City Council

City of Groveport 655 Blacklick St. Groveport, OH 43125 614.830.2052 www.groveport.org . Meeting Minutes Monday, September 27, 2021 6:30 PM Council Chambers City Council Mayor Lance Westcamp Council Members - Jean Ann Hilbert, Ed Dildine, Shawn Cleary, Becky Hutson, Scott Lockett & John Hougland City Council Meeting Minutes September 27, 2021 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 - Chief of Police, Jeff Green - Development Director, Ruthanne Sargus Ross - Clerk of Council 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 Chief Adams led the Pledge of Allegiance. IV. Roll Call A motion was made by Council Member Hilbert, seconded by Council Member Cleary, to excuse Council Member Dildine from tonight's meeting. The motion carried by the following vote: Excused: 1- Dildine Yes: 5- Cleary, Hilbert, Hougland, Hutson and Lockett V. Approval of Minutes - September 13, 2021 The September 13, 2021 City Council Minutes stand approved as submitted. #250-2021 City Council Meeting Minutes Attachments: City Council Meeting Minutes 9.13.2021.pdf VII. Business of Guests A. Swearing-In of New Police Officers Law Director Kevin Shannon administered the oath of office of a Police Patrol Officer to Kevin Chavez, Kyle Smith, and Adam Greter. All the officers took the opportunity to introduce their wives, children, and family members. VI. Proclamation City of Groveport Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes September 27, 2021 Mayor Lance Westcamp read the 2021 Fire Prevention Week Proclamation. On behalf of Groveport, the Mayor presented the Proclamation to Fire Chief Derek Robinson and the Madison Township Fire Department, the best in the business. Chief Robinson thanked the Mayor and Council for the Proclamation; it meant a lot to the Department. The Fire Department appreciates and couldn't do this without the support of this Council and the staff of this great City. The Fire Prevention Bureau is the unsung heroes; they don't ride in the big trucks with lights flashing. Those in the Bureau are truly the heart and soul of the Madison Township Fire Department's service. They inspect the businesses every year for safety compliance for those who work there and the visiting patrons. They work behind the scenes to check foster and potential adoption homes and provide education on safety. The Department will forgo this year's Fire Prevention Week open house but will be visiting the schools and out on "Trick or Treat" night. He welcomed the three new police officers joining the Groveport Police Force. Hats off to law enforcement; officers have a tough job right now. He respects what they do and wishes all three new officers success in their careers. #249-2021 2021 Fire Prevention Week Attachments: 2021 Fire Prevention Week Proclamation.pdf Debby Miller - Candidate for Madison Township Trustee Debby Miller, a candidate for Madison Township Trustee, introduced herself to the Mayor and Council. Ms. Miller has lived in the unincorporated Township for 46 years. She has been active in the Blacklick Estates area, the Groveport Madison School District, and ran a little league for 38 years to benefit community children. Ms. Miller plans to help unincorporated Madison Township build a better community for the people. Those in office need to want to better the community, and those making the decisions should be affected by it as well. She hopes to have Groveport's support and looks forward to working with everyone. VIII. Ordinances and Resolutions A. 3rd Readings None City of Groveport Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes September 27, 2021 B. 2nd Readings Ord. 2021-043 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE FINAL PLAT FOR 5740 GREEN POINTE DRIVE N, FED ONE DUBLIN, LLC, APPLICANT, (PARCEL NUMBER 185-002202) Sponsors: Hougland Attachments: Ord. 2021-043 Exhibit A.pdf Clerk of Council Ross read by title Ordinance No. 2021-043. Ord. 2021-047 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING PART NINE, PART NINE - STREETS, UTILITIES AND PUBLIC SERVICES CODE, TITLE ONE- STREET AND SIDEWA:K AREA, CHAPTER 911 - TREES AND SHRUBS OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES FOR THE CITY OF GROVEPORT Sponsors: Hougland Attachments: Ord. 2021-047 Exhibit A Chapter 911.pdf Clerk of Council Ross read by title Ordinance No. 2021-047. C. 1st Readings Ord. 2021-048 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE A RIGHT OF WAY AND EASEMENT INSTRUMENT WITH AEP AND THE DECLARATION OF AN EMERGENCY Sponsors: Hilbert Clerk of Council Ross read by title Ordinance No. 2021-048. This Ordinance was referred to the Committee of the Whole. IX. Reports A. Mayor - Lance Westcamp Mayor Westcamp thanked Chief Adams for the submitted information. With City Council’s approval, the City will hold Beggar’s Night on Thursday, October 28, 2021, from 5:30 pm to 7 pm. Mayor Westcamp added that Administrator BJ King and staff are holding budget meetings all week. A motion was made by Council Member Hougland, seconded by Council City of Groveport Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes September 27, 2021 Member Hilbert, to hold Beggar’s Night on Thursday, September 28, 2021, from 5:30 pm to 7 pm. The motion carried by the following vote: Excused: 1- Dildine Yes: 5- Cleary, Hilbert, Hougland, Hutson and Lockett #251-2021 Beggars Night Follow-Up Attachments: Beggars Night Follow-Up Council Report.pdf B. Administrator - BJ King Administrator BJ King mentioned that he and Finance are holding individual department budget meetings this week to prepare the 2022 budget for City Council to review and discuss. C. Chief of Police - Casey Adams Chief Adams reported the Department is preparing for Apple Butter Day. Sergeant Guiler and Lieutenant Short are working on a schedule. Last week, the Department learned that Eastland Career Center could not bring in students to help on Apple Butter Day or Halloween. Sergeant Guiler contacted Fairfield Career Center's Law Enforcement Program about students to help direct traffic for the vendors the morning of Apple Butter Day. Last week, the Department received notification of new State of Ohio mandates for officer training for 2022. Under the order, every police officer in Ohio must complete 24 hours of continuing education through the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA). The State has allocated $15 million to help set off some of an agency's costs. Chief Adams figured the training would cost Groveport around $21,000 next year to send all 25 officers. The three new sergeants will be taking training also. Hopefully, the City can recoup some of the costs. Bob Meader provided the Department with 4-hour training sessions on legal updates. He incorporated the Department's new policies and procedures into the updated training. Bob Meader made sure Groveport officers knew what was going on with the district court locally and nationally. He showed how the Department's new policies and procedures complied with the national orders. A Madison Township Firefighter will run the officers through CPR and tactical first aid training in November. Tuesday, the Chief will participate in a zoom meeting with the Imagine Schools regarding the traffic issues and concerns. He talked to some of City of Groveport Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes September 27, 2021 the area businesses to get their input on the traffic issues. Hopefully, the meeting will develop some temporary and long-term solutions to alleviate some of the traffic on South Hamilton Road at Venture Place. D. Director of Finance - Jason Carr Finance Director Jason Carr reported that he and Senior Accountant Anna Krigbaum attended training last week to obtain CPE hours for continuing education. The training also met the 6-hour requirement by the Treasurer of State for the Center for Public Investment Management which allows the City to maintain its current investment portfolio. E. Director of Law - Kevin Shannon Law Director Kevin Shannon had nothing further to report. F. Development Director - Jeff Green Development Director Jeff Green had a follow-up conversation with Matt Yerkes from Cultivate. He is still very interested in working with the City of Groveport. They discussed a phased approach, starting with an entrepreneurship technical assistance program with office hours for one-on-one mentoring and training and bi-monthly seminars and workshops. Matt Yerkes would need office space in Groveport. Then later, when space is available, assist three or four businesses to get off the ground. The program will start with the incubation period in the City then follow that up when the time is right to convert one of the second-floor spaces. G. Council Members - Jean Ann Hilbert, Ed Dildine, Shawn Cleary, Becky Hutson, Scott Lockett and John Hougland Last week, Council Members Lockett and Cleary met one of the new patrol officers at the Paddock Pub. If the other two are anything like that young man, they are just tickled pink to be here. He could not be happier than to be in Groveport. The officer went on and on about how excited he was and how good the benefits were with the City. Mayor Westcamp added hiring lateral helped get good candidates. The Mayor gave kudos to the Police Department for doing all the leg work for him. They made the right choices, and he thinks the other two feel the same way as the officer Mr. Lockett and Mr. Cleary met. Council Member Cleary commented on the sidewalk project work City of Groveport Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes September 27, 2021 taking place in his neighborhood. The workers are flat-out knocking the sidewalks down. He suggested that the street sweeping company the City contracts with change its schedule not to include Mondays when residents have their trash out at the curb. Administrator King will take the matter up with Brian Strayer and Walt Wagner. Council Member Hougland stated that when the credit union was built there was a second floor that he believes was initially designated for small businesses to get a start. Mr. Hougland suggested that Mr. Green contact the First Service Federal Credit Union CEO to inquire if the space is still available. H. Clerk of Council - Ruthanne Sargus Ross Clerk of Council Ruthanne Ross had nothing to report. I. Standing Committees No standing committees reported. X. Other Business Executive Session Law Director Kevin Shannon requested Council to consider making a motion to go into Executive Session pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22(G) to discuss (1) To consider the appointment, employment of a public employee, and also to review negotiations with public employees, police officers specifically, with the City's collective bargaining units. To include all members of Council, the Mayor, himself, the Administrator, and the Finance Director. A motion was made by Council Member Hilbert, seconded by Council Member Cleary, to go into Executive Session at 7:01 p.m. pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22(G) to discuss (1) To consider the appointment, employment of a public employee, and to review negotiations with public employees, police officers specifically, with the City's collective bargaining units. To include all members of Council, the Mayor, the Law Director, the Administrator, and the Finance Director. The motion carried by the following vote: Excused: 1- Dildine Yes: 5- Cleary, Hilbert, Hougland, Hutson and Lockett A motion was made by Council Member Hougland, seconded by Council City of Groveport Page 6 City Council Meeting Minutes September 27, 2021 Member Cleary, to come out of Executive Session at 7:55 p.m. with no action taken. The motion carried by the following vote: Excused: 1- Dildine Yes: 5- Cleary, Hilbert, Hougland, Hutson and Lockett XI. Adjournment A motion was made by Council Member Hilbert, seconded by Council Member Hutson, to adjourn at 7:56 p.m. The motion carried by the following vote: Excused: 1- Dildine Yes: 5- Cleary, Hilbert, Hougland, Hutson and Lockett __________________________________________ 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 7