City Council

MINUTES City of Geneva Council Meeting September 23, 2024 6:00 p.m. President John Barbo opened the Council meeting at 6:00 p.m. Roll Call – John Barbo, Robert Rosebrugh, Jeffrey Griffiths, James Baehr, William Baker, Dana Schenk, John Travis Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was said and prayer was offered by Pastor Elijah Fowler, New Life Assembly of God. Motion was made by Jeffrey Griffiths to approve the minutes of the September 9, 2024, regular council meeting, seconded by James Baehr. Roll call, 6 yeas, (Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baehr, Baker, Travis, Schenk). 1 Abstention (Barbo). Motion duly passed. Presentations – Recreation Department – Myke Dowd, Presenting Ms. Dowd provided an update on bitty ball and travel basketball. Ghoulfest is scheduled for October 26th. There are a number of events including pancake breakfast, craft show, coffin race, parade and trunk or treat, the haunted gym at the Rec Center and hot dogs and games at the Fire Station. Small Business Saturday, the Saturday after Black Friday, will include vendors passport entries. The Christmas Parade will be held December 6th. January will begin bitty ball sign-ups. Winterfest is again scheduled for February. The bike racks are waiting on paint which is on order. Citizens – None. City Manager Report: West Main Street The most recent construction schedule has been posted to the website. Mr. Varckette had a meeting this afternoon with the construction manager. A request to close the road between Lockwood and Eagle for 5 to 8 weeks has been made. If that happens, a public announcement will put out in advance. Adequate access to all businesses and residents will be maintained. The 1 benefit of the closure is expediency. Once the contractor gets through this most difficult part, the project will move faster. WPCLF Pre-application The city submitted a WPCLF pre-application for Phase 2 of the West Main Street project. By submitting a pre-application, the project will be reviewed for eligibility of the funding and determination of the interest rate on a future loan. Additionally, the submittal will enable the City to be eligible to apply for congressional funding and put the project on the State’s Program Management Plan. USDOT Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Grant Application The City’s application in collaboration with Geneva and Harpersfield Township’s application has been selected for funding. The SS4A Planning Grant was awarded at $212,000 federal award (80%) with a $53,000 local shared (20%). The project planning timeframe for this grant is 2025. The funds will be used to develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan for the three communities. The plan will also include updating the City’s GIS mapping. The City and Townships share in the local match. OPWC Round 39 FY 26 Lawn Street Waterline Replacement Pre-Application The city has been asked to complete and submit a final application. The Lawn Street waterline replacement is budgeted at under $700,000. The OPWC / City local share will be 50/50. The city is requesting $300,000 grant and $50,000 0% interest loan. The full application is due November 18, 2024. Stormwater Master Plan Crews are scheduled to begin walking city streams on Thursday to begin collecting data. The city has prepared a public statement. The letter will be posted giving notice to the public. Additional investigations are planned for early October including running cameras through targeted infrastructure including the areas of Ansel, Depot and Cox. The city will do what is possible internally. Some of the infrastructure has not been cleaned out in a long time. The City’s stormwater consultant will be at the October 28th council meeting to provide an update of the activity and the progress to date. CDBG Geneva Senior Center ADA Improvements Project A pre-construction meeting was held. The contractor’s schedule has the project beginning at the end of October with completion scheduled for November 29, 2024. The city was awarded $137,200 in CDBG funding for this project. The City committed $26,732 in local funds. Total project cost is $151,980. The awarded bid is $122,000. The City’s match will be less than the original commitment. Further discussion was had regarding West Main Street. Mr. Varckette noted that the contractor was unable to save some of the rail from the trolly as it is being destroyed in the process to remove it. 2 Items for Consideration of Council Ordinance No. 3359 – Third Reading. An Ordinance Authorizing the Deposit of the City Income Tax Monies Directly into the General Fund and Inactivate the Separate Income Tax Fund, and declaring an emergency. Roll call on passage, 7 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baehr, Baker, Schenk, Travis). Ordinance No. 3359 duly passed. Ordinance No. 3361 – Second Reading. An Ordinance to Convert a Temporary Advance Between Funds to a Permanent Transfer Between Funds. Ordinance No. 3364. An Ordinance to Amend the 2024 Budget through Appropriation and Fund Transfers, attached hereto and Marked Exhibit “A,” and declaring an emergency. Motion by James Baehr, seconded by Dana Schenk that the rule of law requiring certain ordinances be read at three separate meetings be waived and suspended and Ordinance No. 3364 be placed on final roll for passage. Roll call, 7 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baehr, Baker, Travis, Schenk). Motion by William Baker to declare and pass Ordinance No. 3364 as an emergency measure, seconded by James Baehr. Roll call, 7 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baker, Baehr, Travis, Schenk). Roll call on passage, 7 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Baker, Baehr, Griffiths, Travis, Schenk) Ordinance No. 3364 duly passed. Ordinance No. 3365. An Ordinance to Enter into an Employment Contract with Joseph J. Varckette as City Manager for the City of Geneva Under the Terms Contained in the Employment Contract Attached Hereto as Exhibit “A”, and declaring an emergency. Motion by Jeffrey Griffiths, seconded by Dana Schenk that the rule of law requiring certain ordinances be read at three separate meetings be waived and suspended and Ordinance No. 3365 be placed on final roll for passage. Roll call, 7 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baehr, Baker, Travis, Schenk). Motion by James Baehr to declare and pass Ordinance No. 3365 as an emergency measure, seconded by Jeffrey Griffiths. Roll call, 7 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baker, Baehr, Travis, Schenk). Roll call on passage, 7 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Baker, Baehr, Griffiths, Travis, Schenk) Ordinance No. 3365 duly passed. Ordinance No. 3366. An Ordinance Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into an Agreement with the State of Ohio, Office of the Attorney General, for Income Tax Collections, and declaring an emergency. Nadine Mooneyham explained that this contract will aid the tax department. The State has the power to keep refunds of those that have moved out of the city or out of state to pay their taxes. There is no cost to the city. 3 Motion by John Travis, seconded by William Baker that the rule of law requiring certain ordinances be read at three separate meetings be waived and suspended and Ordinance No. 3366 be placed on final roll for passage. Roll call, 7 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baehr, Baker, Travis, Schenk). Motion by James Baehr to declare and pass Ordinance No. 3366 as an emergency measure, seconded by Dana Schenk. Roll call, 7 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baker, Baehr, Travis, Schenk). Roll call on passage, 7 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Baker, Baehr, Griffiths, Travis, Schenk) Ordinance No. 3366 duly passed. Resolution No. 3609. A Resolution Authorizing the Execution of “Then and Now” Certificates by the Director of Finance for Purchases, and declaring an emergency. Motion by James Baehr, seconded by Jeffrey Griffiths that the rule of law requiring certain resolutions be read at three separate meetings be waived and suspended and Resolution No. 3609 be placed on final roll for passage. Roll call, 7 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Barbo, Baehr, Travis, Schenk). Motion by William Baker to declare and pass Resolution No. 3609 as an emergency measure, seconded by Dana Schenk. Roll call, 7 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baker, Baehr, Travis, Schenk). Roll call on passage, 7 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Baker, Baehr, Griffiths, Travis, Schenk) Resolution No. 3608 duly passed. Resolution 3610-First Reading. A Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Prepare and Submit an Application to Participate in the Ohio Public Works Commission State Capital Improvement and/or Local Transportation Improvement Program and to Execute Contracts as Required, and declaring an emergency. Unfinished Business: Mr. Griffiths inquired about the line striping schedule. Mr. Varckette and Mr. Travis recall seeing a list that was sent out. New Business: Mr. Rosebrugh noted that there a lot of homes in the city that do not have their house numbers displayed It is important that residents get their house numbers displayed. Mr. Barbo noted that the city needs to put a message to the public that addresses of the homes need to be visible. Voting will still take place at the library. Payment of Bills – None. Committee Reports Sustainability Committee Meeting and Shade Tree Commission were held. The Arborist requested a set day and time to meet. 4 Sunday, October 20th is the Sustainability Committee’s fall clean-up day. They will begin at 9:00 a.m. at Kawanis Park. Citizen – None. Motion was made by William Baker at 6:39 p.m. to adjourn to executive session to discuss personnel matters, the appointment, compensation of a public employee. Dana Schenk seconded the motion. Roll call on passage, 7 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baehr, Baker, Schenk, Travis). Motion by William Baker at 7:09 p.m. to reconvene. Dana Schenk seconded the motion. Roll call on passage, 7 yeas (Barbo, Rosebrugh, Griffiths, Baehr, Baker, Schenk, Travis). William Baker made a motion to adjourn. Dana Schenk seconded the motion. Council meeting adjourned at 7:09 p.m. Recorded by: Phyllis Dunlap Clerk of Council _______________________________ President of Council __________________________________ Clerk of Council 5