City Council

Special Council Monday, November 23, 2015 at 4:10 p.m. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Michael Headley. A Prayer was given by Mayor Headley. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present. Present were: Council members Mike Barth, Ron Jones, Mark Haver, Ron Beverly, Bruce Hart & Mick Pocratsky; Solicitor Troy Essex; Administrator Kent Miller and Clerk-Treasurer Diane Collins. There were 14 visitors present. The special meeting was called to discuss downtown parking, EMS pay, sewer legislation to lower the base rate and to purchase a property on Antwerp Drive. Resolution 2015-24 authorizing the Mayor to purchase real estate necessary for sewer and drainage improvements was read by caption only for the second reading. Pocratsky moved to suspend the rules. Jones seconded. All voted yes. Resolution 2015-24 was read by caption only for the third reading. Barth moved to approve. Pocratsky seconded. All voted yes. Ordinance 2015-17 to restructure pay for full time employees of the EMS Department was read by caption only for the second reading. Solicitor Essex explained the wage is being broken down from salary to an hourly rate to make it easier for payroll purposes while paying for overtime the EMT’s are entitled to. Ordinance 2015-18 to reduce the minimum sewer charge for non-residential accounts was read by caption only for the first reading. Essex explained the legislation passed at the meeting last Monday night only reduced the sewer rate for residential customers. Jones moved to suspend the rules. Haver seconded. Pocratsky, Beverly and Hart voted no. Jones, Barth, voted yes. The meeting continued on without Mark Haver’s vote being taken. Several downtown business owners and residents were present to voice their concerns about the new 30 degree angle parking that was put in place in August. Mayor Headley thanked them for coming. The parking angle was originally changed for safety reasons. A few downtown business owners were unhappy with the change in the downtown parking situation. All agreed there are a shortage of spaces. Polly Meyer stated she feels the businesses are deserving of parking spaces and that it is not the 20, 30 or 40 somethings that are keeping our community going, it is the older people. John Hart stated parking is a joke and the 15 minute parking signs are not being enforced. Denise Sutter of Alliance Tax Service said she went from two spaces to none and noted that Dean Yoder and Brickhaus people park in front of businesses instead of leaving the spaces for customers. Her customers come in the evening to get taxes prepared. Resident Anne Trail reported that she is also not happy with the current parking as she does a lot of business downtown and she has to circle the block several times to find a parking space. Larry Colburn of the Hicksville Bank and Jon Myers from the Pharmacy had brief statements. Haver made a motion to rescind the downtown parking changes. Beverly stated he would like to see it go to committee. Jones seconded. Barth made the point that he wants to make sure we are going to get the most spaces possible. Beverly does not think that a new layout will bring back much. Mayor Headley stated he thinks we can get back 10 – 15. Pocratsky, Barth Beverly & Hart voted no. Haver and Jones voted yes. Pocratsky moved the parking matter be sent to the Street/Light/Property Committee. Hart seconded. Pocratsky, Barth, Beverly, Hart and Jones voted yes. Haver voted no. Haver moved to adjourn. Jones seconded. All voted yes. _________________________________ ____________________________________ Mayor Clerk/Treasurer