City Council

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015 – 7:30 P.M. MAYOR MATTHEW E. BRETT PRESIDING MEMBERS PRESENT: Binder, Carroll, Dishong, Koons, Kostura and Porter OFFICIALS PRESENT: Fiscal Officer Romanowski, Solicitor Ondrey, Fiscal Auditor Lechman VISITORS: Cindy Nairn, Whitetail Drive; Dick Baker, Waverly Lane; Dennis Galicki, Westover Drive; Dan Revelle, Daisy Lane; Dishong moved to approve the minutes of the November 9, 2015 Council meeting, seconded by Kostura. Roll call – ayes, all. Motion carried. MAYOR’S REPORT: The Mayor updated Council on a recent ZBA meeting and stated the Bell Station remodel project discussion was postponed to the next meeting to be held in December. The Board also approved the placement of a shed for a resident on Bell Road. Mayor stated that according to the Engineer’s data, the calculation for the cost of the Bell Road construction has come in somewhat under budget. The Valley Enforcement Regional Council of Governments (VERCOG) meeting is to be held on December 15th. Koons will attend. The Mayor stated the Street Department was called out to plow over the weekend. FISCAL OFFICER’S REPORT: The Fiscal Officer reviewed her report. The Fiscal Officer needs Council to determine what penalties they would like to enact for the income tax ordinance. The ordinance was adopted with these sections blank. The Solicitor gave his recommendation of a third degree misdemeanor for the first offense, a second degree misdemeanor for the second offense and a first degree misdemeanor for the third offense so that the penalties and fines increase for repeated offenses. He explained these penalties would be used in the case that someone didn’t pay taxes for 2016. Discussion followed on possible options and changing the degrees of the misdemeanors. The Fiscal Officer will need to amend the appropriations and has an ordinance prepared for Council. FISCAL AUDITOR’S REPORT: The Fiscal Auditor presented his report to Council and said that he and the Fiscal Officer balance to the penny on all funds. Fund balances have decreased somewhat but finances are in good shape overall. 11/23/15 COUNCIL MEETING Page 1 of 3 Porter moved to approve the October 2015 Financial Statements as submitted, seconded by Dishong. Roll call – ayes, all. Motion carried. Permissive tax was discussed. The Mayor asked the Fiscal Officer and Fiscal Auditor to continue to work with the county next year and try to get better insight on how the permissive taxes are calculated. SOLICITOR’S REPORT: The Solicitor said the Police Chief contacted him concerning a hunting ordinance. Chief was asked for a permit and noticed that the current ordinance is unclear with the 600 foot boundary. The Solicitor stated that Council may want to prohibit hunting in the village, however, if they would like to allow it, they may want to clarify some details. The current ordinance passed in 1974 and several items are undefined. Mayor suggested adding some language to the current ordinance to distinguish the distances from property lines. Dishong stated he is a hunter but doesn’t believe anywhere in the village is suitable for hunting. Kostura stated that he is surprised shotguns can be used for hunting in the village. Kostura feels bow hunting for deer isn’t very dangerous but there isn’t much land in South Russell for hunting. Carroll said he may be in favor of bow hunting depending on the size of the property. Binder said he would like hunting banned within the Village limits. Council agreed to have the Solicitor draft an ordinance prohibiting hunting in the Village to be proposed at the next Council meeting. COMMITTEE REPORTS: Binder, Carroll and Dishong had nothing to report. Koons stated the Ohio Bluebird Society wrote an article in their newsletter about David Herpst building bluebird houses at the South Russell Village Park for an Eagle Scout project. Kostura said the Finance Committee will meet December 4th at 7:30 a.m. Porter reported that the Street Committee will meet December 4th at 8 a.m. ORDINANCES/RESOLUTIONS: Kostura gave second reading on an ordinance adopting the 2016 Budget Appropriations. Dishong introduced an ordinance to enter into an agreement with Thrasher, Dinsmore and Dolan for Solicitor services. Carroll introduced an ordinance to establish a parking ban in certain areas of the village. Dishong introduced an ordinance to establish new employee pay ranges. Kostura introduced an ordinance amending appropriations increasing Safety Fund expenses by $3,500 and declaring an emergency. Kostura moved to waive further readings, seconded by Koons. Roll call – ayes, all. Motion carried. Kostura moved to adopt, seconded by Koons. Roll call – ayes, all. Motion carried. Ordinance 2015-38 11/23/15 COUNCIL MEETING Page 2 of 3 BILLS LIST: Kostura moved to ratify the November 13, 2015 bills list #2 in the amount of $21,616.19, seconded by Dishong. Roll call – ayes, all. Motion carried. Dishong moved to approve the November 30, 2015 bills list in the amount of $7,006.41, seconded by Kostura. Roll call – ayes, all. Motion carried. NEW/OTHER: Binder, Carroll, Dishong, Koons, Kostura and Porter had no new business. Porter brought attention to an area of the proposed Geauga Farmers Market agreement that uses the term “designated representatives from the village”, but the village hasn’t designated anyone for the Famers Market event so he would like this term eliminated from this section in paragraph 9. Mayor also noticed that a date at the end of the agreement is incorrect, but this change can be crossed out and corrected by hand. Porter moved to allow the Mayor and Fiscal Officer to enter into an agreement with the Geauga Farmers Market from May 7, 2016 to October 15, 2016 with the change of the removing designated from the representative section, seconded by Dishong. Roll call – ayes, all. Motion carried. ADJOURNMENT: Being that there was no further business before Council, Dishong moved to adjourn, seconded by Kostura. Roll call, ayes - all. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m. ______________________________ ______________________________ Matthew E. Brett, Mayor Danielle Romanowski, Fiscal Officer Prepared by Jennell Dahlhausen 11/23/15 COUNCIL MEETING Page 3 of 3