City Council

City of Groveport 655 Blacklick St. Groveport, OH 43125 614.830.2052 www.groveport.org . Meeting Minutes Monday, October 10, 2022 6:30 PM Council Chambers City Council Mayor Lance Westcamp Council Members - Jean Ann Hilbert, Ed Dildine, Shawn Cleary, Becky Hutson, Scott Lockett & Jack Rupp City Council Meeting Minutes October 10, 2022 I. Call to Order Mayor Lance Westcamp called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Staff Present: BJ King - Administrator, Kevin Shannon - Law Director, Jason Carr - Director of Finance, Casey Adams - Chief of Police, Ruthanne Sargus Ross - Clerk of Council, Mindy Kay - Assistant 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 Excused: 1 - Becky Hutson Present: 5 - Shawn M. Cleary, Edward Dildine, Jean Ann Hilbert, Scott Lockett, and Jack Rupp V. Approval of Minutes - September 26, 2022 The September 26, 2022 City Council Minutes stand approved as submitted. #212-2022 City Council Meeting Minutes 9.26.2022 Attachments: City Council Meeting Minutes 9.26.2022.pdf VI. Fire Prevention Week Proclamation Mayor Lance Westcamp read the 2022 Fire Prevention Week Proclamation. On behalf of Groveport, the Mayor presented the Proclamation to Fire Chief Derek Robinson and the Madison Township Fire Department. Chief Robinson thanked the Mayor and Council for the Proclamation; it means a lot to the Department to recognize fire prevention week every year. He truly believes the Department is making a difference regarding fire education. Events like fire prevention week, with new themes every year, are critical in getting the messages out to our youth and families. The Chief thanked the City for City of Groveport Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes October 10, 2022 the recognition and continued support of the Fire Department and the Township. The Department appreciates feeling welcomed and looks forward to a continued partnership and relationship. Chief Robinson announced the Department would conclude Fire Prevention Week with an open house on Sunday, October 16, 2022, at Station 181, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The event will include an inflatable safety house with safety messages that teach kids to keep low and crawl under the smoke. Also scheduled is a demonstration of vehicle extrication tools on a salvaged car, kid-sized hose lines, and props for children to experience spraying water. Air Evac will be on site along with the Groveport and Madison Township Police Departments. He encourages everyone to attend. In partnership with the American Red Cross donating smoke detectors, most fire departments in Central Ohio will install smoke detectors for needy families. #213-2022 Fire Prevention Week Proclamation Attachments: Fire Prevention Week Proclamation.pdf VII. Business of Guests None. A motion was made by Council Member Hilbert, seconded by Council Member Cleary, to excuse Council Member Becky Hutson from tonight's meeting. The motion carried by the following vote: Excused: 1- Hutson Yes: 5- Cleary, Dildine, Hilbert, Lockett and Rupp VIII. Ordinances and Resolutions A. 3rd Readings None. B. 2nd Readings Ord. 2022-034 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE PAY GRADE FOR THE GROUP SWIM INSTRUCTOR CLASSIFICATION IN THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND ESTABLISHING COMPENSATION FOR THE STATED CLASSIFICATION Sponsors: Lockett City of Groveport Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes October 10, 2022 Attachments: Ord. 2022-034 Exhibit A.pdf Clerk of Council Ross read by title Ordinance No. 2022-034. C. 1st Readings Ord. 2022-035 AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GROVEPORT, OHIO, FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2023 Sponsors: Rupp Attachments: 2023 Budget_EXHIBIT A 22-035.pdf Clerk of Council Ross read by title Ordinance No. 2022-035. This Ordinance was referred to the Committee of the Whole. Ord. 2022-036 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATOR TO ADD FOUR PATROL POSITIONS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY OF GROVEPORT, THEREBY INCREASING STRENGTH OF STAFF TO TWENTY SEVEN (27) AND THE DECLARATION OF AN EMERGENCY Sponsors: Lockett 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 Ordinance No. 2022-036. A motion was made by Council Member Lockett, 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: Excused: 1- Hutson Yes: 5- Cleary, Dildine, Hilbert, Lockett and Rupp A motion was made by Council Member Lockett, seconded by Council Member Hilbert, to adopt as emergency legislation. The motion carried by the following vote: Excused: 1- Hutson Yes: 5- Cleary, Dildine, Hilbert, Lockett and Rupp Ord. 2022-037 AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING AND DEDICATING AS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS THE WATER MAIN AND SANITARY SEWER MAIN CONSTRUCTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PAUL HEMMER COMPANY'S GROVEPORT LOGISTICS CENTER DEVELOPMENT City of Groveport Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes October 10, 2022 Sponsors: Hutson Clerk of Council Ross read by title Ordinance No. 2022-037. This Ordinance was referred to the Committee of the Whole. IX Reports A. Mayor - Lance Westcamp Mayor Lance Westcamp and Administrator King met with Community Affairs Director Jessica Wyke, Town Hall staff, and another group to shore up the City's Veterans Day Ceremony. It was a quick meeting; Mayor Westcamp had the agenda ready but some players need to be changed. It will be another great day in Groveport. The Mayor would like to extend invitations to the County Commissioners and other County officials, Cornell Robertson and Madison Township officials, to name a few. City officials and staff can't say enough about Apple Butter Day; everyone was there. Kudos to the Public Works Department; you don't have to worry about getting it done when that Department has a project. B. Administrator - BJ King Administrator BJ King agreed with Mayor Westcamp on the 2022 City events; City crews did a great job. The City is in good shape for 2023. Mr. King mentioned that the City had received notification on the liquor licensing permit for Little Italy’s new location. It is his understanding that this is similar to a renewal. If Council raises no objections, nothing needs to be done. Then City Council can proceed with approving the matter and move forward. The permit is to extend Little Italy’s liquor license. Council Member Dildine wanted to know if Little Italy would keep the original liquor permit at the current location or have one at both locations. Law Director Shannon stated that the notice says it is a new permit which would be an expansion. But without going out to the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Liquor Control Licensing Section’s website, he could not in all certainty answer that question. Hearing no objections, Mr. Shannon gathered Council was not going to request a hearing with the Division of Liquor Control as it relates to the liability of this permit going forward. He asked Council to consider making a motion not to request a hearing at this time. A motion was made by Council Member Rupp, seconded by Council Member Dildine, to not request a hearing with the Ohio Department Of Commerce, Division of Liquor Control at this time. The motion carried by the following vote: City of Groveport Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes October 10, 2022 Excused: 1- Hutson Yes: 5- Cleary, Dildine, Hilbert, Lockett and Rupp #214-2022 Admin Report to Council Attachments: Admin Report to Council October 10 2022.pdf C. Chief of Police - Casey Adams Police Chief Casey Adams thanked City Council, the Mayor, and City staff for all the support working through the process with the transition the Department is anticipating. The list started with 33 names but is now down to nine (9) candidates. Some individuals decided to stay with their current departments or did not meet the minimum qualifications. Groveport is not the only department dealing with hiring new officers. Tonight’s legislation will help Groveport to hire three good, strong individuals in the Police Department and start training the next generation of detectives. The Chief asked everyone to keep Captain Blevins and his family in their thoughts and prayers. Kurt Blevins lost his sister over the weekend. D. Director of Finance - Jason Carr Finance Director Jason Carr responded to some questions regarding City investments. Through September 30, 2022, the fixed-income market is down 15% for the year. Currently, Groveport has about $21,184,908 in fixed investments. Those investments trade on the open market; currently, the market value of those investments is around $22,601,341 which currently equates to a paper loss of approximately $583,567. However, the Ohio Revised Code requires that Groveport's choices of investments are limited, where the City is guaranteed to get the principal back on the original investment. Therefore, even though the investments' fair value may be below cost, Groveport will still receive its principal plus any interest accrued. Unless there is another market crisis similar to 2008 and 2009, the City should not have problems recapturing that principal and continue its investment plan to capture the best interest rates. Everyone received the 2023 Appropriations book and is encouraged to review it. Department directors will attend Monday's Committee of the Whole meeting to answer questions. Good strides are being made in reducing healthcare costs. Other topics for discussion on the budget City of Groveport Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes October 10, 2022 will be the City investing in cyber liability insurance and meeting the needs of department requests. E. Director of Law - Kevin Shannon Under Other Business, Law Director Kevin Shannon will ask Council to consider making a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss imminent litigation. Mr. Shannon would include all members of the Council, the Mayor, himself, the Administrator, and the Police Chief. F. Development Director - Jeff Green Development Director Jeff Green was not present. G. Council Members - Jean Ann Hilbert, Ed Dildine, Shawn Cleary, Becky Hutson, Scott Lockett and Jack Rupp Council Member Rupp remarked on how he enjoyed Apple Butter Day. Mr. Rupp raised the matter of traffic in the City. When he gets onto US33 headed to I270, traffic is backed up almost to I270. He wonders if the City could work with the businesses to stagger start times so it might lessen the traffic. Mr. King stated that the City also received concerns about traffic backing up from Madison Christian School. The City will look at the entire area of Bixby Road and South Hamilton Road. City Engineer Steve Farst will be at the Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, October 17th; Council can discuss the matter with him at that time. Council Member Lockett learned from Town Hall staff that they had worked with 1,000 children on Apple Butter Day. Mr. Lockett speculated the City could estimate the number of the overall crowd to be 3,000 to 3,500 people. Someone suggested probably closer to 4,500. Madison Christian was there, and they brought in a lot of people. Madison Christian has requested to play on the stage next year. Council Member Cleary announced that he would be in Seattle, Washington, Tuesday morning through Friday night. He will be available by cell phone. Council Member Dildine requested that Administrator King and Law Director Shannon stand up to show off their Ohio State apparel. Mr. Dildine commented that the weather on Apple Butter Day could not have been better. As the Apple Butter Day Committee prepares for next year’s event, they always look for suggestions. The traffic flow worked well this year; he didn’t see any issues. The Trees & Decorations Committee ran out of apples even though they upped the City of Groveport Page 6 City Council Meeting Minutes October 10, 2022 number purchased this year. The apple butter sold out early in the day, also. Council Member Hilbert shared that her group made 2,900 buckeyes that sold out before 2:00 p.m. The proceeds from the sale go right back into the community. H. Clerk of Council - Ruthanne Sargus Ross Clerk of Council Ruthanne Sargus Ross will submit to Mayor Westcamp an updated list of board, commission, and committee members with terms expiring this year. I. Standing Committees None. 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 imminent litigation, to include all members of Council, the Mayor, himself, the Administrator, and the Police Chief. A motion was made by Council Member Hilbert, seconded by Council Member Dildine, to go into Executive Session pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22(G) to discuss imminent litigation, including all Council Members, the Mayor, the Law Director, the Administrator, and the Police Chief at 7:03 p.m. The motion carried by the following vote: Excused: 1- Hutson Yes: 5- Cleary, Dildine, Hilbert, Lockett and Rupp A motion was made by Council Member Rupp, seconded by Council Member Hilbert, to come out of Executive Session at 7:20 p.m. with no action taken. The motion carried by the following vote: Excused: 1- Hutson Yes: 5- Cleary, Dildine, Hilbert, Lockett and Rupp XI. Adjournment A motion was made by Council Member Dildine, seconded by Council Member City of Groveport Page 7 City Council Meeting Minutes October 10, 2022 Hilbert, to adjourn at 7:21 p.m. The motion carried by the following vote: Excused: 1- Hutson Yes: 5- Cleary, Dildine, Hilbert, Lockett and Rupp __________________________________________ 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 8