City Council

NEW PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCIL MET IN REGULAR SESSION IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON JUNE 10, 2024 WITH PRESIDENT DON KEMP PRESIDING. PRESIDENT KEMP OFFERED A PRAYER, AND ALL IN ATTENDANCE RECITED THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. COUNCIL MEMBERS IN ATTENDENCE MR. KRIS KREINBIHL MR. DAN LANZER MRS. CHERYL RAMOS MR. STEVE RIPPETH MR. TOM SIMMELINK MR. MICHAEL WALKER EXCUSED ABSENSES: MR. MITCH PACE  MR. WALKER MOTIONED TO APPROVE TONIGHT’S AGENDA MR. SIMMELINK SECONDED THE MOTION 6 YEAS TONIGHT’S AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED  MRS. RAMOS MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR SESSION OF COUNCIL ON MAY 30, 2024 MR. RIPPETH SECONDED THE MOTION 6 YEAS MINUTES FROM THE MAY 30, 2024 COUNCIL MEETING HAVE BEEN APPROVED CORRESPONDENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLERK, JULIE COURTRIGHT 1. To Council Clerk and Law Director Fete from the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Liquor Control dated May 31, 2024. This is a Notice of Hearing regarding a Transfer of Ownership Permit Application on June 21, 2024 at 1:00 PM sent certified first class mail and email. 2. To Council and Administration from Executive Administrative Assistant to the Mayor Jami Bailey, dated May 31, 2024. This is the May Month End Report from the Mayor’s Office. 3. To Council and Administration from Income Tax Administrator Carly Loos, dated June 3, 2024. This is the May Month End Report. 4. To Council and Administration from Executive Assistant to the Service Director Jonalee Fernatt, dated June 3, 2024. This is an email titled “New Street Sweeper Purchase” with a letter attached. 5. To Council and Administration from Interim Auditor Heather Denham, dated June 4, 2024. This is the Statement of Cash Position with Month to Date Details, The Expense Report Encumbrance Details and the Trial Balance from May 2024. 6. To Council Clerk from Treasurer Tom Gerber, dated June 10, 2024. This is the Investment and Savings Report for May of 2024. 7. To Council and Administration from Mayor Day, dated June 10, 2024. The Mayor’s Report. MAYOR’S REPORT/REQUESTS ….MAYOR JOEL B. DAY Mayor Day had the following report: Tuscarawas County needs more Housing for its Workforce: Last week Service Director McAbier, Code Administrator Mathias and I joined other local government officials in a discussion with State officials on the workforce, housing and infrastructure needs in our county. Representatives from the Lieutenant Governor’s office and the Ohio Department of Development called the meeting because of the impact that Schaeffler Group’s development will 1 have in Dover and throughout Tuscarawas County. The lack of affordable housing for workers and families was the main topic of the discussion. The State officials were also told that the high cost of extending water and sewer lines to developments and the lack broadband coverage in the county continue to be impediments to the area’s growth. The need to fund the reconstruction of the Interstate 77/250/39 interchange in New Philadelphia was also brought to their attention. Red Lobster’s Bankruptcy Closes New Philadelphia’s Restaurant: As you may have read in today’s (Monday’s) Times Reporter online, I am working with State Senator Al Landis to try to persuade Red Lobster officials to keep the New Philadelphia restaurant open. Our effort may be futile because of the corporation’s bankruptcy filing, and the fact that closing restaurants make the numbers work on a balance sheet. The good news is that the Red Lobster employees should have no problems finding another job because most local restaurants and other businesses are hiring. Crackdown on Junk Vehicles: City Code Administrator Josh Mathias and the Police Department have teamed up to identify and cite the owners of junk vehicles as defined in the City’s codified ordinances. The vehicles will be towed if necessary. Administrator Mathias has told me that the complaints about junk vehicles in the City has increased over the past several months. New Traffic Box Artwork is in the Works: At its monthly meeting last Thursday the Downtown Design Standards board approved 10 new traffic box wrap designs, which were submitted by high school art students in Tuscarawas County. The art project is expanding outside of the downtown area to other traffic boxes within the City. It’s become a great way to showcase the younger artistic talent we have in our community Mrs. Ramos had the following question: What would you define as affordable housing? Mayor Day: Low to moderate income, the workforce falls into those two categories. Moderate can go up to $300,000 a year. Rent is about $1200 a month. People are driving here to work but not living here. We want them to live here. Jobs are being developed, but you need people to stay here to sustain economic growth. SERVICE DIRECTOR………….. Service Director Ron McAbier: Mr. McAbier had the following report: One more thing on the meeting we went to last week. They talked about certain developers and the price of material and everything. Most of them can’t go out and turn a house unless it has a tag of $300,000 on it. They also talked about someone moving up farther, so if they can buy or sell the house at $150,000 they may start moving up the $300,000 homes. It is an issue, the state has done a wonderful job of getting jobs here, we just have to move our folks here. Paving has started, it started weekly. They’re down at 2nd Street SE and they’re paving that from Commercial Ave. to Colonial. From there we’re going to go over to Grant St. then we’ll go to Kelly from Ray. I believe it's going to take more than just this week. He grinded everything on 2nd Street today but he did not get over to Grant to start grinding. I think they’ll grind that tomorrow and maybe start over on Kelly a little bit of tomorrow, finish that on Wednesday, then start filling everything back in. After that’s done they’re going to come up-town and get the quadrants done. So, they’ll start here next week. One of the big drivers on that is we’re over behind the courthouse, and they’ll be off Juneteenth. Each quadrant will be getting done next week and at the next Council meeting I’ll continue to update everybody as to where we’re at, but it did start today. The CDBG Project hydroseeded today. That’s the last step in that. We’ll do a final walkthrough, and at the next Council meeting I’ll update everybody on that. The waterline’s been going in behind us. We’ll pressure test, load the line up slowly and bacteria test. I believe they’ll be pulling the line out Thursday. Also, we’re going to have a meeting tomorrow about a low overhead dam behind AEP. There’s a grant through H2Ohio that we can put a lift station in. We already got it okayed through AEP to put the station closer to Mill Ave. We’re meeting with Craig Butler and Mark Johnson tomorrow. We’re looking to get funded. That’s 100% funding. The project right now is $3.4 Million. At the airport Phase 1 is complete and they’ll start on Phase 2. They’ve had some rain dates but they should be full steam ahead. They’ve done a great job with the Papi Lights. 2  Mrs. Ramos had the following question: Are you putting a lift station in the waterworks? Service Director: We talked about it. It would just be a small lift station. AUDITOR ……………MRS. HEATHER DENHAM……NO REPORT SAFETY DIRECTOR ………..MR. GREG POPHAM……..NO REPORT - TREASURER . . . . MR. TOM GERBER……………….NO REPORT LAW DIRECTOR……MR. MARVIN FETE Mr. Fete had the following comment: One of the things I completed today was, there are several local businesses that want to utilize the public sidewalks for patrons. This is something the public supports and something that I support. It’s good for the City. Josh asked about liability for the City, so I drafted a Memorandum of Understanding that places the liability on the business owner and removes it from the City for any accidents that would occur in relation to them using public sidewalks as an extension of their business for patrons or pedestrians. Some of the places where the extensions are might be a part of their façade. Also tonight, I’m going to request an Executive Session to brief Council on a legal matter that’s required by law to be kept confidential with regards to attorney-client privilege. President Kemp commented that it’s also important to make sure the City gets proof of insurance from the business owners. MR. LANZER MOTIONED FOR AN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOLLOWING TONIGHT’S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA MR. SIMMELINK SECONDED THE MOTION 6 YEAS THERE WILL BE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION DURING TONIGHT’S COUNCIL MEETING BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS: PLANNING COMMISSION……………….MAYOR JOEL DAY The Planning Commission will meet here in Council Chambers tomorrow at 1:00 PM. On our Agenda Representatives from Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District will be here to present some Drawings of the new facility they’re going to construct on Tech Park Drive. Also, if we have time We’re going to continue our discussion on the final draft of the Zoning Planning Code. BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS…….MR. RON MCABIER The Board of Zoning Appeals will meet tomorrow night at 5:00 PM with one variance request to be Heard. 3  AIRPORT COMMISSION…….MR. DAN LANZER The Airport Commission will meet tomorrow evening 6:00 PM at the Harry Clever Airport Meeting Room. PARK BOARD………………….MR. MITCH PACE………….EXCUSED ABSENSE CEMETERY BOARD…………………….MR. MITCH PACE………..EXCUSED ABSENSE HEALTH BOARD ………………….…. MR. TOM SIMMELINK The Health Board will meet Wednesday at Noon in Council Chambers. STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS: FINANCE COMMITTEE ………………MR. STEVE RIPPETH………..NO REPORT PUBLIC WORKS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE…MR. DAN LANZER…NO REPORT SAFETY, HEALTH, AND SERVICE COMMITTEE……MR. TOM SIMMELINK……NO REPORT ZONING AND ANNEXATION COMMITTEE……MRS. CHERYL RAMOS……..NO REPORT 4 SALARY COMMITTEE………..NO REPORT………MR. KRIS KREINBIHL….NO REPORT PARKS AND CEMETERY COMMITTEE……………MR. MITCH PACE………EXCUSED ABSENSE SPECIAL AND CONTACT COMMITTEE……MR. MIKE WALKER……NO REPORT VISITOR’S COMMENTS__ Kristen Miller of 2883 Crooked Run Rd NW had the following comment: My prayer is that you would take to heart what I am going to say. This is speaking on behalf of the DORA Law that you guys are trying to pass. I am against it and here is why. I live and work in New Phila. I am a single mother trying to raise two kids and I’m in recovery. Working in downtown New Philadelphia, I don’t want to see people walking down the streets with alcohol. We are overrun by alcoholics and drug addicts. I’m trying to teach my children not to do drugs and that alcohol doesn’t have to be a part of everyday life. I’m 10 and a half years sober and it’s a battle to stay sober every day. I used to think New Philadelphia was a safe place to raise children but now I’m not sure. COUNCIL COMMENTS …………..NONE READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS ORDINANCES: 18-2024 AN ORDINANCE BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW PHILADELPHIA, OHIO TO AMEND CODIFIED ORDINANCE SECTION 373.10 RIDING ON SIDEWALKS TO PROHIBIT SKATEBOARDS AND LOW-SPEED MICROMOBILITY DEVICES FROM BEING OPERATED IN THE RESTRICTED AREA. 2nd Reading 19-2024 AN ORDINANCE BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW PHILADELPHIA, OHIO TO AMEND SECTION 1151.05 (A) OF THE NEW PHILADELPHIA CODIFIED ORDINANCES TO INCLUDE AN EXCEPTION CLAUSE FOR ZONING NOTICES. 2nd Reading 5  RESOLUTIONS: 8-2024 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND THE SERVICE DIRECTOR OF THE CITY OF NEW PHILADELPHIA, OHIO, TO ENTER INTO A LOAN AGREEMENT WITH FIRST FEDERAL COMMUNITY BANK FOR THE PURPOSES OF PURCHASING A NEW 2024 VACALL STREET SWEEPER. 2nd Reading *Service Director McAbier asked Council to have a Special Meeting this week to pass Resolution 8-2024 on a 3rd Reading. *Council decided to have a Special Meeting on Thursday, June 13th at 5:00. Council adjouned into a 5 minute recess at 8:00pm before going into an Executive Session which started at 8:05pm. Council reconvened into Regular Session at 8:27pm. UNFINISHED OR OLD BUSINESS: NONE NEW BUSINESS: Mr. McAbier asked President Kemp to assign the Sanitation Rate Increase to Committee. President Kemp assigned the issue to the Public Works Committee. With no other business to discuss Mr. Simmelink motioned to adjourn at 8:28 PM. CLERK OF COUNCIL______________________________________________________ Julie Courtright APPROVED ______________________ PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL __________________________________________________ Don Kemp 6 7