Tallmadge City Council Regular Business Meeting (2013-2019)

REGULAR MEETING in Council Chambers @ 7:30 p.m. January 26, 17 1. CALL TO ORDER: President of Council Donovan called the Regular Council meeting of Thursday, January 26, 2017 to order at 7:30 p.m. 2. PRAYER: Rev. Josh Deeter, First Church of God, Tallmadge. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. 3. ROLL CALL: Mr. Donovan, Mrs. Kilway, Mrs. Ray, Mr. Rensel, Mr. Sisak, Mr. Stalnaker, Ms. Tricaso – present. Also present were Dir. of Pub. Service Esler, Dir. of Law Raber, Dir. of Finance Gilbride, Dir. of Administration Cooper, Economic Developer Weinberg and Clerk of Council Burton. Mayor Kline was on vacation. 4. MINUTES: 1-12-17 Regular Council meeting minutes. Mrs. Ray moved to approve the 1-12-17 Regular Council Meeting minutes. Seconded Mrs. Kilway. Voice vote 7-0. The 1-12-17 Regular Council meeting minutes were approved by a vote of 7-0. FINANCIAL REPORTS:  Maca Year End Summary – 2016 Mrs. Ray moved to approve the Maca Year End Summary. Seconded Mr. Sisak. Voice vote 7-0. The Maca Year End Summary for the year 2016 was accepted by a vote of 7-0. 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None. 6. COMMUNITY INPUT: Pres. of Council: Welcome back to the students. Tallmadge City Council meets on the second and fourth Thursday’s of the month with Council Committee meetings starting at 7:00 p.m. followed by the Regular Council meeting. At the Committee meetings, legislation is discussed thoroughly with Council deciding to adopt, amend, reject, hold or table the legislation. We do allow time for community input at this point in the meeting. If anyone would like to address Council, please come forward and state your name and address for the record. 6.A. ANNOUNCEMENTS: There will be a short Richardson Trust Fund meeting following the Regular Council meeting this evening. 7. REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES: None. 8. AGENDA ADDITIONS: None. 9. REPORTS OF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS: MAYOR, DIR. OF PUBLIC SERVICE, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, DIRECTOR OF LAW, DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Dir. of Administration: We report that, of course, the Mayor would much prefer to be here, but he is on a well-earned vacation; 60 years in the making. He sends his regards. Dir. of Pub. Service: Yes, thank you. We are working towards the LED lighting project for the Recreation Center that was in the capital budget for the Rec Center. We got a quote for just the materials of $84,368. Speelman Electric is working with the provider of the material to give us a quote on the actual installation. We hope to recoup some, if not all of the cost of the lights themselves from the First Energy “Energy Efficiency Program” and until we get the actual price and everything and get a contract in place, we won’t know if we are going to qualify for that or not. But, I believe that the funds that were appropriated were over five years and so it was $30,000 per year. I think we will be within that. The Rec Center has also ordered 7 new treadmills and they should be delivered fairly soon. We are replacing the older ones. Maca Park; we are working out there. The sand filters; we have a company coming in on Monday and they are going to vac out the material out of those and replace the tubes that are inside of those filters and refill those and get them ready for opening day. We have a company that is going to come in once the weather breaks to do some repairs on the slides and get those waxed up and ready. A new camera system is going to be installed before opening day and we have a company that is going to come in in the next couple weeks and pull all of the different pumps that are in there for the filters and the features and they are going to take those and service those and bring those back. So there is a lot of work going on out at Maca Park. End of report. Mrs. Ray: So how many days until opening day at Maca? Dir. of Pub. Service: I don’t know. We are just trying to get ahead of it. Mrs. Ray: We appreciate you being proactive. Thank you. Mr. Sisak: Can you update us on the phones? Dir. of Pub. Service: The phone outages. Mr. Sisak: Is it outside cable or inside? Dir. of Pub. Service: Well, it is Windstream and AT&T both who have been having some issues. AT&T is working on it. I think they are close to having it all resolved now. Mr. Sisak: So what was the backup? Do you guys have like red phones or something? Dir. of Pub. Service: The phones were working some of the times and everybody has cell phones. Mr. Sisak: I was just wondering because I have been getting relentless e-mails and so that is good to know. Dir. of Pub. Service: It is out of our control unfortunately. Mr. Sisak: The e-mails were working!  REGULAR MEETING in Council Chambers @ 7:30 p.m. January 26, 17 Dir. of Finance: Thank you. Everyone may have seen yesterday that Auditor Yost released reports for cities all throughout the State of Ohio using financial ratios to assess these entities and their financial health. We did receive our report and we had 15 out of the 17 indicators identified and showed that we had a positive outlook for our finances. There were two indicators that were given; one cautionary and one critical. I did investigate those for Council’s information and we did receive the critical outlook point was a ratio that measures your spending and if you are spending more money than you are taking in in a given year. So, in 2014 and 2015, the City intentionally spent more and that does occur on occasion, but based on the way they are analyzing the financial indicators, if you drop below that they are going to flag that as critical. So, just like with anything; you have to know what is going on behind the numbers sometimes. The ratio might not look that great, but there might be reasons why that drops below and then again in 2016, we would not be in that situation based on how we ended the fiscal year. So, that is the reason for receiving that critical outlook. The cautionary has to do with our fixed assets and the age of our fixed assets. They analyze the percentage of your fixed assets that have been depreciated over time and so they looked at that and said that we have . . . the value of our assets are highly depreciated which means that they are aged assets with most of those being in the highest valued assets we have; our infrastructure. So, that doesn’t come as a surprise to me and in fact if you saw Auditor Yost’s press conference or any news coverage on it, he did indicate that is a normal kind of an indicator problem for many; the majority actually, of the cities that they dealt with. We are aware of the age of our assets and we have infrastructure funds where we set money aside and financial policies to make sure that we have things in place to deal with that and we do try to maintain our assets so that they last longer, but for financial reporting purposes, when you get an asset you pick how long you think it is going to last and quite frankly, you’re lucky if it lasts longer sometimes. But, we are aware of the age of our infrastructure and that those should be coming, but based on the financial health that we have here, I think we will be in a good position to fix our infrastructure and the assets that we have. If anyone has any questions on the report, I will be glad to answer it. Mrs. Ray: I did see that report yesterday and actually had several of my clients, because you are well aware that I deal with municipal entities throughout the country, but in Ohio particularly, and the majority of them were calling a lot of their financial institutions and letting them know that this report came out and we didn’t score as well as we could have and these are the reasons and here is the context and I think while I really appreciate and applaud Auditor Yost for his attempt, I don’t believe that he provided enough context and you know we then actually turn around and call the rating agencies; Moody’s, S&P and Fitch and shared the report with them and said what do you think, if any, impact that this would have on the ratings of municipalities throughout the State of Ohio who do carry public debt ratings and they pretty much summarily dismissed it and so it would have no impact. But yes, a lot of municipal entities did not score particularly well and I think you have to take the picture as a whole while you intentionally spend money as you indicated and it exceeds your revenues in a given year that here in Tallmadge has historically a planned event and unfortunately in a lot of communities throughout the State of Ohio that is an unplanned event and so again, I applaud what we have done here in Tallmadge historically and what you are doing now under your administration and I think kudos all around for getting 15 out of 17. A lot of the large municipalities did not do nearly as well and so I think we are doing very well. But, thank you for that update. Dir. of Law: No report. Economic Developer: Thank you. I just wanted to report that I attended, on January 12 th, the Brimfield Zoning meeting and there was a public hearing for the rezoning of the Maplecrest Golf Course and it was at that time that the developer presented their plan to develop that course with commercial in the front and then the Class A office park in the back and they disseminated a lot of information there, but as they anticipated, there was a lot of community concern about the traffic and neighbors were concerned about noise and lighting and so forth and so they attempted to address that. That is going to go to Regional Planning on February 8th and then another public hearing at Brimfield Zoning on February 9 th and so I will just keep you informed and when I know more about what Regional Planning’s report will be on that. Also, Mayor Kline and I went to a meeting in Akron on the 19th with Mayor Horrigan and Mayor Walters and then all of the Economic Developers and Planning Directors from the three communities to discuss Chapel Hill Mall along with the property owner who purchased that last July. He is looking for some assistance to help fill Macy’s and anything that can be done to help with the mall itself. He says he is negotiating with some tenants and I just wanted to let you know that we have all come together to talk about that. There is no resolution right now, but that we would be there and we asked him what we could do to help him and so we don’t have any solutions right now but we are at least looking at that working together. End of report. Pres. of Council: I have a couple of questions for you. Do you have any information on the Ripley farm at this point? 2  REGULAR MEETING in Council Chambers @ 7:30 p.m. January 26, 17 Economic Developer: I don’t have any recent information on Ripley. All we know is that another developer came in after the prior option expired and it was another housing developer, but they never contacted us and I have no idea where it stands because nobody has notified us. Pres. of Council: Further out; how far does the JEDD go out to into Brimfield? Does it pretty much go to the downtown? Economic Developer: To Route 43? Pres. of Council: I don’t know how far it goes out on the north side of the street. Where like Sunny Hills Golf Course is? Is that part of the JEDD? I have heard that that is for sale also? Economic Developer: Well, I don’t know. I know there is another golf course that is for sale, but I thought that was . . . Pres. of Council: Or I mean Green Hills; I’m sorry. Economic Developer: Right. Mr. Rensel: It sold apparently. Economic Developer: I know that one was for sale and it has sold. Mr. Rensel: That is what I’ve been told by my golf buddies. Economic Developer: I really don’t know much about that. Pres. of Council: That is in the JEDD? Economic Developer: I don’t know if that one is in the JEDD or not. Mr. Rensel: No, I don’t think. Economic Developer: Sunny Hills is, but not . . . I would have to look at the map to be honest. Pres. of Council: OK. Thanks. Mr. Sisak: Rita; do you know what is going in at 33 West Avenue? The old Verizon store? Economic Developer: Oh, on West Avenue; yes, that is the tattoo parlor. Mr. Sisak: Oh, it is? Economic Developer: It is called Killjoy Tattoo. Mr. Sisak: Oh boy! Sorry. Pres. of Council: Is there anybody else? No one responded. 10. Ordinance 16-2017 At 2nd Reading. PERSONNEL Authorizing and directing the Tallmadge P.H. ON 2-9-17 @ 7:33 P.M. Civil Service Commission to adopt rules and regulations that differ from those provided by general law for the promotion and hiring of Police Chief and Fire Chief. Pres. of Council: Ord. 16-2017 is at 2nd Reading and will remain before the Personnel Committee and a public hearing is scheduled for 2-9-17 @ 7:33 p.m. 11. Ordinance 17-2017 At 2nd Reading. FINANCE Authorizing the Director of Finance to write off delinquent accounts and/or uncollectible debt. Pres. of Council: Ord. 17-2017 is at 2nd Reading and will remain before the Finance Committee. 12. Ordinance 18-2017 At 2nd Reading. PUBLIC SERVICE Authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the City of Akron pertaining to sanitary sewerage as a Master Meter Community and providing for immediate enactment. Mr. Stalnaker moved to amend Ord. 18-2017. Seconded Mr. Rensel. Roll Call: Mrs. Kilway, Mrs. Ray, Mr. Rensel, Mr. Sisak, Mr. Stalnaker, Ms. Tricaso, Mr. Donovan – unanimous. Ord. 18-2017 is amended by a vote of 7-0 and will remain before the Public Service Committee. 13. Ordinance 20-2017 At 1st Reading. FINANCE Authorizing participation in the Ohio School’s Council’s Cooperative Purchasing Program and providing for immediate enactment. Mrs. Ray moved for the adoption of Ord. 20-2017. Seconded Mr. Sisak. Dir. of Finance: I can comment. This is just . . . this is the cooperative that we will be able to use the State Purchasing for to purchase the LED lighting at the Rec Center. Roll Call: Mrs. Ray, Mr. Rensel, Mr. Sisak, Mr. Stalnaker, Ms. Tricaso, Mr. Donovan, Mrs. Kilway – unanimous. Ord. 20-2017 is adopted by a vote of 7-0. 3  REGULAR MEETING in Council Chambers @ 7:30 p.m. January 26, 17 14. Ordinance 21-2017 At 1st Reading. FINANCE Authorizing the Mayor to enter into a con- tract for the purchase and installation of new LED lighting through Ohio Schools Council’s Cooperative Purchasing Program, State Purchasing Program, or the Director of Public Service advertising for bids and providing for immediate enactment. Pres. of Council: Ord. 21-2017 is at 1st Reading and is assigned to the Finance Committee. Mrs. Ray: I figured we really needed to adopt Ord. 20-2017 before we could move forward with Ord. 21-2017; are you OK with Ord. 21-2017 going to 2nd Reading? Dir. of Pub. Service: Yeah; we are not looking until probably May to complete that. Mrs. Ray: OK: thank you Mr. Esler. 15. Ordinance 22-2017 At 1st Reading. FINANCE Accepting donations to the City of Tallmadge for 2016 and providing for immediate enactment. Mrs. Ray moved for the adoption of Ord. 22-2017 and I would provide the City’s thanks for the individuals and businesses throughout the City of Tallmadge that have made donations to the City in 2016. Thank you. Seconded Mr. Sisak. Roll Call: Mr. Rensel, Mr. Sisak, Mr. Stalnaker, Ms. Tricaso, Mr. Donovan, Mrs. Kilway, Mrs. Ray – unanimous. Ord. 22-2017 is adopted by a vote of 7-0. 16. Ordinance 23-2017 At 1st Reading. PLANNING & ZONING Approving and granting a conditional zoning certificate for special nonresidential develop- ment to applicant Merryweather Real Estate on behalf of owner Wilma C. Platt Trust for a fifty-four unit apartment project at 338 Howe Road. Pres. of Council: Ord. 23-2017 is at 1st Reading and is assigned to the Planning & Zoning Committee. 17. Ordinance 24-2017 At 1st Reading. PUBLIC SERVICE Determining the structure at 53 South Munroe to be blighted; authorizing the Mayor to enter into all necessary agreements pursuant to the Tallmadge Demolition Program and providing for immediate enactment. Pres. of Council: Ord. 24-2017 is at 1st Reading and is assigned to the Public Service Committee. 18. Ordinance 25-2017 At 1st Reading. PUBLIC SERVICE Determining the structure at 52 Ferguson Drive to be blighted; authorizing the Mayor to enter into all necessary agreements pur- suant to the Tallmadge Demolition Program and providing for immediate enactment. Pres. of Council: Ord. 25-2017 is at 1st Reading and is assigned to the Public Service Committee. 19. Ordinance 26-2017 At 1st Reading. PUBLIC SERVICE Determining the structure at 721 Beachler Road to be blighted; authorizing the Mayor to enter into all necessary agreements pur- suant to the Tallmadge Demolition Program and providing for immediate enactment. Pres. of Council: Ord. 26-2017 is at 1st Reading and is assigned to the Public Service Committee. 4  REGULAR MEETING in Council Chambers @ 7:30 p.m. January 26, 17 20. Ordinance 27-2017 At 1st Reading. FINANCE Authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract for the purchase of a consolidated access control system for various municipal buildings of the City from Johnson Controls without competitive bid through the State Purchasing Program and providing for immediate enact- ment. Pres. of Council: Ord. 27-2017 is at 1st Reading and is assigned to the Finance Committee. 21. ADDITIONAL ITEMS: None. Mrs. Ray: Just a couple of things; the first thing is that I did hand out to Council and members of the Administration a report that came to me through the Scripts Gerontology Center which is a center that is run out of Miami University here in Ohio. I certainly won’t read through all of it, but I would . . . the title of the report is “Serving and Increasing Older Population with Severe Disabilities” and the report notes that there are serious challenges that are weighing Ohio over the next 20 years, so although it is a very long timeframe, I think that there are things that we could do today to make the City of Tallmadge, although it is already a friendly community for individuals with disabilities and individuals who are aging in place, but I think on page 3 on the bottom, there are opportunities in investing in preventing and assisting in fund home modification and accommodating technology and I know that we do have the Community Block Grant Funds that we have distributed throughout the community over the last several years and I would encourage that we do that and that we apply for as much of that money that we possibly can and then also just to create a safe and age friendly community and educate and encourage people with disabilities to self-care and to remain independent and so I just wanted to bring that to Council’s attention and the Administration’s attention because although I think we do a very good job; I think that there are things that we can do better to assist these individuals in our community so they can remain in our community and they can remain productive members of our community. Then the second piece is a letter that came from the Summit Developmental Disabilities Board. Every year they have an appreciation breakfast and an awards celebration and it is March 30th and again we have been very fortunate here in Tallmadge to be blessed with a Developmental Disabilities facility that has been in our community for many, many years and I know that at least on my street, at one point there were six out of the nine homes; these individuals had moved to Tallmadge primarily so that their children could attend Weaver Industries. So again, we are very fortunate to have those people and their families as members of our community. If you have the opportunity to attend on March 30th; I have attended over the last several years and it is an absolutely wonderful, wonderful event and I would just encourage you to participate if you have the ability and time to do so. So, I just wanted to bring those two things to Council’s and the Administration’s attention and I appreciate the time Mr. Donovan. Thank you. 22. ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Rensel moved to adjourn. Seconded Mrs. Kilway. Voice vote 7-0. The Regular Council meeting of 1-26-17 adjourned at 8:02 p.m. sb Approved: _____________________________________ __________________________________ Susan E. Burton James M. Donovan Clerk of Council President of Council 5