Member Tharp from this evening's meeting. Council Member Hawk asked why he wasn't here. Council Member Tharp is under the weather. The vote: All yes.
VILLAGE OFFICIALS PRESENT:
John Anthony, Village Solicitor K. Kris King, Clerk-Treasurer
EMPLOYEES:
Jay Bucher, Fireman Chris Colucy, Fire Chief
Mark Murdocco, Fire Captain
MINUTES FROM THE JANUARY 19, 2015 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING:
Mayor Mike Schwab asked if there were any additions or deletions to the January 19, 2015 Council meeting minutes.
COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN and motion carried to accept the minutes as presented. The vote: All yes.
PRESENTATION OF BILLS:
COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD and motion carried to accept the bills for the amount of $ 271,263.57. The vote: All yes.
AUDIENCE:
Council Rules: Members of the audience shall rise to be recognized, state their name and address, ask their questions or make their comments in a direct manner, and receive their answer in a like manner. Members of the audience shall only speak at audience time, and shall be ruled out of order if they attempt to join in Council’s discussions. Courtesy shall prevail at all times.
No one wished to speak.
Others in the attendance: Ray Heitger, Linda Taylor, Cindy Mackey, Nicole Corn, John Barkan, and Ann-Margaret Lambo.
CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCES:
Second Reading: An ordinance modifying the compensation of the mechanic position in the Village Fire Department.
Second Reading: An ordinance authorizing the Permanent Appropriations for 2015.
First Reading: Resolution to Submit a Ballot Issue for the Renewal of a 4 mil Fire Levy for 2016 – 2020 to the Voters for the November 3, 2015 General Election.
First Reading: Resolution of Necessity for the Renewal of the 4 mil Fire Levy for 2016 – 2020 and Requesting that the County Auditor Certify Tax Valuations and Revenue.
First Reading: Authorize VA to Prepare for and to Advertise for Bids for rental of Backup Electric Generation Units. (Plans were to consider this underEmergency this evening; lack of sufficient Council members precludes this approach).
First Reading: Authorize a Contract for rental of Backup Electric Generation Units.
MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS:
FIRE DEPARTMENT: Chief Chris Colucy
Asst Chief Mohler has been attending Career Day at Fairless Middle School as part of a Junior Achievement Project at Fairless.
Fire Pumper 151 is a 1993 Sutphen. It is in need of much repair and will be taken to Sutphen for repair of the transfer case along with many other repairs. VA Pauley has tentatively approved up to $ 25,000 for repairs. While it is at Sutphen, it will be inspected to see if it is worth refurbishing or if it needs to be replaced. A new pumper would cost between $ 425,000 and $ 550,000.
Application has been made for an NFPA grant for turnout gear. The life of turnout gear is currently ten years and there are 11 sets that need replaced in 2016-2017 at a cost of approximately $ 1,600 each.
Council Member Godwin thanked the Fire Chief and Captain for bringing the current needs of the department to Council.
POLICE DEPARTMENT: Chief Harry Porter
Clerk King was approached prior to tonight’s meeting and asked to let Council know that the department has been approved for a $ 5,000 in car camera grant with a 10% match by the Village. It was stated that Officer Taylor was the writer of the grant.
VILLAGE SOLICITOR:Attorney John Anthony
Solicitor Anthony reported that he researched the sale of unused equipment to another municipality. He stated that no bidding was required as long as the equipment was worth under $ 1,000. It was stated that the cruiser in question was a 2006 Crown Victoria with 160,000 miles and probably needs a new motor.
Solicitor Anthony was asked to explain a Summary Judgement that was filed recently in a litigation case. A summary judgment is a decision made on the basis of statements and evidence presented in the legal pleadings and documents filed, without a trial. There is the possibility of appeals.
COMMUNICATIONS:
Brewster Dairy letter concerning the April FirstEnergy Electric Outage. Council was provided a copy.
Shearers Foods letter concerning the April FirstEnergy Electric Outage. Council was provided a copy.
VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR:VA Robert Pauley(absent)
Council Member Hilliard would like to know the VA's view on the rental of the generators for the Harmon Sub changeover.
VILLAGE MAYOR: Mike Schwab
Council Letter of Appreciation to Spidell Funeral Home and Council letter of Appreciation to the Brewster United Methodist Church, both need Council signatures.
The Mayor attended Court directed Mediation for the Walker litigation this morning. No conclusions were made. The case is scheduled in court on March 16th.
Street plowing and salting: In order to save money in the Street Fund, Streets will be plowed with salting only on hills and intersections; this will save needed street funds by cutting back on the ill effects of salt on streets & catch basins: freezing rain will continue to be salted. Council received a copy of the Village Web site notice.
State of the Village Report – Part Two: Fire Department, EMS, Police Department, General Fund, Village Hall, & Capital Projects.
VILLAGE CLERK-TREASURER:Kris King
Check register for tonight's meeting provided for Council's signatures.
January financial and year to date reports provided.
“Certificate of Total Amount Available” has been submitted to the county along with the summary page of the 2014 Financial Statement.
The legal ad for the 2014 Financial Statement has been submitted to the Repository and the Far Corner.
How does Council wish to handle the AMP GS Stranded Cost payment? It is being paid as one lump sum payment in this set of bills. Is the cost being passed on to the residents? Is the Village absorbing the cost? If passed on to the resident, will it be on a single bill or spread over several months or the whole year?
Mayor, VA and I will be meeting with Seifert Technologies concerning networking the Village Hall computers. The goal is to get better backups and have everyone working on the same version of programs and operating system.
I will be attending a BWC webinar on February 10th to better understand and help our employees.
Mayor, Asst. Chief Jen Mohler, Ohio Billing rep, and I will be meeting with a representative from the state to work on delinquent ambulance payments where all that is needed is paperwork for the insurance company or Medicare.
VILLAGE SPEAKS: Communications to Council Members from Village residents
Nothing to report.
COMMITTEES 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.
Utility Committee Work Session was held at 6 pm this evening. Temporary power generation during the switchover to the new substation was discussed.
REMINDER: Council of the Whole Work Session 02/16/2015 at 6 pm
Parks & Grounds Work Session 03/02/2015 at 6 pm
PROPOSALS PENDING:
From Mayor: Formulation of a plan and protocol for use of the Sidewalk Repair/Replacement Fund.
From Economic Development Committee: The creation of a Brewster Business Association.
From Mayor: Info from Wichert Insurance concerning coverage during events on Village grounds.
From VA & Mayor: RCAP proposal for a GIS Project in the Village Utilities; additional proposal being reviewed by the Village Administrator.
From VA: FE Harmon Substation Changeover Procedures and scheduled Electric Outage.
From FD Chief & Mayor – Creation of a nonpaying Lieutenant position in FD.
OLD or NEW BUSINESS:(Council Rules dictate a one meeting review period for expenditures, unless deemed an emergency)
COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD and motion carried to approve the sale of the 2006 Police Cruiser to Beach City for $1. The vote: All yes.
COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD and motion carried to accept the $5,000 grant for in-car camera and pay the 10% Village portion of that amount from the Police Car and Equipment Fund. The vote: All yes.
Council Member Hilliard requested a letter of appreciation be sent to Officer Taylor for his efforts in grant writing. Mayor Schwab stated he would write the letter.
Council Member Hilliard and Chief Colucy discussed the turnout gear and the NFPA Grant. The Fire Levy and the revenues generated from it were also discussed along with fire truck purchases. There is currently one payment in February of 2016 left on the last pumper purchased.
Council Member Mackey asked the Mayor about a concern with the Neighborhood Watch Program that he had mentioned in the preliminary draft of the agenda. Mayor Schwab had asked the Solicitor about the responsibility of the Village with the Neighborhood Watch Program. He stated he would like to see the program separated from the Village. Solicitor Anthony stated that a Neighborhood Watch Program was to be an organization to inform not police. He stated the Village should not endorse or arrange their meetings. He had brochures from the Stark County Prosecutors' office concerning Neighborhood Watch Programs. He stated it is not to be turned into additional Police. Council Member Mackey is concerned about vigilantes.
COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN and motion carried to advertise and hold a Special Meeting on Monday, February 9, 2015 at 6 pm to discuss and take action on the rental of generators for the Harmon Sub Switchover and the AMP GS Stranded Cost payment. The vote: All yes.
COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN and motion carried to adjourn the meeting at 8:18pm.
Respectfully submitted,
K. Kris King, Village Clerk-Treasurer
Mike Schwab, Mayor