City Council

City of Groveport 655 Blacklick St. Groveport, OH 43125 614.830.2052 www.groveport.org . Meeting Minutes Monday, September 11, 2023 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 September 11, 2023 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, Mindy Kay - 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 Local Boy Scout Darin Gearheart led the Pledge of Allegiance. IV. Roll Call Absent: 1 - Edward Dildine Present: 5 - Shawn M. Cleary, Jean Ann Hilbert, Becky Hutson, Scott Lockett, and Jack Rupp A motion was made by Council Member Rupp, seconded by Council Member Hilbert, to excuse Council Member Dildine from tonight's meeting. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5- Cleary, Hilbert, Hutson, Lockett and Rupp V. Approval of Minutes The August 28, 2023 City Council Minutes stand approved as submitted. #190-2023 August 28, 2023 City Council Meeting Minutes Attachments: 2023.08.28 City Council Meeting Minutes.pdf VI. Constitution Week Proclamation Mayor Westcamp read aloud the Constitution Week Proclamation and presented it to Jill Hawse, who accepted it on behalf of the Elizabeth Sherman Reese chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the City of Groveport Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes September 11, 2023 American Revolution. She thanked the City of Groveport, Mayor Westcamp, and Council. VII. Business of Guests VIII. Ordinances and Resolutions A. 3rd Readings Ord. 2023-033 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING PART ONE - ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, TITLE FIVE- ADMINISTRATIVE, CHAPTER 137 -BOARD OF CEMETERY TRUSTEES, SECTION 137.02 - RULES AND REGULATIONS AND SECTION 137.03 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES Sponsors: Cleary Attachments: Exhibit A Chapter 137.pdf A motion was made by Council Member Cleary, seconded by Council Member Hutson, to adopt. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5- Cleary, Hilbert, Hutson, Lockett and Rupp B. 2nd Readings Ord. 2023-035 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2020-023 ESTABLISHING CREDIT/DEBIT CARD CONVENIENCE FEES FOR PAYMENTS RECEIVED BY THE UTILITY DEPARTMENT AND THE DECLARATION OF AN EMERGENCY Sponsors: Hilbert This Ordinance was read by title C. 1st Readings Ord. 2023-036 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATOR TO PURCHASE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE UNDER THE OMNIA PARTNERS GROUP COOPERATIVE PURCHASE PLAN THROUGH INSIGHT PUBLIC SECTOR THEREBY WAIVING COMPETITIVE BIDDING PURSUANT TO GROVEPORT CITY CHARTER SECTION 9.02(B) Sponsors: Lockett City of Groveport Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes September 11, 2023 This Ordinance was referred to the Committee of the Whole Res. 2023-005 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: Hutson Attachments: Res. 2023-005 Exhibit A.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 so that we can make the deadline to the County as it relates to this. Council Member Hilbert asked Finance Director Jason Carr to explain this resolution. He stated that the purpose of this resolution is to certify mils to the County Auditor’s Office for collections in 2024. By approving this resolution, you are certifying inside mils of 1.4, which will collect $574,313.54 in real estate taxes and $25,374.55 on rollback and homestead collections, for a total of $599,688.09. The purpose of the emergency is that we are required by Ohio Revised Code Section 5705.34 to provide this to the County Auditor no later than the first day of October. Mrs. Hilbert asked if this is the maximum millage we can get, to which Mr. Carr replied yes. Administrator King informed Council that we just received this on August 29th so the reason for the emergency is not because we’ve been sitting on this. A motion was made by Council Member Hutson, seconded by Council Member Rupp, to suspend the rules as to the three readings and the effective date. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6- Cleary, Dildine, Hilbert, Hutson, Lockett and Rupp IX. Reports A. Mayor - Lance Westcamp Mayor Westcamp gave kudos to Madison Township, Mott’s Military Museum and everybody involved in making the 9/11 ceremony a great event. He said he can’t highlight it enough that we must never forget that day. He added the only concern he has is that through the week we need to get more students there. The new speakers they had were unbelievable. We are sorry Mr. Motts was not able to attend, as he City of Groveport Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes September 11, 2023 always makes it better. It was a great day and everybody involved did a great job. Mrs. Hilbert commented that it was nice to see a Congressman there. She said our State Representatives and Senate were there too and its really nice that they came out for this. Mr. Rupp said he’s been to several other communities’ 9/11 events and this one by far was outstanding in comparison. Mr. Cleary said it was nice to have Groveport Madison School there singing. Council agreed that they did a great job. B. Administrator - BJ King Administrator King recognized Clerk of Council Mindy Kay for attending a week of training at the Ohio Municipal Clerks Association and receiving her certificate for that training. He said it’s always good to see continued education. He then spoke about the 9/11 Ceremony and said it was good to talk to the speakers and meet with Congressman Carey to see what we can do to help this museum. He is setting up a meeting soon. C. Chief of Police - Casey Adams Chief Adams spoke about the Police Department’s Cram the Cruiser Food bank fund raiser. He said it’s been a few years since we’ve done it. The last time we did it, it actually went phenomenally better that what we thought. This time we’re going to do two locations. Joe Ebert is graciously allowing us to use the old Field Parking Lot in the morning as a drop off area. Some of our wives and loved ones will be helping out at that location, along with the other drop off location at Fifth Third bank. Groveport Food Bank is ecstatic. He said they need this help desperately and at that point in time it would be six weeks out until Thanksgiving so it’d be a good time to donate. He then thanked Personnel Director Joyce Myers and HR generalist Annie Short for accompanying him in a 16hr Wellness Training course. He said the training went more in depth than any of their expectations in looking at our officers and first responders. Some of the statistics included that more officers die of suicide than they do in the line of duty. They talked about how to take care of our employees, PTSD, and all kinds of different concepts. He said they all took a lot from the course and want to incorporate some of it using our department Chaplain, Lieutenant Short, and with some of our policies and procedures. He then reported that he had reached out to the Upper Arlington Police Department to request mutual aid assistance like we did before with Gahanna. They’re going to provide three to four officers for this Friday’s football game with Groveport and Upper Arlington. Mr. Cleary asked which items were the most in need for the Cram the Cruiser Food Drive. Chief Adams said City of Groveport Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes September 11, 2023 pastas and soups are a big demand, especially now that it’s getting colder. Those are things that kids and adults can eat and they last a long time because they’re in cans or boxes. He said he is working with Rick Palsgrove to get the flyer published with a list of all the Food Bank’s item needs. It is on October 7th from 9:00am to noon. We’re also going to give the flyers out to the local churches to get them sent out to their congregations. He said the churches always fund the Food bank well. Mayor Westcamp commented that gift cards are on the list and said he thinks that would be a big plus for them so they can purchase meat, produce and bread. Chief Adams added that the PD Chaplain is working with Lieutenant Short to get the message out on Facebook, and Community Affairs Director Jessica Wyke will also get it out citywide. D. Director of Finance - Jason Carr E. Director of Law - Kevin Shannon F. Development Director G. Council Members - Jean Ann Hilbert, Ed Dildine, Shawn Cleary, Becky Hutson, Scott Lockett and Jack Rupp Council Member Rupp reported that he will be attending the school board meeting on Wednesday night and will have some information to bring back. He said he talked with Public Service Director Brian Strayer and they did get the new mower out and did some trimming over by the railroad tracks. We both thought it would do a little bit better. It did help some but not as much as what we thought that mower would do. H. Clerk of Council - Mindy Kay I. Standing Committees Council Member Cleary told Council about the open house at Hendren Cemetery on Saturday. He said it started out a little slow, but within the first hour there were quite a few Groveport and Hamilton Township residents there. One resident whose father used to farm the land said that as kids they were never allowed to go back there because it was sacred ground. He was impressed with what we’ve done with it. Mr. Cleary added that we had a lot of people from Legacy looking at names, and that Mrs. Ottman was there. She put him to work by spraying cleaning solution on some of the markers. He said that she donated several bottles of the spray but we will get it in a five-gallon bucket next City of Groveport Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes September 11, 2023 time because it cleans up the stones very well. The event drew a lot of interest. He said you don’t think on that Committee that a lot of people are interested, but we had a lot of people come down from Columbus taking pictures to try to find long lost relatives. He was really overwhelmed with the amount of people that showed up and was very pleased with the response. It was a great event for the City and the cemetery looks fantastic. There were a lot of compliments on the new fence we put up. Mr. Rupp asked if we are going to put Hendren Cemetery in the new software database. Mr. Cleary said it had been discussed that we weren’t going to because after the tragedy with the trucking company that moved everything, we know that those stones are not correct by any means. That’s why we went ahead and did the bronze plaque. We know the graves are there but we cannot identify them. He said he would bring the topic back up because that was a good question. Mr. King spoke about the Trees and Decorations Committee meeting that took place just prior to Council. He said the Committee discussed Apple Butter Day and decided to give away Melrose Apples as well as three other kinds, as they always have. They will also give out goodie bags with pencils and other things in them. He said we will be raffling off trees again as well. The Committee also spoke about the Haunted park and what we need for that. They will be working with Mr. Strayer to get what they need. Mayor Westcamp asked what the dates are for the Haunted Park, to which Mr. Carr replied October 20th and 21st. The Mayor, Council and Mr. King then discussed having trick-or-treat on the 31st. X. Other Business A motion was made by Council Member Hilbert, seconded by Council Member Hutson, to go into Executive Session at 6:54pm. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5- Cleary, Hilbert, Hutson, Lockett and Rupp A motion was made by Council Member Hilbert, seconded by Council Member Rupp, to come out of Executive Session at 7:39pm. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5- Cleary, Hilbert, Hutson, Lockett and Rupp City of Groveport Page 6 City Council Meeting Minutes September 11, 2023 XI. Adjournment Council Member Cleary made a motion, seconded by Council Member Hilbert to adjourn at 7: 40 p.m. All in favor stated AYE, None Opposed. Motion passed. __________________________________________ Lance Westcamp, Mayor __________________________________________ Mindy Kay 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