December 2, 2013 - Meeting Minutes
MINUTES
BREWSTER VILLAGE COUNCIL
December 2, 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 NOVEMBER 18, 2013 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING:
Mayor Mike Schwab asked if there were any additions or deletions to the November 18, 2013 Council Meeting minutes. There were none.
COUNCIL MEMBER THARP MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL and motion carried to accept the minutes. The vote: All yes.
MINUTES FROM THE NOVEMBER 25, 2013 SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING:
Mayor Mike Schwab asked if there were any additions or deletions to the November 25, 2013 Council Meeting minutes. There were none.
COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THARP 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 $ 43,379.31. Council Member Strausbaugh asked what the bill for $ 5,500 to Michael Haynes was for. Clerk King replied an air compressor, a trash pump, power washer, and 2 generators. The vote: All yes.
AUDIENCE:
The following residents were present: Ray and LaVonne Heitger, Dale Fox, Paul and Cindy Mackey, Chandler and Holly Miller.
Alan Revercomb, 13105 Elton Road, stated he purchased property 8 months ago and is confused on exactly where he lives. He stated he pays taxes in Navarre and his address is Navarre but when his wife fell and he called for an ambulance, there was a problem. Mayor Schwab stated that he lives in Brewster and that the 911 operator should be able to direct the proper department to attend to his wife's needs. The Navarre addresses have been an issue in the past but the Village has not been able to get them changed. He also brought up having horses on his three and a half acres. Mr. Revercomb is a retired Marine and is a volunteer for Honor Flights. He would like to get the information about Honor Flights out to the community. They fly veterans to WashingtonDC at no cost. Mayor Schwab thanked Mr. Revercomb for his service to Honor Flights and especially for taking Brewster resident and veteran Andy Codispoti last year.
CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCES:
ORDINANCE 51-2013: An Ordinance Authorizing Vacation of a Utility Easement Adjacent to Lot #1493 was given third reading.
COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL and motion carried to pass Ordinance 51-2013 as read. The vote: All yes.
ORINANCE 52-2013: An Ordinance Renewing Prosecutor Larry Chapanar’s Contract for 2014was given third reading.
COUNCIL MEMBER THARP MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN and motion carried to pass Ordinance 52-2013 as read. The vote: All yes.
Second Reading: Resolution of 2014 Temporary Appropriations.
Second Reading: Resolution of 2014 Supplemental Appropriations.
Second Reading: Authorize the Transfer of Funds from the General Fund.
Second Reading: Authorize the addition of the Mayor as an Approved Signatory for any Pending Contracts or Documents.
Second Reading: Establish the Duties, Salary, and Benefits of the Village Administrator.
Second Reading: Providing the Appointment and Compensation of a Village Income Tax Administrator.
Second Reading: Establish the Prohibition of the Use of any Tobacco Products on Village Grounds.
Second Reading: Authorize Final Payment on Electric Substation & OMEGA JV2 Note Debt ($ 290,000).
First Reading: An Ordinance authorizing modifications to the Public Records Policy.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL to table the tobacco ordinance. The members around this table cannot pickup a phone and have a conversation about it, instead he has been criticized on facebook. The vote: Bichsel, yes; Godwin, yes; Hilliard, no; Huff, yes; Strausbaugh, no; Tharp, no. Mayor Schwab votes to allow the ordinance to continue through the third reading for the vote.
COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN MOVED to table the Income Tax Administrator Ordinance. Motion dies due to lack of a second.
Council Member Hilliard asked if the General Fund Transfer Ordinance could be for multiple funds. Clerk King stated it was permissible.
COUNCIL MEMBER THARP MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSBAUGH to untable the Ordinance modifying the Employee Handbook so amendments could be made. The vote: Bichsel, no; Godwin, no; Hilliard, no; Huff, no, Strausbaugh, yes; Tharp, yes. Motion failed.
From Council: An Ordinance Tabled on 09/16/2013 at Second Reading – Ordinance Adjusting the Compensation of Council Members and the Meeting Allowance for Clerk-Treasurer.
From Council: An Ordinance Tabled on 11/04/2013 at First Reading – An Ordinance Authorizing Modifications to the Village Employee Handbook.
From Mayor: Draft of a Village Employee Wage Ordinance for 2014, 2015, 2016; submitted to initiate discussion.
MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS:
Fire Department: Chief Ricky Patterson
Nothing to report.
Police Department: Chief Harry Porter
Sean Miller was sworn in as a Part Time Police Officer; will ride along with other Officers.
Monthly Financial Statement to Council - Moneys via court cases, fines, etc.
Chief Porter letter: Appointment of Officer Nathan Taylor as Lead Investigator; Mayor would like approval of his recommendation.
SOLICITOR: Attorney Al McCallin
Nothing to report.
Solicitor McCallin was excused from the meeting.
COMMUNICATIONS:
Stark County Commissioners – 2014 Municipal Road Fund applications submitted by 01/31/2014; Recommend that Council direct the VA to request the rollover of last year’s funding & make application for the remaining balance for Elton Street Paving in the 2014 application.
Columbia Gas – New Rates under review by PUCO will include Infrastructure Replacement Program Rider of $ 1.13 per month and a Demand Side Management Rider of $ .30 per month for Columbia Gas customers in Ohio.
ODNR Naturework’s Program – Gazebo Project is tentatively approved; State of Ohio Controlling Board will review funding this month; $ 45,510 project ($ 34,132 Grant & Village share = $ 11,378).
Ohio EPA Sludge Analysis – For Council’s information – Plant capacities, processes, and so forth. Council provided with a copy of the proposal.
Musacchia Accounting & Tax Service – Proposal to become Village Income Tax Administrator. Copies provided to Council.
VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR: Steve Hartman
Water:
Gorman-Rupp, National Pump Company, Myers Pump, and Patterson Pump Company have been contacted to get quotes. A gentleman from Myers e-mailed and requested additional information. Dave Bowman from the Division of Drinking Water, Ohio EPA told us the average booster pump installation has been running around $ 100,000. This includes the system flow study, the engineering, drawings, EPA approval, bidding, and installation. Council Member Strausbaugh asked if the VA had contacted anyone else. He may have some contacts for him.
Electric:
GPD Engineering met with Vaughn to scheduled the work on the substation replacing regulators and putting in smart meters.
Sewer:
There was a pre-bid meeting for the pump station on November 25, 2013. It was attended by eight or so contractors. The bid opening will be December 18, 2013.
Village:
Council Member Hilliard brought up the police garage. He discussed how the electric garage was supposed to be. He thinks the $ 40,000 estimate will end up being $ 80,000 to $ 90,000. He wanted to know if there is another building to put the cruisers in. He asked if there was an extra $ 134,000 in the General Fund. Clerk King stated there is not in the General Fund.
MAYOR:Mike Schwab
Mayor provided additional Council Copies of Hazen & Sawyer’s Sewer Rate Study; Spreadsheet that shows the expected Sewer Capital Improvement scenario for a 3.5% annual increase; Spreadsheet that shows a 3% increase’s affect on a 5000 gallon/month and the Village’s largest customers. Council Member Tharp asked the Mayor if it was alright with him if he calls for a Utility Committee meeting before the first meeting in January. Mayor Schwab stated that was fine with him.
Mayor’s 2013 year End Review of Village operations; compiled for new January Council members. Copies provided to Council.
VA Search: From EDDS – 47 sample interview questions, interview schedule, & a sample VA contract. Mayor urges Council to review each item to prepare for interviews on 12/07 & 12/14. Copies provided to Council.
Mayor provided examples of Journeyman Electric Lineman salary taken from two Internet sites. Copies provided to Council.
Purchase of the AmericanLegionBuilding (No additional information received from Legion). The Village sent a letter on October 25, 2013. Council Member Tharp stated that they should be invited to a future meeting.
VILLAGE CLERK-TREASURER’S REPORT: Kris King
Remind Council to look over and sign the check register on the table.
November Financial Reports.
Food drive report. It was reported that around 220 families were served. Let's keep this going for Christmas. We will continue collecting for the December 19th distribution.
Records Commission needs to meet on December 16th at 6:45 in council chambers.
2013 Financial Report-on site preparation = $ 650.00 plus mileage and lodging split between the northeastern Ohio villages served by Governmental Accounting Solutions.
Busy with the year-end and new year preparations.
I may have an emergency resolution to amend and appropriate for the sewer project. The planning and design portions of the loan are supposed to be rolled over into the construction part of the loan but are currently being billed through OWDA. I am working on remedying the situation but am not having any luck thus far.
"VILLAGE SPEAKS":
Council Member Hilliard stated the Toy Distribution passed out close to 240 gifts for children. He would like to see the food drive be year round.
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.
Insurance Committee met on 11/25 prior to the Special Council Meeting.
VA Search Committee – dates for interviewing remaining 5 candidates – 12/07 (3) & 12/14 (2), interview schedule established at 10 am, Noon, & 2 pm; VA Committee at 9:30 am; interview questions appear to be set.
Councilman Godwin - Update Christmas Lighting Contest & Santa at Village Hall Event. Everything is coming together.
EXPENDITURE REQUESTS from previous meetings:
Street Supt: Quotes to replace Bed on Yellow Dump:
First quote = $ 22,413.34
Second quote = $ 25,705
Quotes for upgrading Downtown Decorative Street Lights to LED – Conversion Kits (26, incl. 2 spares) Power Line Supply = $ 16,124.94 WESCO = $ 10,244.00
Amherst curb replacement: RG Smith = $ 9,770.
OLD/NEW BUSINESS:
COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THARP and motion carried to authorize the hiring of Governmental Accounting Solutions for the 2013 Financial Report on-site preparation at a cost of $ 650 plus mileage and lodging split between the Northeastern Ohio Villages they serve. The vote: All yes.
COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL and motion carried to upgrade the downtown area with LED for $ 10,244. VA Hartman stated the lights will pay for themselves in seven years. Council Member Hilliard wants to keep branching out with the LED's. Council Member Tharp stated this was an administrative decision for the VA. He has the authority. Council Member Godwin stated he understands where VA Hartman is coming from. You fired him because you didn't trust him. The vote: All yes.
COUNCIL MEMBER THARP MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL and motion carried to replace the bed on the yellow dump from Concord Road Equipment at a cost of $ 22,413.34 from the Street Equipment Fund. The vote: All yes.
COUNCIL MEMBER THARP MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL and motion carried approve Nathan Taylor as Lead Investigator. The vote: All yes.
COUNCIL MEMBER HILLIARD MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN and motion carried to approve the curbing of Amherst Street by RG Smith Co. at a cost of $ 9,770 from the Street Improvement Fund. The vote: All yes.
COUNCIL MEMBER THARP MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL and motion carried to apply to rollover the Municipal Road Funds grant and make application for the remaining needed funds for the W. Elton Street paving. The vote: All yes.
COUNCIL MEMBER THARP MOVED to appoint Joe and Elizabeth Musacchia as the Tax Administrator. Mayor Schwab stated the Ordinance creating the position is only at second reading. Motion was withdrawn.
COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 7:49pm.
Respectfully submitted,
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K. Kris King, Village Clerk-Treasurer
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Mike Schwab, Mayor