June 17, 2013 - Meeting Minutes

MINUTES

BREWSTER VILLAGE COUNCIL

JUNE 17, 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 JUNE 3, 2013 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING:

Mayor Mike Schwab asked if there were any additions or deletions to the June 3, 2013 Council meeting minutes.  There were none.

 

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

 

PRESENTATION OF BILLS:

COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL and motion carried to accept the bills for the amount of $ 118,808.54. The vote: All yes.  Council Member Hilliard brought the tire removal bill to Council's attention.  Council Member Huff asked about the new garage bills.  VA Hartman stated the bills were for previously ordered items and for the underground supplies.

 

AUDIENCE:

The following residents were also present: Dale Fox, Cindy Mackey, and Ray and LaVonne Heitger.

 

CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCES:

First Reading – An ordinance modifying the permitted height of grass & weeds to a max of 8 inches.

 

First Reading – A resolution creating a Water Replacement Fund.

 

First Reading – A resolution to modify the source of funding Council’s & the Mayor’s salaries.

 

RESOLUTION 30-2013: A Resolution of Congratulations to the Fairless Boys & Girls Track Teams was given first reading.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEBER THARP and motion carried to pass Resolution 30-2013 as read.  The vote: All yes.

 

RESOLUTION 31-2013: A Resolution of Congratulations to the Fairless Girls Softball Team was given first reading.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BISCHEL and motion carried to pass Resolution 31-2013 as read.  The vote: All yes.

 

MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS:

Fire Department: Chief Rick Patterson

Council Member Tharp asked about the burning of the house on West   7th Street.  Chief Patterson is still waiting on the decision of the Health Department.

 

Police Department: Chief Harry Porter

Nothing to report.

 

Sewer Department: Supt. Maybaugh

Superintendent suggests that Council meet with Engineers Hazen and Sawyer on 07/15 at 6pm to review the Sewer Rate Study.

 

SOLICITOR: Attorney Al McCallin

Mayor’s request – review of a tweak of the Village’s Junk Car Ordinance.  He reviewed other communities and townships ordinances.  He is looking further into Dublin's approach or possibly a zoning approach.

 

COMMUNICATIONS:

Canton Health Department/Air Pollution Division, representing the Ohio EPA – Public Awareness relating to             Asbestos Regulations is requesting Village’s assistance by placing “Asbestos regulations may apply to this project. Please contact the Canton Health Department at 330-489-3385” on Zoning Permits.

 

AMP 2012 Annual Report available for Council’s review; AMP has grown to 128 members with members in Ohio, Michigan, W. Virginia, Pennsylvania, & Virginia; 634,377 customers; sold 12,500,000 megawatts of power in 2012; founded in 1971 by 5 Ohio communities; owned & controlled by its 128 members; smallest member – Huron has 5 meters & largest Cleveland has 73,110 meters; owns a 42 MW Hydro-plant, a 7.2 MW Wind Farm, a 707 MW Gas-fired Generation plant, a 3.54 Solar facility, & has 3 1/2 Hydro-plants coming online in 2014-15.

 

VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR: Steve Hartman

Hilscher Clarke and Metalmasters have finished working on the garage.  Roseman is in doing the grading.

 

VA Hartman spoke to two additional firms concerning quotes for the automation of the water tower.  They said they couldn't compare with Bergren's quote.  VA explained that the current system was built by Bergren and any other company would be starting from scratch.  Council Member Hilliard didn't think the competing vendors should know each others' quotes.  Supt. Pepper would much prefer Bergren based on a very successful track record and their work is first rate.

 

Six trees have been removed and all downtown ginkos have been trimmed.

 

Hazen & Sawyer met with the Village for a 90% progress meeting for the pump station.  They are still tweaking the final numbers for the rate study.

 

Income tax submittals are flowing in.  Currently we are $ 60,000 ahead of last year.

 

Weed letters are continuing to go out.

 

VA Hartman signed the papers for the interested party tax foreclosure.  It didn't go quite as smooth as expected.  Clerk King questioned the Solicitor about the purchase of property and executive sessions.

 

Northstar will give the Village a three day notice of when they are coming in to pave Horton and Wells.

 

Council Member Huff asked about the core samples of the water filters.  If they need replaced, it could cost between $40 and $70 thousand.  VA Hartman reported they are functioning well.  Their normal useful life is 20 years but they can go well past that.

 

Council Member Godwin asked if Hillview had been contacted concerning their electric.  He stated that it is a mess and there needs to be a joint meeting with both Councils and the Walkers.

 

Council Member Huff suggests instead of buying a new generator for the electric dept., buy a bigger one for the water dept. and move the water dept. one over to the electric dept.  He stated the electric dept. only needs it for lights.

 

Council Member Hilliard would like quotes for the sandblasting of the curbs by next meeting.  Council Member Tharp regrets voting for the painting of the curbs.  He feels quotes should have been seen before the vote to proceed was taken.  Council Member Strausbaugh would like to know how enforceable the parking violations would be with the yellow curbs before the money is spent.

 

VA Hartman stated there is a meeting with First Energy on Tuesday at 10am to discuss hooking up to our 69 line.  Council Member Tharp asked if purchase of the line would be brought up.  VA Hartman stated it would.

 

Council Member Strausbaugh stated the deflectors on the mowers have not been put back on.  It is embarrassing that it has been three meetings now and it still hasn't been taken care of.

 

Mayor Schwab discussed the steps that should be done before any decisions are made concerning the electric at the HillviewTrailer Park.  Future meetings were discussed.  VA Hartman will also be contacting Dean Stall of the EPA concerning the sewer system.

 

MAYOR’S REPORT:

Paramedic Program Upgrade Review from meeting with Capt Jen & Village Clerk based on their numbers.  Clerk King to give a recommendation of a percentage of the revenues of the EMS Fund be put in the Ambulance Replacement Fund in order to replace the 2003 ambulance in 2017.

 

Sugar Creek Twp invited to the June 24^th meeting with Council by mail; Trustee Bob Wentling has advised he will attend.

 

At OML’s urging; a letter was sent on the Mayor’s letterhead to Representative Slaby requesting that for pending HB5 the Uniform Municipal Income Tax Bill that she consider the need to make the Bill revenue neutral for the affected communities.  Council Member Tharp has met with her and she stated it is still up in the air as to whether this part of the bill will be brought forth.

 

Advised that a Zoning Board of Appeals meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 7 pm to consider a side yard setback variance for the construction of a garage at 375   N. Wabash Avenue.  Application by property owner Brett Long.

 

VILLAGE CLERK-TREASURER’S REPORT: Kris King

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

 

Balance due on mowing of five properties so far this summer came to $900.00.  There have been complaints on three additional properties.  Letters will go out this week.

 

OWDA submittals for $ 78,150.00 are currently in processing for the sewer project.  This brings our current outstanding balance to $ 330,950.00.

 

The meeting with Huntington Bank had a favorable outcome.  We saw significant savings in service charges.  Another meeting is to be set up to go over their program for online and credit card payments for the residents' utility bills.

 

Council Member Hilliard thanked the clerk for the meeting reminders that were distributed to Council.

 

"VILLAGE SPEAKS":

Council Member Tharp reported that neighbors of the ill maintained property on East Harmon appreciated the Village's quick response to complaints.

 

Council Member Hilliard reported he had a complaint concerning the old roller being scrapped.  There was a lengthy discussion.

 

COMMITTEE OR COUNCIL REPORTS:

Council Member Tharp reported on the Utility Committee meeting on June 3rd about wireless utility metering.  He stated they are just looking into it.  It would eliminate the need for employees to go out and read meters and would provide additional information to answer customer questions.

 

Reminder: Council has a meeting scheduled here with Sugar Creek Twp Trustees on Monday, June 24 at 7pm.

 

Economic Development Committee will visit Shearer’s Foods on June 26^th.

 

Reminders:

            Community Meeting conducted by EDDS will be on July 18^th & 25^th and August 1^st & 8^th; Mayor suggests that business owners, Village organizations, and others be personally invited as well as newspaper notices. Council Member Tharp encourages everyone to invite friends and neighbors.

            Retreat for Council conducted by EDDS is scheduled for August 3rd at 10AM. It will be about 4 hours long.

            Street & Sidewalk Committee may want to begin working on plans for presenting to Voters for Fall Ballot Issue

            Neighborhood Watch Meeting on Tuesday, June 18th, free t-shirts will be given to attendees.

 

EXPENDITURE REQUESTS FROM PAST MEETINGS:

1. VA: Quote for Water Plant Controls Upgrade – Master Unit = $ 13,500;

                                    Remote Alarm = $ 2500 + cell phone service w/Link2Site

                                    2 Tower Site Monitors = $ 4500 each

                                                                       

PENDING PROPOSALS from past meetings:

Police Garage proposal: Being Reviewed by Parks & Grounds & Finance; Mayor has asked Street Superintendent to provide a cost estimate for adding on two stalls to Street Garage to accommodate sheltering of Police cars in existing first two stalls.  Estimate to include building, concrete, electric, oil separator, and so forth to keep surprises to a minimum (may be a reasonable solution to Street & Police Department’s storage issues).

 

A Village Social Media Policy from Mayor; referred to Employee Committee for review

 

On Call/Stand By Schedule in Electric Utility; currently being reviewed by Utility Committee

 

Senior Citizens’ program/facility; currently WANDLE House provides Euchre on alternate Wednesdays.

 

OLD/NEW BUSINESS:

COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THARP and motion carried to schedule a Street Committee meeting on August 5th at 6pm.  The vote: All yes.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL and motion carried to schedule a Finance Committee meeting on August 5th at 6:30pm. The vote: All yes.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THARP and motion carried to schedule a Utility Committee meeting on July 1st at 6:30pm.  The vote: All yes.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THARP and motion carried to invite the Walkers to a meeting on July 15th at 6pm.  The vote: All yes.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER THARP MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF and motion carried to meet with Hazen and Sawyer on July 22nd at 7pm.  The vote: All yes.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER THARP MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL and motion carried to schedule an Insurance Committee meeting to discuss liability coverage on August 19th at 6:30pm.  The vote: All yes.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THARP and motion carried to award the water control upgrade to Bergren and Associates at a cost not to exceed $25,000.  After a lengthy discussion the vote was: Huff, no; Strausbaugh, yes; Tharp, yes; Bichsel, yes; Godwin, yes; Hilliard, yes.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER THARP MOVED to draw up an ordinance for any scrapping of Village material.  After a discussion the motion was rescinded.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER THARP MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL and motion carried to draw up an ordinance to require Council's knowledge of any disposal of Village property with an original purchase price of over $ 1,000.  The vote: Huff, yes; Strausbaugh, yes; Tharp, yes; Bichsel, yes; Godwin, yes; Hilliard, no.

 

Council Member Huff is concerned with people making accusations without coming in to present it.

 

Council Member Tharp asked the VA if he had the list of responsibilities of the linemen that he had asked for at previous meetings.  VA Hartman said he would email it to him.  There was a discussion on the timeliness of information being requested.

 

Council Member Hilliard wanted Council to know he would be making a request for $250.00 for the neighborhood watch t-shirts at the next meeting.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 8:47pm.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 ____________________________________

K. Kris King, Village Clerk-Treasurer

 

 

 ___________________________________

Mike Schwab, Mayor