September 16, 2013 - Meeting Minutes
MINUTES
BREWSTER VILLAGE COUNCIL
September 16, 2013
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
Sherri Bichsel, Council Member
Dave Godwin, Council Member
Tom Hilliard, Council Member
Jay Huff, Council Member
Joe Strausbaugh, Council Member
Steven Tharp, Jr., Council Member
VILLAGE OFFICIALS PRESENT:
Steve Hartman, Village Administrator
Kris King, Clerk-Treasurer
Al McCallin, Solicitor
MINUTES FROM THE SEPTEMBER 3, 2013 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING:
Mayor Mike Schwab asked if there were any additions or deletions to the September 3, 2013 Council meeting minutes. Council Member Tharp corrected a motion under New/Old Business.
COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF and motion carried to accept the minutes as amended. The vote: All yes.
PRESENTATION OF BILLS:
COUNCIL MEMBER THARP MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN and motion carried to accept the bills for the amount of $ 66,303.22. Council Member Hilliard stated that $72.00 was too high for business cards. Council Member Godwin questioned the EDDS bill and wanted to know how much has been spent on the Village Administrator search. Clerk King responded that about $8,400 has already been appropriated which includes $6,800 fee plus about $1,600 in advertising. The vote: All yes.
AUDIENCE:
The following residents were also present: Ray and LaVonne Heitger, Dave Jones, Dale Fox, Micah and Naomi Strausbaugh, Paul and Cindy Mackey.
GUEST:
Brewster Parke Representatives: David Childs, Cheryl Childs, Lisa Byer, Jennifer Walencik, Gina Kerhin, & Sally Roush. They presented Council with their plans for a Community Senior Center at Brewster Parke. Activities will include luncheons, exciting trips, membership meetings, euchre parties, recipe swaps, live entertainment, and more. They are planning a Free Fall Festival on Thursday, September 26th at 4:30pm.
CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCES:
RESOLUTION 39-2013: A resolution to place 17.5% of EMS call revenues into the Ambulance Replacement Fund was given third reading.
COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THARP and motion carried to pass the resolution as read. The vote: All yes
Second Reading: Adjusting the compensation of Council Members and the Meeting Allowance for Clerk-Treasurer. Council Member Hilliard stated he will have adjustments to the original motion. Council Member Tharp stated he would like to have it tabled.
COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THARP and motion carried to table the compensation ordinance. The vote: All yes.
ORDINANCE 40-2013: An Ordinance awarding a Contract for Village’s Casualty and Liability Insurance and declaring an emergency was given second reading.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THARP and motion carried to suspend the requirement of three separate readings and bring the legislation forward for passage. The vote: All yes. Terrorism coverage was then discussed.
COUNCIL MEMBER THARP MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL and motion carried to pass Ordinance 40-2013 as read. The vote: All yes.
First Reading: A resolution accepting the Amounts & Rates as Determined by the County Budget Commission.
From the Mayor: For the OPWC Grant application for the SR 93/Elton Street Intersection Project: Draft of a proposed resolution authorizing the VA to submit an application to OPWC District 19. If Council wishes to have the draft brought forward a motion to draw up a resolution would be in order. Council Member Tharp asked which fund the money would be coming from. Clerk King responded it was coming from the Street Improvement Fund.
COUNCIL MEMBER THARP MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN and motion carried to draw up a Resolution to Authorize VA to Submit an Application for an OPWC Grant for a SR 93/Elton Street Intersection Project ($69,800 project w/Village at $18,148 (26%)). The vote: All yes.
RESOLUTION 41-2013: First Reading/Emergency: Resolution to Authorize VA to Submit an Application for an OPWC Grant for a SR 93/Elton Street Intersection Project ($ 69,800 project w/Village at $ 18,148 (26%)).
COUNCIL MEMBER HILLARD MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL and motion carried to suspend the requirement of three separate readings and bring the legislation forward for passage. The vote: All yes.
COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF and motion carried to pass Ordinance 41-2013 as read. The vote: All yes.
MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS:
Fire Department: Chief Rick Patterson
Emergency response table top exercise at Wilmot Fire Station on 09/10; attended by Brewster, Navarre, Beach City, Wilmot VFDs & Brewster, Navarre, Beach PDs & Fairless Supt & ALICE Coordinator; ongoing work.
Northside Siren has been repaired.
Police Department: Chief Harry Porter
Fines & Other Moneys Collected or Received = $ 352.00.
New Radar Unit for Car #1 received from Ohio Department of Safety from OVI Task Force participation.
WATER DEPARTMENT: Supt Eugene Pepper
Water Plant Filters: Supt. Pepper has not had any sign that the plant filter media is failing, media will begin clumping & pressure in equipment will increase, neither has occurred, media receiving proper flushing has been known to last up to 24 years; Supt. Pepper and Mayor would like to NOT rebuild filters at this time, but would recommend monitoring media and have Supt. Pepper contact contractors during this winter for estimates for future budgeting.
SOLICITOR: Attorney Al McCallin
Update on Walker Litigation.
We have been throwing a number of tasks at Al recently;remember he has a private practice.
COMMUNICATION
Donation Application from Fairless Toy Cupboard/2013 Toy Distribution Project; requesting $1000.
Renewal of Efficiency Smart Program with AMP; three year contract at $ 1.40/MWh of monthly sales; will take a resolution to renew.
VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR: Steve Hartman
Water:
Department has replaced the line to 123 Glick Street.
Sewer:
VA Hartman asked were Council was on the sewer rate increase. Hazen and Sawyer had provided their reports in July and no action has been taken.
Electric:
Trees have been trimmed along 93. Department will begin erecting cross arms.
Village:
The oak tree on Nick Pumneo’s 7th Street property has been dropped to protect the electric line.
VA Hartman has been busy gathering information for the deposition.
Four department inventories are complete. All items are accounted for. Some have moved to other departments and there were some trade-ins.
Seventh Street will be closed at the levee on Thursday morning.
OPWC application for the Elton Street intersection improvements was submitted last Thursday.
Council Member Bichsel asked about the pressure testing in the Muskingum neighborhood. The meters have been pulled but we haven’t received the results from Hazen and Sawyer yet.
Council Member Strausbaugh asked if the VA had the test results from Supt. Pepper to compare to the tests that he and Council Member Tharp had performed. VA Hartman stated he had them in his office and will give to him after the meeting. Council Member Strausbaugh asked why a meter was put in only one house and why that house. The tap was only about three feet from Mr. Jones’ tap. Council Member Strausbaugh stated that17 people had signed the petition and had issues. VA Hartman stated that Council only approved $5,000 for the testing and that Hazen and Sawyer had advised that this was an appropriate review.
Council Member Hilliard asked if the walk-through for the roads had been completed. Supt. Patterson has been told to contact Northstar. They have not been paid yet. He also stated that the area around the Boy Scout shed needs attention. He said it looks really bad. He also said that the gate at the Water Plant needs to be locked up after the fencing is complete. VA has one quote and is awaiting another for the additional fencing. Looking into a gate with a key card.
Council Member Huff would like to see the small bucket truck replacement looked into now before it’s time to buy it. He would like to see what size, what they want on it, basically he wants the specs so we can prepare for it.
Council Member Strausbaugh asked for a copy of the 4th lineman ad. VA Hartman stated he has to rerun it because he received no responses.
MAYOR: Mike Schwab
For Council’s Info: Village Administrator ad ran on September 6 & 13, also in trade/web site ads until October 6th; Resumes accepted until October 11, 2013; awaiting EDDS VA Wage study & Income Tax services info; Search Committee will provide a recommendation for wage and a job description for Council’s consideration.
Worksheet has been submitted to R.I.T.A to request an estimate for them to provide Village Income Tax services; only to gather info as an option.
Water engineer from Hazen and Sawyer evaluation of water distribution system in Muskingum area; meters put in place at hydrant & a petitioner’s home pulled on 09/06 to collect data; awaiting engineering report.
October 3rd Town Hall Meeting; The Mayor is happy to chair & provide info about who pays Village Income Tax (copy of a draft of a handout); any information about Council’s planned use of any new funds generated by income tax increase is Council’s to explain.
Working with VA, GPD, & Solicitor on a draft of an electric agreement with Hillview that defines the obligations of the Village and the Hillview Court owner (Council copy of Beach’s from 1974).
VA & Engineering Associates scrambled to get the OPWC Grant application submitted and deserve a pat on the back; we are working with ODOT & SCATS as this intersection is multijurisdictional which will lead to a number of approvals to make the project happen; ODOT is scheduled to pave this section of SR 93 in 2015; have asked ODOT to trim trees & bushes in ROW north of intersection.
Chief Porter & I met with Prosecutor Chapanar as a review; he will submit a contract renewal in the next month.
American Legion Commander Rick Lutz: advises that he will present the Village’s offer for the Legion building to the Legion membership on September 24th; Mayor has met with Joe Musacchia to advise of Village offer.
VILLAGE CLERK-TREASURER’S REPORT: Kris King
Remind Council to look over and sign the check register on the table.
$300 in unpaid mowing costs have been sent to the county.
Committee meeting minutes look best on the website if they are submitted electronically.
"VILLAGE SPEAKS":
Council Member Godwin received complaints of speeding on Mohican.
Council Member Tharp had a resident let him know that they are unhappy that a 4th lineman is still being sought.
Walt Myers stopped in to see VA Hartman to find out whose responsibility it is to clear out waterways in the village. The waterway between Elton and Oak Streets needs cleaned out.
Council Member Hilliard had a complaint from his neighbor that the village flags were not lowered to half-mast until noon.
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
Employee Committee met September 3rd: Scheduled another meeting on 11/04/2013 to continue discussion on stand-by pay.
Tree Committee met 09/14: The committee came up with a long list trees that need attention.
Parks & Grounds Committee met 09/14: The committee discussed from trees to the concession stand to the PD garage. They discussed short term and long term goals.
Council Member Hilliard reminded everyone of the Neighborhood Watch picnic Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at 6pm at his house.
Reminders:
October 3rd – Town Hall Meeting: Street Levy at Friends Church at 7 pm
October 7th – Economic Development Committee Meeting at 6 pm
October 22nd - Town Hall Meeting: Street Levy at Friends Church at 7 pm
Fall Clean Up: Week of September 23rd
OLD/NEW BUSINESS:
COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD and motion carried to hold a Street Committee meeting on September 30th at 6pm. The vote: All yes.
Council Member Tharp requested the signs hanging on Field #1 removed.
COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN and motion carried to donate $1,000 to the Fairless Food Cupboard Annual Toy Drive. The vote: All yes.
COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD and motion carried to reimburse Council Member Tharp $209.15 for expenses from the community meetings with EDDS. The Vote: Bichsel, yes; Godwin, yes; Hilliard, yes; Huff, yes; Strausbaugh, yes; Tharp, abstain.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL and motion carried purchase a blue spruce to be placed in Witting Park at the discretion Tim Stith, not to exceed $350 from the Parks and Grounds Fund. The vote: All yes.
Council Member Hilliard asked if there was still the need for Council to make a decision on running a line up to the pole at the entrance of Hillview Trailer Park. VA Hartman already made an executive decision and a motion by Council would just muddy the water.
Council Member Tharp had a resident ask Council to revisit the ordinance that prohibits commercial vehicles on village streets. He feels he is being picked on.
Council Member Strausbaugh requested a copy of the ad for the 4th Lineman. He feels we need to advertise further than just the Repository.
Council Member Tharp told the Economic Development Committee to be sure to read EDDS’s proposals and be ready to discuss them at the October 7th Economic Development meeting.
Council Member Hilliard brought up the property between the Moose and Credit Union. He doesn’t want another parking lot. He wants a nice view of the walking path.
COUNCIL MEMBER THARP MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD and motion carried to go into executive session to discuss the purchase of property at 8:14pm. The vote: All yes.
COUNCIL MEMBER THARP MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL and motion carried to close executive session at 8:25pm. The vote: All yes.
COUNCIL MEMBER THARP MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 8:25pm.
Respectfully submitted,
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K. Kris King, Village Clerk-Treasurer
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Mike Schwab, Mayor