City Council

MINUTES City of Geneva Council Meeting May 8, 2023 6:00 p.m. Mr. Butera opened the Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m. Roll Call – Mario Butera, Philip Cordova, Robert Rosebrugh, Jeffrey Griffiths, James Baehr, John Barbo and William Baker Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was said and prayer was offered by Pastor Raymond Baker, Faith Freedom Fellowship. Motion was made by William Baker to approve the minutes of the April 24, 2023 council meeting, seconded by James Baehr. Roll call, 7 yeas, (Butera, Cordova, Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Barbo, Baehr, Baker). Motion duly passed. Presentation – None. Citizens – None. City Manager Report: Greg Myers, Executive Director, Growth Partnership will be presenting at the next council meeting. Mr. Pasqualone, Mr. Varckette and Ashtabula County Department of Environmental Services (ACDES) have continued to discuss the water tower project with regard to the City and the County’s financial obligations under the contract. Waste Management conducted the City’s Spring Clean-up event over the weekend. There was an issue with mattresses being left behind. Information regarding Waste Management’s policy that mattresses are required to be wrapped in plastic was not included in the flyer. Communication going forward will be better. Waste Management will discuss the issue tomorrow during their operations meeting and come up with a solution to pick-up the mattresses left behind so long as they are properly wrapped. The City has not yet received the tonnage report for Saturday’s pick-up. Mr. Varckette requested authorization to proceed to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a Comprehensive Storm Water Management Plan utilizing ARPA funds. If authorized the City will prepare a scope of services and get the process started. The City has confirmed that a Comprehensive Storm Water Management Plan is an eligible use of ARPA funding. The City received $624,390 in ARPA funding. The City has committed $87,000. Approximately $537,000 remain uncommitted. The City has been holding off committing these funds until the West Main Street project had a secured bid. The City remains cautious as the project costs continue to increase. Council is in favor of issuing an RFP for the Study. Mr. Varckette requested authorization to proceed to develop a scope of service and issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for event planner services to assist the City in booking events at the Community Center. The event planner will work with the City in enhancing the bookings. Council is in favor of issuing an RFP for qualified event planner services to assist the City. 1 Mr. Varckette provided an update on the Gardner Energy Efficiency Project. The networking thermometer controls are complete. On Friday the placement of the rooftop units will begin at the Western County Court. The rooftop units for the Community Center are scheduled to be installed on the seventeenth. Yard waste pick-up began today. The City will pick-up acceptable yard waste on the second and fourth Mondays of the month through the end of October. Mr. Varckette was contacted by Senator’s Brown’s office. The railroad bridge at the west end of Main Street is on their radar with respect to the condition. Mr. Varckette will keep Council posted. The sidewalk under the bridge is owned by ODOT. The City is working on updating the website for usability as well as updating the layout. Items for Consideration of Council – None. Unfinished Business: Mr. Pasqualone stated that the Vacant Building legislation will be on the next council agenda. Both the vacant building and the legislation regarding weeds will have three readings. Mr. Griffiths stated that he had received information from Soil and Water and from an ODNR Arborist with regard to the weed and tree legislation which he will forward to Council members. New Business – None. Payment of Bills – None. Committee Reports – None. Citizen – None. Robert Rosebrugh made a motion to adjourn. James Baehr seconded. Council meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m. Recorded by: Phyllis Dunlap Clerk of Council ___________________________________ President of Council ________________________________ Clerk of Council 2