City Council

City of Groveport 655 Blacklick St. Groveport, OH 43125 614.830.2052 www.groveport.org . Meeting Minutes Monday, September 14, 2020 6:30 PM Council Chambers City Council Mayor Lance Westcamp Council Members - Jean Ann Hilbert, Ed Dildine, Shawn Cleary, Becky Hutson, Scott Lockett & Chad Grashel City Council Meeting Minutes September 14, 2020 I. Call to Order by Mayor Lance Westcamp at 6:30 p.m. Staff Present: BJ King - Administrator, Kevin Shannon - Law Director, Jason Carr - Director of Finance, Casey Adams - Acting Chief of Police, Jeff Green - Assistant Administrator / Development Director Guests Present: The Guest Book is on file with the Clerk of Council. II. Moment of Silence The Mayor asked everyone to join him in a moment of silence. III. Pledge of Allegiance Acting Chief Adams led the Pledge of Allegiance. IV. Roll Call Present: 6 - Shawn M. Cleary, Edward Dildine, Chad T. Grashel, Jean Ann Hilbert, Becky Hutson, and Scott Lockett V. Approval of Minutes - August 24, 2020 Approved as submitted. #178-2020 City Council Minutes 8.24.2020 Attachments: City Council Minutes 8.24.2020.pdf VI. Proclamation Mayor Westcamp read the 2020 Constitution Week Proclamation. The proclamation was presented to Patricia Badgerow, a representative of the Elizabeth Sherman Reese Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Mrs. Badgerow thanked the Mayor for the recognition of Constitution Week. It is especially important this year that we all remember the importance of the United States Constitution and what it means to us. #179-2020 Constitution Week Proclamation Attachments: Constitution Week Proclamation 2020.pdf City of Groveport Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes September 14, 2020 VII. Business of Guests a. Rick Johnson - 432 Elm Street Rick Johnson, 432 Elm Street, addressed Council regarding a property that runs adjacent to his property, 316 Maple Street. 316 Maple Street has apartments A and B that run north and south opposed to side by side. Mr. Johnson has been working with the City’s Property Maintenance Inspector for over two years. Five years ago the tenants brought in a pop up camper and parked it next to Mr. Johnson’s house. The pop up didn’t work on the camper so they propped a tarp over homemade framework to use the camper during the summer. In 2018 they got a permit to install a fence along an old metal building on the property but the fence is only on two sides. The City’s Building and Zoning Department haven’t seen any code violations on the property and can’t really say anything about what is done in the people’s backyard. Mr. Johnson’s issue is that the “backyard" is actually a front yard that faces Elm Street. It’s a unique situation with the mailing address and the situation of the lot. Administrator King will get up to date with Courtney Shisler, Groveport’s Property Maintenance Inspector and follow up with Mr. Johnson. VIII. Ordinances and Resolutions A. 3rd Readings None B. 2nd Readings None C. 1st Readings Res. 2020-005 A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE AMOUNTS AND RATES AS DETERMINED BY THE BUDGET COMMISSION AND AUTHORIZING THE NECESSARY TAX LEVIES AND CERTIFYING THEM TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR AND THE DECLARATION OF AN EMERGENCY Sponsors: Cleary City of Groveport Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes September 14, 2020 Attachments: Res. 2020-005 2021 Tax Levy attachment.pdf Law Director Kevin Shannon requested Council to consider making a motion to suspend the rules as to the three readings and the effective date. Clerk of Council Ross read by title Resolution No. 2020-005. A motion was made by Council Member Cleary, seconded by Council Member Hilbert, to suspend the rules as to the three readings and the effective date. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Cleary, Dildine, Grashel, Hilbert, Hutson and Lockett A motion was made by Council Member Cleary, seconded by Council Member Hilbert, to adopt as emergency legislation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Cleary, Dildine, Grashel, Hilbert, Hutson and Lockett IX. Reports A. Mayor - Lance Westcamp Mayor Westcamp and staff members from Groveport Senior Transportation helped resident Dorothy (Dottie) Dillman celebrate her 100th birthday today, September 14, 2020 at Greenfield Place. There were about 30 people attending the celebration that was held in the parking lot. Staff from Groveport Senior Transportation came in four vehicles with horns blasting in honor of Ms. Dillman. The residents love the opportunity to see the drivers of Senior Transportation and utilize the service. B. Administrator - BJ King Administrator BJ King updated Council on the budget process. All the departments have submitted their worksheets on time which Administration appreciates. Looking over all the budgets, it looks like everyone tried real hard to meet the 15% reduction in their budget. Individual department budget meetings are scheduled for week of September 21st. Administration is on schedule to have the first reading of the 2021 Budget legislation on October 12, 2020. The sidewalk replacement program is well underway. Crews have ground out roots and are preparing to pour concrete. Last Thursday, Mr. King, Acting Chief Casey Adams and representatives of the Apple Butter Day event planners and members of the police department met to finalize the details of the Apple Butter Day drive-thru event. In March Council passed legislation permitting City of Groveport Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes September 14, 2020 the Special Olympics of Ohio Cash Drop donation collection event along Main Street. When COVID-19 hit they canceled the event. They have contacted Ruthanne Ross and would like to reschedule the event for Saturday, October 3, 2020. After an open discussion on the pros and cons of the event taking place on October 3rd, Council directed Mr. King to make contact with the group to choose a date that will be workable to both the group and the City. #180-2020 Admin report to Council September 14 2020 Attachments: Admin report to Council September 14 2020.pdf C. Chief of Police - Ralph Portier / Acting Chief of Police Casey Adams Acting Chief Casey Adams reported that he and Sergeant Short plan to meet with the group of marchers. The group wants to do a first responders, to include military, demonstration on Saturday, October 3rd. Sergeant Short learned during a preliminary talk with some of the potential demonstrators that they want to walk down the sidewalk along Main Street. The walk would start at the Groveport Plaza down to the Recreation Center. Acting Chief Adams plans to have a sit down meeting to determine and finalize details. He also submitted hard copies of the cost information he was asked to collect by Council Member Hilbert for Council’s review. Captain Blevins and Acting Chief Adams talked about setting a precedent for future marches to use the sidewalks in lieu of the roadway so it would not require as many police officers to be on hand to close down the roadways. There was some discussion on whether there would be any conflict with the Special Olympics of Ohio donation collection going on at the same time as the march. D. Director of Finance - Jason Carr Finance Director Jason Carr advised Council has authorized by ordinance for the City to refund its 2010 bond. The closing will be Wednesday, September 16th and the City’s interest rate will be reduced from 4.53% to 1.61% which is a savings of approximately $380,000 over 10 years. Mr. Carr informed Council that the State of Ohio released another round of COVID funding. Groveport’s share for the second round is $64,193.84 for a total of $128,387.69. The State also extended the date the money must be spent by to November 20, 2020. Administration and Finance look to use most of this money to cover salary costs to City of Groveport Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes September 14, 2020 help with this year’s budget. E. Director of Law - Kevin Shannon Nothing further to report. F. Asst. Admin. / Development Dir. - Jeff Green Nothing further to report. G. Council Members - Jean Ann Hilbert, Ed Dildine, Shawn Cleary, Becky Hutson, Scott Lockett and Chad Grashel Council Member Jean Ann Hilbert commented that there was no legislation to be discussed on next week’s Committee of the Whole meeting agenda and asked if Mr. King had anything Administration needed to discuss next week. Mr. King is trying to coordinate a meeting that is needed prior to Council continuing their discussion on the Main Street property in an executive session. Mrs. Hilbert thanked Ed Dildine publicly for all the effort he put forth on the 911 Ceremony. Even though there was limited attendance, the event was very impactful. Mr. Dildine hopes the event will be bigger and better next year commemorating the 20th anniversary of 9/11. H. Clerk of Council - Ruthanne Sargus Ross Nothing to report. I. Standing Committees Trees & Decorations Committee Mr. Dildine reported the Trees & Decorations Committee met tonight for the first time since COVID-19 hit. The Committee worked on the 2021 budget items. Committee members are working with Administration to come up with a policy on tree removal and replacement. Plans for the Christmas Heritage Holiday event have been put on hold until the November Committee meeting due to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 situation. The Committee has already received many applications for next year’s banners. The Committee is reaching out to the current families to let them know the details of this year’s Veterans Day ceremony and how to get their family member’s banner. City of Groveport Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes September 14, 2020 Cemetery Committee · Mr. Cleary reported the podium project is moving forward. The project estimates came in well under budget. The podium that will be black granite with a microphone, once ordered, will have an expected delivery date of June 2021. Brick work and lighting will be upgraded in the flag area at the same time as the installation of the podium. The Committee will present design options for the podium to Council for their consideration. · The Committee is planning to replace a tree that was lost during a storm in the fall. · The Committee no longer will accept headstone orders on the internet. This will be announced in the new brochures. Headstones are delivered to the Public Works building behind the Recreation Center and Public Works has no way of moving the stones. Public Works crews are not trained nor have the proper equipment to move or install headstones without damaging them. · The water pump has been installed on the right hand side going down the ramp. A concrete foundation and two poles to protect the pump from vehicles backing into it are scheduled for completion by September 30th. A sign will be posted on the pump that the water is not intended for drinking. X. Other Business None. XI. Adjournment Council Member Cleary made a motion, seconded by Council Member Hilbert to adjourn at 7:14 p.m. All in favor stated AYE, None Opposed. Motion passed. __________________________________________ Lance Westcamp, Mayor __________________________________________ Ruthanne Sargus Ross, CMC Clerk of Council PLEASE NOTE: THESE MINUTES ARE NOT VERBATIM. A RECORDING OF THE MEETING IS AVAILABLE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS. City of Groveport Page 6