Village Council

Village of Wellington Council Minutes September 17, 2012 Council Chambers I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor O’Keefe called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:00 pm II. ROLL CALL: Council President Sandy Denes-present Councilman Steve Maurer-present Councilwoman Helen Dronsfield-present Councilman Hans Schneider-present Councilman Jeff Hyde-present Councilman Guy Wells-present Others Present: Village Manager Pyles, Finance Director Shaw, Law Director Bond, Electric Superintendent Bealer, Public Works Superintendent Brasee, Water/Wastewater Superintendent Rosemark, Zoning Inspector Furcron, Fire Chief Wetherbee, Police Sergeant Bryant and Clerk Gundert. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - • Approval of 08/13/12 Council Minutes – Motion by Denes, 2nd by Maurer to approve minutes of the September 4, 2012 meeting as written. Vote was taken, motion carried with all voting “yes”. IV. APPROVAL OF EXPENSES • Approval of expenses from 09/17/12. 101 General Fund $30,445.09 201 Street CM & R 10,686.50 204 Recreation 81.30 208 Permissive Tax 6,330.44 401 Capital 26,233.76 501 Water 12,636.31 502 Sewer 8,251.59 503 Electric 16,585.96 503 Power Costs 13,307.95 504 Garbage 0.00 505 Cable 0.00 508 Consumer Deposit 1,400.00 802 Fire Escrow 0.00 Payroll 84,854.13 Total $210,813.03 Mr. Maurer and Ms. Denes asked for clarification on some expenses. Mrs. Shaw, Mr. Pyles and the superintendents explained the expenses. Motion was made by Wells, 2nd by Hyde to approve the expenses. Vote was taken, motion carried with all voting “yes”. V. COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR, COUNCIL AND VILLAGE OFFICIALS: • Police Sergeant Bryant (for Chief Rollins) – nothing to report. • Clerk Gundert – nothing to report • Finance Director Shaw – Finance Department Report - Ms. Shaw noted that her report was in tonight’s packet and asked if there were any questions. She will explain the CMI software updates further in the Finance Committee meeting. • Law Director Bond – nothing to report. Page 1 of 4 Village of Wellington Council Meeting Minutes  • Village Manager Pyles - Staff Reports - Staff reports were included in the council packet. He stated that he or the superintendents would be happy to answer any questions. Improvements to North Side of Water Plant – Mr. Pyles reported that Mr. Brasee and a crew from the Electric Department had trimmed and cut trees on the north side of the water plant. Tiles were installed and the entire area was reseeded for erosion control. Resignation – Mr. Pyles reported that Lee Sheets has submitted a letter of resignation as part time employee of the public works department. Motion by Maurer, 2nd by Denes to accept with regrets the resignation of Lee Sheets as part time employee of the Public Works Department. Vote was taken, motion passed with all voting “yes”. Splash Pad Closing – Mr. Pyles announced that the Splash Pad will be closed tomorrow (September 18th) for the season and winterized. It will reopen around Memorial Day next year. Mr. Pyles reported it was a good season. Mr. Wells requested information on the amount of water used and water costs for the Splash Pad. Columbia Gas Work – Mr. Pyles reported that Columbia Gas will begin work within the next two weeks in the Village. They will be using the old Eagles parking lot. They will be working in the Village for the next four months on relocating gas lines for the underpass project. They will also be updating the Depot – Herrick Avenue area and be replacing some old lines. Gas meters will also be relocated to the outside of some buildings. Rumors regarding Railroad Underpass - Mr. Pyles wanted to dispel some rumors that are circulating regarding the railroad underpass project. The rumor that the underpass project will remove all buildings on the east side of Main Street from Taylor Street to Dimitris’ Corner Restaurant is absolutely false. LorMet Credit Union will remain along will all the other buildings. LorMet has already come to an agreement with ODOT regarding their right of way. They have no plans on moving – they will remain in operation at that location. The work to be done on that section of Main Street is mostly repaving with the addition of catch basins. All parking on Main Street will remain as it currently is. The speed limit will not change to 45 mph. It will remain at 25 mph as it currently is. Mr. Pyles also listed what the Village will gain with this project. Items include 200 feet of resurfacing of Main Street, 200 feet of resurfacing on Taylor Street, rebuilding of intersections at Kelly, Taylor, Clay, Elm, and Depot Streets where they intersect Main Street, two thirds of Clay Street will be rebuilt, the railroad crossing will now be a quiet one, and replacement of an aging 8 inch water line that runs under the railroad tracks at Main Street. This is important because if this line was to fail and we would have to excavate and halt train traffic and the railroad would want compensation for the time the tracks would be closed. In total the Village will receive $500,000.00 in water improvements during the project. They will reimburse us for approximately $100,000.00 in electrical upgrades, such as pole and electrical line relocation. The Village will receive about $100,000.00 in repaving of roads. Over the entire project, Mr. Pyles has estimated that the Village will receive $1.8 million in improvements for the $1.5 million in cost. Additionally the village will have gained all the income tax revenue generated by all the people working on this project. Additionally if a person is stopped by one train each day for an average of 4 minutes, it adds up to half an hour per week or 25 hours a year waiting. Your car would use about 12 gallons of gas during that time. So it impacts every person financially as well as the value of your time. Mr. Wells requested that the reporter from the Wellington Enterprise ask the management of the newspaper to print a correction to the story on the railroad underpass from the last issue. Mr. Wells would like a correction in the cost amount for the Village’s share of the underpass cost. The Village’s cost is 5% not the 10% listed in the article. The correct amount is 10% local money which is comprised of 5% from the Village and 5% from the railroad. The state is paying 90% of the project. Bomb Squad Training – Mr. Schneider inquired about time frame for the Bomb Squad to use buildings in the village for training. The bomb squad will be using buildings that have been bought by the state for the underpass project for training sessions. Per Mr. Pyles, this training will take place on September 20, 2012. The training will be at the old Page 2 of 4 Village of Wellington Council Meeting Minutes  Eagles building and a house on Clay Street. Leaf Pick Up - Mr. Hyde questioned when leaf pick up is scheduled. Mr. Pyles stated that leaf pick up is currently the 1st and 3rd weeks of the month but will probably get more frequent as the leaves fall. VII. REPORTS OF COMMITTEE • Finance/Audit Committee – Mr. Hyde reported the Finance Committee will tonight after the council meeting. All meetings are open to the public. Items on the agenda include updates on the Tax Collection Agency, RITA, and CMI software upgrades. Also the timeline for certifying tax levies and the 2013 budget and changing the time of Finance Committee meetings for 2013. • Police Committee – Mr. Maurer reported that minutes from the last police committee meeting were in the packet tonight. The next meeting will be after the council meeting on October 1st. • Ambulance Board – Mr. Maurer reported that the minutes from the last meeting were in tonight’s packet. The next ambulance board meeting will be on October 9th at 7pm at the ambulance headquarters. ƒ Public Works Committee – Ms. Dronsfield reported the committee will meet prior to the October 1st at 6:00 pm prior to the council meeting. ƒ Utility Committee – Ms. Denes reported that the committee met tonight prior to the council meeting. The utility committee voted to recommend to council the two new Electric Department positions. Council will vote later in the meeting to approve these job descriptions. The committee approved the hiring of a third apprentice lineman in the electrical department. Mr. Pyles will be working on posting that position. The next meeting of the utility committee will be October 15th at 6:00 pm before the council meeting. ƒ Main Street Wellington – Ms Denes reported the requested information regarding the Farmer’s Market was included in the packet tonight. She will follow up with Mr. Eppley to see that minutes are included in the next council packet. ƒ Ordinance Committee – Mr. Wells reported that the Ordinance Committee is scheduled to meet after the police committee on October 1st. ƒ Cable Commission – Mr. Wells has heard nothing regarding a meeting for the cable commission and he would like to set a date for one. Mr. Pyles will set a meeting date. Mr. Pyles is not sure if the cable representatives will attend. Ms. Dronsfield suggested if a cable meeting is scheduled that John Nolan, Superintendent of Wellington Schools, be contacted. He has items he would like to discuss regarding the cable TV. She also suggested contacting Patti Young to see what dates would fit her schedule. The cable commission previously met on Thursday. Mr. Pyles will get a meeting scheduled for early October. VIII. ORDINANCE AND RESOLUTIONS • ORDINANCE NO 2012-29 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT WITH POGGEMEYER DESIGN GROUP FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH DEVELOPMENT OF AN EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY 3rd Reading nd rd Motion by Wells, 2 by Maurer to approve the 3 Reading of Ordinance No 2012-29 as read. Vote was taken, motion passed with all voting “aye”. • ORDINANCE NO 2012-34 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2012 ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR CERTAIN EXPENSES AND PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE 1st Reading Motion by Wells, 2nd by Hyde to suspend the rules and pass Ordinance No 2012-34 as an Page 3 of 4 Village of Wellington Council Meeting Minutes  emergency to assure that funds are available for current expenses. Vote was taken, motion passed with all voting “aye”. Motion by Wells 2nd by Schneider to pass Ordinance No 2012-34 as written as an emergency. Vote was taken, motion passed with all voting “aye”. IX. Old Business – • Electric Department Job Descriptions – Motion by Denes, 2nd by Schneider to approve the job descriptions for Electric Foreman – Lines and Technology as written and Electric Forman – Lines and Right of Way Maintenance with the addition of Arborist Certification obtained within two years. Vote was taken, motion passed with all voting “yes”. • Citizens for Wellington Schools – Ms. Dronsfield announced the Citizens for Wellington Schools, the levy committee, held a very successful “Taste of Success” last Saturday evening. They are planning to have a community breakfast. It will be a free breakfast at McCormick Middle on October 6th at 9:00 am. This will be free to the public and everyone is encouraged to attend. They are looking for people to put signs in their yards to support the school levy. X. New Business • Candidates Night – Mayor O’Keefe announced that council had received a letter from the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with GLWB, the cable station, will sponsor a Candidate’s Night on September 27, 2012 at 7:30 pm at the Wellington Town Hall. • Council’s Spokesperson regarding the Charter Amendment – Mr. Wells made a motion to appoint Council President Sandy Denes as the designated spokesperson to represent council at any meetings regarding the Charter Amendment (Issue 60) that is on the ballot in November, 2nd by Maurer. Vote was taken, motion passed with the following votes: Denes – yes, Dronsfield – no, Hyde – yes, Maurer – yes, Schneider – yes, Wells – yes. • Government Class at High School – Steven Diedrick, High School Government Teacher, informed council that all government class students will be required over the next couple of months to attend a public meeting as a part of their high school class. The students will need a council agenda signed by a member of council to prove their attendance. Mr. Maurer encouraged the students to attend, participate and ask questions. • Main Street - Sandy Huff reported that Main Street Wellington will be holding the Fall Home Tour on October 14th from 2-6 pm. She also wanted to personally thank the Village and its employees for the great job they did trimming the trees on the back of her property. The village employees went out of their way to accommodate the Huffs and did an excellent job of cleaning up. The Huffs certainly appreciated all their efforts. • Weekend Events – Mayor O’Keefe reported that the Harvest of the Arts held downtown yesterday was very successful. She thanked village employees for all their efforts in making it successful. Mr. Maurer commented that the Steam Engine Show was also this weekend at the Fairgrounds. Both events were well attended and no major problems were reported for either event. Mr. Pyles informed anyone using the wheelchair lift at the town hall that in order to operate the lift, the button must be held down to make the lift go up and down. Signs will be installed to inform users how to operate the lift. Mayor O’Keefe also requested a sign showing the location of the handicap restroom. XI. Adjourn Motion by Maurer, 2nd by Wells to adjourn the meeting at 7:28 p.m. Clerk of Council Mayor Page 4 of 4 Village of Wellington Council Meeting Minutes