City Council

MINUTES DECEMBER 19, 2022 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING PARMA COUNCIL CHAMBERS 6:30 P.M. The Regular Council Meeting was called to order by President of Council Sean P. Brennan presiding: COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: KELLY ZACHARIAS MARK CASSELBERRY VITO DIPIERRO ALLAN DIVIS ROB EUERLE LINDA KOHAR KEVIN C. KUSSMAUL KAMMY SHUMAN COUNCIL MEMBER EXCUSED: DEBORAH LIME Mrs. Saban – Mr. Chairman, the Roll of Council has been called, and I find a quorum of Council Members present. The following officials and department heads were also present: Mayor Timothy DeGeeter, Chief Assistant Law Director Tim Miller, Auditor Brian Day, Treasurer Tom Mastroianni, Service Director Tony Vannello, Safety Director Bob Coury, Building Commissioner Dan Kulchytsky, City Engineer Hasmukh Patel, Communications and Community Relations Director Carolyn Kovach, Recreation Commissioner Mickey Vittardi, Chief of Staff Rich Summers and Clerk of Council Kristin L. Saban. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INVOCATION The Invocation was given by Clerk of Council Kristin L. Saban. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VOICE VOTE: RESOLUTION NO. 208-22 12/5/22 BY: V. DIPIERRO, M. CASSELBERRY, A. DIVIS, R. EUERLE, L.A. KOHAR, K.C. KUSSMAUL D. LIME, K. SHUMAN, K. ZACHARIAS A RESOLUTION HONORING VALLEY FORGE HIGH SCHOOL (GREENBRIAR MIDDLE SCHOOL) 8TH GRADE FOOTBALL TEAM ON THEIR UNDEFEATED 2022 SEASON Motion made by Councilman Casselberry seconded by Councilwoman Shuman to adopt Resolution No. 208-22. Motion carried. Mr. Brennan – Presented the Resolution and Certificates to the Team and Coaches. Mayor DeGeeter – Presented Proclamation to the Team and Coaches. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1  LEGISLATIVE COMMENT No one wished to speak. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DISPOSAL OF JOURNAL Mr. Brennan – Stated, you have before you the minutes from the Regular Council Meeting of December 5, 2022. Asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes? Stated, hearing none, the minutes will stand approved as printed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ COMMUNICATIONS, PETITIONS AND CLAIMS Request received from the Ohio Department of Liquor Control for a D5, D6 Stock Type Permit to Anars Enterprises LLC, 2903 Brookpark Road, 1st floor, Parma, Ohio 44134. Mailed on December 15, 2022. Responses must be postmarked no later than January 17, 2023. Mr. Brennan – Copy of said Liquor Permit was referred to the Safety Director and Council. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ AMENDMENT TO THE CALENDAR Motion made by Councilman Casselberry seconded by Councilwoman Shuman to amend the Calendar by removing Ordinance No. 199-22 from Third Reading. Motion carried. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FIRST READING: ORDINANCE NO. 211-22 12/19/22 BY: M. CASSELBERRY (By Request – Service Director) AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH U.S. SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANY THROUGH JACKSON-DIEKEN, FOR SPECIAL MULTI-PERIL INSURANCE INCLUDING BUILDINGS, CONTENTS AND BOILERS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY Mr. Brennan – Said Ordinance will be referred to the Finance Committee. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ORDINANCE NO. 212-22 12/19/22 BY: M. CASSELBERRY (By Request – Law Director) AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH U.S. SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANY THROUGH JACKSON-DIEKEN, FOR MUNICIPAL EXCESS LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR THE CITY OF PARMA, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY Mr. Brennan – Said Ordinance will be referred to the Finance Committee. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2  ORDINANCE NO. 213-22 12/19/22 BY: A. DIVIS (By Request – City Engineer) AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE USE OF A PORTION OF THE CITY OF PARMA’S LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND/OR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE LOWEST AND BEST BIDDER FOR THE FENWAY STORM SEWER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PHASE I IN THE CITY OF PARMA, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY Mr. Brennan – Said Ordinance will be referred to the Finance Committee. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ORDINANCE NO. 214-22 12/19/22 BY: K. ZACHARIAS (By Request – City Engineer) AN ORDINANCE LEVYING SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BROADROCK COURT AND OLD ROCKSIDE ROAD SANITARY SEWER PROJECT CONSISTING OF THE INSTALLATION OF SANITARY SEWERS WITH ALL NECESSARY APPURTENANCES THERETO, FROM BROADVIEW ROAD TO EAST PARMA CORPORATION LINE, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY Mr. Brennan – Said Ordinance will be referred to the Finance Committee. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ORDINANCE NO. 215-22 12/19/22 BY: D. LIME (By Request – Safety Director) AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 185.04 (f) “PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE” OF CHAPTER 185 “GENERAL FEE SCHEDULE” OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PARMA, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY Mr. Brennan – Said Ordinance will be referred to the Public Safety Committee. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SECOND READING: RESOLUTION NO. 205-22 12/5/22 BY: K. SHUMAN (By Request – Building Commissioner) A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE BUILDING COMMISSIONER TO INSTITUTE SUMMARY NUISANCE ABATEMENT OF PERMANENT PARCEL NUMBER 457-05-016, 7461 NORTH LINDEN LANE, PARMA, OHIO, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY Motion made by Councilman Divis seconded by Councilwoman Shuman to refer Resolution No. 205-22 back to the Public Safety Committee. Motion carried. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3  ORDINANCE NO. 206-22 12/5/22 BY: D. LIME (By Request – Safety Director) AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND/OR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH TIM LALLY CHEVROLET, TO LEASE/PURCHASE TEN (10) 2023 CHEVROLET MALIBUS FOR THE PARMA POLICE DEPARTMENT, UNDER THE STATE OF OHIO BID PRICING, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY Motion made by Councilman Casselberry seconded by Councilwoman Shuman to refer Ordinance No. 206-22 back to the Finance Committee. Motion carried. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SECOND READING SUSPENSION: Mr. Brennan – Shall the statutory provision and Rule 48 requiring the full and distinct reading of Ordinance No. 207-22 on three different days be dispensed with? Yes: Zacharias, Casselberry, Dipierro, Divis, Euerle, Kohar, Kussmaul, Shuman. No: None; motion carried. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ORDINANCE NO. 207-22 12/5/22 BY: D. LIME (By Request – Safety Director) AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND/OR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH GANLEY CHEVROLET OF AURORA LLC, TO LEASE/PURCHASE THREE (3) 2023 CHEVROLET TAHOES FOR THE PARMA POLICE DEPARTMENT, UNDER THE STATE OF OHIO BID PRICING, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY Motion made by Councilman Casselberry seconded by Councilwoman Shuman to adopt Ordinance No. 207-22. Yes: Zacharias, Casselberry, Dipierro, Divis, Euerle, Kohar, Kussmaul, Shuman. No: None; Ordinance No. 207-22 is adopted. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SUSPENSION OF THE RULES: Mr. Brennan – Shall the Statutory provision and Rule 48 requiring the full and distinct reading of Resolution No. 216-22 and Ordinance No. 217-22 on three different days be dispensed with? Yes: Zacharias, Casselberry, Dipierro, Divis, Euerle, Kohar, Kussmaul, Shuman. No: None; motion carried. Mr. Brennan – Shall Rule 45 requiring reference to committee be dispensed with and Resolution No. 216-22 and Ordinance No. 217-22 be placed on final passage? Yes: Zacharias, Casselberry, Dipierro, Divis, Euerle, Kohar, Kussmaul, Shuman. No: None; motion carried. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4  RESOLUTION NO. 216-22 12/19/22 BY: M. CASSELBERRY (By Request – Auditor) A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CITY AUDITOR’S CASH TRANSFERS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY Motion made by Councilman Casselberry seconded by Councilwoman Shuman to adopt Resolution No. 216-22. Yes: Zacharias, Casselberry, Dipierro, Divis, Euerle, Kohar, Kussmaul, Shuman. No: None; Resolution No. 216-22 is adopted. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ORDINANCE NO. 217-22 12/19/22 BY: A. DIVIS (By Request – Service Director) AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND/OR THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO ENTER INTO AN ADDENDUM TO LEASE AND MEMORIALIZATION OF NO-COST DISTRICT OFFICE SPACE FOR CONGRESSMAN MAX MILLER AT 7335 RIDGE ROAD, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY Councilman Kussmaul – Stated he thinks this will be a great benefit to the city, and that Congressman Elect Miller will be a great voice for Parma and Washington. Mayor DeGeeter – Stated he met with Congressman Elect Miller and offered the space to him. Stated they did the same thing with Congressman Renacci back in the day. They also offered it to Anthony Gonzales when he first was elected, but he chose not to take it and decided to have a district office in Strongsville. Stated he wishes Congressman Gonzales well. He has been a great advocate for the City of Parma and will be missed. He looks forward to working with Congressman Elect Miller. Mr. Brennan – Stated he got to know Congressman Elect Miller throughout the campaign and looks forward to working with him in his new role. Further stated they will miss Congresswoman Kaptur as well as Congressman Gonzalez. Motion made by Councilman Casselberry seconded by Councilwoman Shuman to adopt Ordinance No. 217-22. Yes: Zacharias, Casselberry, Dipierro, Divis, Euerle, Kohar, Kussmaul, Shuman. No: None; Ordinance No. 217-22 is adopted. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PUBLIC SESSION Sharon Stahursky, 6819 Virginia Avenue – Commented on the Chapter 174 – Tree Commission. Feels a Tree Commission needs to be re-established and requests that the task of selecting the Tree Commission Members takes place in January, 2023. Has spoken to several residents who are interested in volunteering. Feels it would ease the burden on City staff. Stated without a Tree Commission it will impossible to compete for future grant funding. Commented on the cutting down of trees. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Louanne Howard, 5992 Chestnut Hills Drive – Asked if the office that is leased to Max Miller is open to everybody? Asked what they will be paying for the office? Mayor DeGeeter – Stated that they are paying for utilities but not rent. Ms. Howard – Asked if every citizen is allowed to go in there and speak to them? 5  MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS Mayor DeGeeter – Wished everyone a Merry Christmas. Regarding the trees, stated a number of weeks ago before the Ordinance was brought to their attention by the resident they met with Derek Schafer and Clerk of Council Saban. Mr. Schafer came in with a plan and he would like to work forward on the tree issues. Stated he would like to continue with that plan before they jump into a Tree Commission. Stated that Mr. Schafer has been very instrumental on securing the Tree Grants from the County. Congratulated Mr. Brennan. He is very excited about his new role in Columbus. Stated it was an honor when he served in the Ohio General Assembly. You are one of 99, making State Law, you learn a great deal about the State, you make great and lasting relationships. Stated Sean has the great bandwidth and skill set to be a very effective legislator for Parma. Stated he is not saying goodbye because they will be in contact through local and state government. Wished Mr. Brennan well. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Safety Director Coury – Stated invites went out for Police and Fire swearing ins. Stated they did very well with the Fire and Police hires. Stated they will have a full complement of fire and police and excellent new candidates. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Service Director Vannello – Wished everyone a Merry Christmas. Congratulated Mr. Brennan. Stated that Service will go on Shifts the beginning of January. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Auditor Day – Wished everyone a Merry Christmas. Stated that Mr. Brennan and he came in together 19 years ago. They have worked on a number of things together and also appreciated working with him. Stated he hasn’t met anyone who has more energy. Stated Mr. Brennan has been such an asset to the city. He has made this community better by the things he has done. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chief Assistant Law Director Miller – Congratulated Mr. Brennan and wished everyone a Merry Christmas. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Treasurer Mastroianni – Congratulated Mr. Brennan. Stated he will do a great job down state like he did in the city. Wished everyone a Merry Christmas. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Councilwoman Zacharias – Wished everyone a Merry Christmas. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Councilman Casselberry – Wished everyone a Merry Christmas. Stated Mr. Brennan has done a great job and it has been a pleasure working with him. Stated Mr. Brennan has done a lot for the city, and he will continue to do that at the Statehouse. Wished him the best of luck. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Councilman Dipierro – Wished everyone a Merry Christmas. Congratulated Mr. Brennan and wished him luck in his next chapter. Stated Mr. Brennan has to be one of the most hardest working people he has met. He knows Mr. Brennan will work hard for Parma and the district. Stated Mr. Brennan has always been fair and someone he could come to. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Councilman Divis – Wished everyone a Merry Christmas. Stated Mr. Brennan’s hard work and dedication, his love for the city and energy has driven him to the Statehouse. Stated they are very proud of him for his achievements. Stated they look forward to him coming back and visiting Council. Wished Mr. Brennan the best of luck. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6  Councilman Euerle – Wished everyone a Merry Christmas. Wished Mr. Brennan best of luck and thanked him for everything. Stated good work on many things, especially the Script Parma sign. Keep up the good work and they look forward to working with him. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Councilwoman Kohar – Wished everyone a Merry Christmas. Congratulated Mr. Brennan. Stated one of the best things about being on Council was to get to know Mr. Brennan. Stated she always admired him and appreciates his support. Stated they will support him always. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Councilman Kussmaul – Thanked Mr. Brennan for his years of service to the city. Congratulated him on his new role. Wished everyone a Merry Christmas. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Councilwoman Shuman – Stated for Mr. Brennan to make the big move and to want to advocate for the whole City and go to Columbus, she is proud. Stated Mr. Brennan is doing a great job for everyone, and he will always have their support. Wished everyone a Merry Christmas. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clerk of Council Saban – Thanked Mr. Brennan for his support, his guidance and friendship. Stated Mr. Brennan will be heading to Columbus big time, full time and they are all behind him. Wished everyone a Merry Christmas. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr. Brennan – Thanked everyone. Stated the following: I’m usually not speechless, but like Tom said and Brian said, we came in in 2003 and the City was experiencing some issues at the time. But the new crew came in with Mayor DePiero and having worked with Mayor DeGeeter, as I leave City Council, I know our city is in good hands. The city is doing incredibly well, and I am so proud of all the work that you all do. You don’t get anywhere in life on your own. It started with my mom and then living with my grandma. God took my grandma and gave me the love of my life, Deena, who is cut out of the same mold. There are so many similarities between my grandma and my wife that its just uncanny. My son, who has no interest in politics whatsoever, thank you for coming tonight. That really means a lot to me. When I first got started on City Council, he was just a little lad and now you can see he is bigger than me like everybody in my family. I have been a teacher in the Brecksville/Broadview Heights City Schools for almost 30 years and there were many times where I thought about moving out there where I could basically walk to work. But I knew Parma was the place for me and it was a place to raise a family. And what I love so much about Parma is the reason why I love my wife so much and that is all of us in this room don’t care about what kind of car we drive, we don’t care about what kind of clothes people wear, if a neighbor needs something we are there to give them a hand. Parma is full of salt of the earth, caring empathetic people and I am so happy that I never drank the Kool aid and moved places south like many of my friends and neighbors have done. I always say the smart people stayed in Parma. It is affordable, you have great neighbors, it’s wonderfully located, we have a lot of great assets, and the city is really on the move. For an inner ring suburb, to be one of the safest cities in the nation, with the wonderful amenities that we are able to provide to our almost 90,000 residents is really something that you should all be proud of. We weathered that economic downturn in 2008/2009 and the aftereffects of that, we weathered Covid, and we came out stronger both times. That’s incredible. I want to thank our safety forces and who deserve a round of applause for their fine work. Our auxiliary folks who are here at every meeting to keep us safe. I want to thank Lisa who I am going to miss so much. Lisa has been here at City Hall and weathered, I don’t know how many Council people, Mayor’s, Auditor’s, Treasurers, Law Directors. One of the things about Lisa is, you will ask her about the politics in Parma, and she just has a great way of saying nothing. If you ever do decide to retire, this City is going to suffer a big loss. I 7 appreciate your friendship as well as all the ladies and men who have worked for us in the Council Office to make us all look good. Kristin, thank you, and everybody in the room. I know everybody in the room. You are all friends. I am not going anywhere. I have many residents who have emailed me and asked when are you moving to Washington? First of all, I am running for the State legislature, I didn’t run for Congress. So, you are down in Columbus Tuesday through Thursday, and you are back in Parma Friday through Monday and the weeks you are not in session, as well as Parma Heights and part of his district over in Westpark. As you all know Parma will always be my priority. Parma has been good to me and that’s why it has been so easy to work so hard for the community that I love so very much. This community adopted me when I fell in love with my wife and pierogies back in the early 90’s and I will continue to work hard. I have always looked at my job as an elected official as being sort of the protector of the residents that have entrusted me with this seat and I will continue to do that as I serve in the legislature following our past fine Representatives like Mayor DeGeeter, Mayor DePiero, Judge Elect Celebrezze, Mickey Mottl, Jeff Crossman of course who roped me into this thing last November. So, it has been an honor to represent all of you on Parma City Council as Ward 2 Council for a while, as President of Council for these past 19 years and it will be an even bigger honor to serve you down in Columbus at the Statehouse. So, I appreciate your support, I appreciate your prayers and I will try not to let you down. Thank you very much. Have a blessed Christmas everyone. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- REPORT ON ABSENT MEMBERS Motion made by Councilwoman Shuman seconded by Councilman Casselberry to excuse Councilwoman Deborah Lime from said meeting. Motion carried. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADJOURNMENT Motion made by Councilwoman Shuman seconded by Councilman Casselberry to adjourn said meeting at 7:28 P.M. Motion carried. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CERTIFICATION I, Kristin L. Saban, Clerk of Council for the City of Parma, Ohio, do hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of the minutes from the Regular Council Meeting held on Monday, December 19, 2022. /s/Kristin L. Saban__________ /s/Sean P. Brennan_________ KRISTIN L. SABAN SEAN P. BRENNAN CLERK OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL lb 8