Common Council

CITY OF DARLINGTON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS SEPTEMBER 16, 2025 The meeting was called to order by Mayor Mike McDermott at 7:00 PM. Present at roll call were: John Sonsalla, Steve Pickett, Kerry Black, Joe Boll, Cindy Corley, and Dave Roelli. Absent: None. Also present were: Ed Faherty, Kim Winslow, Jeff McCarthy, and Amy Johnson. Motion by Pickett, seconded by Roelli, the meeting notice and agenda were properly posted. Motion carried. Motion by Pickett, seconded by Sonsalla, to approve the minutes of previous meetings. Motion carried. Under unfinished or deferred business, discussion was held concerning the proposed contract by Total Inspection Services, LLC for Zoning and Building Inspector for the City of Darlington for 2026. After discussion and consideration, motion by Roelli, seconded by Pickett, to accept the proposed contract by Total Inspection Services, LLC for Zoning and Building Inspector starting January 1, 2026. Motion carried. Under new business, motion by Roelli, seconded by Pickett, to move agenda item 8(c) concerning the Recycling and Solid Waste Collection contract renewal with Faherty Incorporated before the remaining agenda items. Motion carried. Discussion was held concerning the Recycling and Solid Waste Collection contract renewal with Faherty Incorporated. Ed Faherty attended the meeting to discuss the proposed contract and answer questions from those present. The contract is for a five-year term with the solid waste and recycling collection fee starting at $12.97 per residential household for 2026, and a rate increase equal to the Consumer Price Index, not to exceed 3%, each following year. After discussion and consideration, motion by Black, seconded by Pickett, to approve the proposed contract and return to the set agenda order. Motion carried. Mr. Faherty then left the meeting. Discussion was then held concerning the following recommendations from the Finance and Personnel Committee: • Approve the hiring of an applicant for the Department of Public Works Position. No recommendation was made at this time, so no action was taken. • Approve the reassignment of Public Works Employees. The Committee is recommending to approve Jeff McCarthy’s request to move back to the Waste Water Treatment Operator once a replacement Director of Public Works is hired, and to continue paying him the Director’s salary until the replacement is hired; pay would return to what the Waste Water Treatment Operator wage on the City of Darlington Salary & Wage Schedule, and reassign Jim Polkinghorn, to the Maintenance Department and the Parks and Recreation Department with his current wage remaining the same, splitting his time between the two departments equally. After discussion and consideration, motion by Boll, seconded by Black, to approve the recommendation as presented. Motion carried. • Approve the job description and job advertisement for the Director of Public Works position. The Committee is recommending approving the Director of Public Works job description and advertisement with the addition of the salary range of $75,000.00 to $85,000.00, depending on the qualifications of the applicant selected for the position. After discussion and consideration, motion by Pickett, seconded by Sonsalla, to approve the recommendation as presented. Motion carried.  Discussion was then held concerning the following recommendations from the Policies, Procedures and Ordinance Committee. This meeting was held just prior to this Council meeting. • Approve Ordinance 07-2025, an ordinance creating Chapter 9.15(1)(e), amending Chapter 9.18(3), repealing and recreating Chapter 9.18(4), and amending Chapters 13.095(4) and 13.095(6) of the Municipal Code of the City of Darlington relating to property maintenance. An updated copy was distributed at the meeting. After discussion and consideration, motion by Pickett, seconded by Boll, to adopt Ordinance 07-2025, an ordinance creating Chapter 9.15(1)(e), amending Chapter 9.18(3), repealing and recreating Chapter 9.18(4), and amending Chapters 13.095(4) and 13.095(6) of the Municipal Code of the City of Darlington relating to property maintenance. By voice vote: All Ayes. Motion carried. Motion by Pickett, seconded by Roelli, to approve August 31, 2025, financial statements for the City, Water Department, and Sewer Department as presented. Motion carried. Motion by Roelli, seconded by Pickett, to approve payment of the following August 2025 vouchers: City ACH Vouchers #306 through #326 in the amount of $150,227.46; City vouchers #46870 through #46958 in the amount of $143,787.71; Direct Deposit Payroll vouchers #15478 through #15630 in the amount of $139,228.87; Library ACH Vouchers #16 in the amount of $2,541.41; Library vouchers #6518 through #6523 in the amount of $1,423.82; Sewer Dept. ACH voucher #29 in the amount of $1,268.51; Sewer Dept. vouchers #8271 through #8292 in the amount of $43,252.29; Water Dept. ACH voucher #46 in the amount of $1,268.49; Water Dept. vouchers #7676 through #7693 in the amount of $29,590.99. Motion carried Mayor McDermott reported that the Union Negotiations have started with the Darlington Professional Police Association. Mayor McDermott also reported that the next EMS meeting will be held on Friday, September 19, 2025. Alderperson Cindy Corley reported that the next Library Board meeting will be held on Monday, September 22, 2025. Alderperson Steve Pickett reported that the Darlington Chamber of Commerce will host the annual Fall in Love event on Wednesday, September 17, 2025. Alderperson Joe Boll reported that the next Parks and Recreation meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 24, 2025. There being no further business for this meeting, motion by Corley, seconded by Pickett, to adjourn the meeting at 7:15 PM. Motion carried. CITY OF DARLINGTON Amy L. Johnson, Clerk-Treasurer