August 12, 2013 - Special Council Meeting

MINUTES

BREWSTER VILLAGE COUNCIL

August 12, 2013

7:00 P.M.

 

Brewster Village Council met in special session with Mayor Mike Schwab presiding.

 

6:00 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:

Kris King, Clerk-Treasurer

Harry Porter, Police Chief

 

AUDIENCE:

As standard practice in the case of a Special Council Meeting this portion of the meeting is not utilized.  If Council desired to afford the members of the audience an opportunity to participate, a majority vote would be desired.  Council did not desire to do so.

 

The following residents were also present: Cindy Mackey, Paul Mackey, and Ryan Swan.

 

MAYOR:Mike Schwab

Mayor Schwab started the meeting by clearing the air on some issues of late.  The first one being the roles and responsibilities of Council and the Mayor.  Stressing that Council is the legislative body and the Mayor is the administrative body.  He gave the history and reason for this separation of duties.  He went on to describe the qualifications of the village's department heads along with several other seasoned employees.  Pointing out training, years of service, and state certifications.  His point being they know their jobs and do them well.  They do not need nor is council permitted to tell them how to do their jobs.  He stated that their performance or lack thereof falls on his shoulders.  If there is a problem with any of them it should be brought to him to investigate before bringing up at a public meeting like a "witch hunt".  Rumors should be investigated before allegations are made public.  He also stated the way the dismissing of the Village Administrator was handled was a disservice to the man after 18 years of service to the village and was more like a "lynching".  He discussed the rush for a  quick decision and the reason he felt was behind it.

 

Mayor Schwab provided council with a copy of ORC Section 735.271 - Employment of a Village Administrator.  It states the Village Administrator is appointed by the Mayor, but does not take office unless approved by majority vote of the members elected  to the village.

 

Mayor Schwab requested that council rescind the dismissal of Village Administrator Steve Hartman.  His original plans were to train his replacement before he retired on December 31, 2015.

 

Mayor Schwab also stated that VA Hartman had offered to stay until December 31, 2013 to provide the village with sufficient time to hire a new Village Administrator and to allow a transition period to acquaint the new VA to his duties and current village projects.

 

BUSINESS: Options suggested by the Mayor

(These were taken from the ORC and approved by Solicitor McCallin as factual)

• Abolish the village administrator position and return      to the Board of Affairs.
• Continue with a full time village administrator      position.
• Create a part time village administrator      position(this may require zoning and income tax duties reassigned).

 

A proposal from EDDS at a cost of $ 6,800 to search out candidates for village administrator was brought up.  The pros and cons were discussed.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THARP and motion carried to continue with a full time village administrator position.  The vote: All yes.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER BICHSEL MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GODWIN and motion failed to retain Village Administrator Steve Hartman until December 31, 2013.  The vote: Huff, no; Godwin, yes; Strausbaugh, no; Tharp, no; Bichsel, yes; Hilliard, no.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER THARP MOVED to adopt EDDS's proposal at a cost of $ 6,800.  The Mayor stated he would not be cooperating with them and it would be a waste of taxpayers money.  He planned to appoint a committee and bring a recommendation before council.  Council Member Tharp started to say he will not...but was stopped by the Mayor so he could finish his sentence.  Motion failed due to lack of second.

 

Mayor Schwab asked Joe Strausbaugh and Dave Godwin if they would due him the honor of serving on the committee.  Both agreed.

 

Council Member Huff stated the zoning and income tax need to be decided on plus the wage package.  Mayor Schwab stated these need to be put together before advertising.  Council Member Huff questioned if the base wage was sufficient.

 

The Mayor, Council Member Strausbaugh, and Council Member Godwin decided to meet on Thursday, August 15th at 6:00pm.

 

COUNCIL MEMBER THARP MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 7:49pm.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 ____________________________________

K. Kris King, Village Clerk-Treasurer

 

 

 ___________________________________

Mike Schwab, Mayor