Village Council

Village of Wellington Council Meeting Minutes Barbara O'Keefe, Mayor Council: President Guy Wells, Sandy Denes, Helen Dronsfield, Jeff Hyde, Steve Maurer, Hans Schneider Revised 6/15/15 Council Chambers Monday June 1, 2015 7:30 p.m. 1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Mayor O’Keefe called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance. 2. ROLL CALL Councilwoman Sandy Denes – Present Councilman Steve Maurer – Present Councilwoman Helen Dronsfield – Present Councilman Hans Schneider – Present Councilman Jeff Hyde – Present Council President Guy Wells – Present Others Present – Mayor O’Keefe, Village Manager Pyles, Finance Director Shaw, Law Director Bond, Chief Barfield, Public Works Supt. Brasee, Electric Supt. Bealer, Water/WW Supt. Rosemark, Zoning Inspector Furcron, Clerk of Council O’Brien, Enterprise Reporter Kelsey Leyva, Joe Davidson, Amy Szmania, Jenny Arntz, Dan Gross, Jeff Riddell 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Ms. Denes asked that the minutes be amended, under Old Business (in bold) Ms. Denes mentioned that Nancy Fisher had the OUS Extension office send an email out to 4-H kids to volunteer. Motion by Denes, 2nd by Wells to approve the minutes of the May 18, 2015 meeting as corrected. Roll call vote was taken with all members voting “yes”. 4. FINANCIAL REPORTS - Ms. Denes had a couple of questions regarding the bills; Ms. Shaw, Mr. Bealer and Chief Barfield answered her questions. Motion by Hyde, 2nd by Maurer to approve the expenses and pay the bills. Roll call vote was taken with all members voting “yes”. 101 GEN $ 59,645.44 501 Water $ 8,722.57 502 Sewer $ 11,129.66 503 Elect $ 19,103.22 Power Bills $ 473,277.14 504 Garbage $ 100.00 506 Storm Sewer $ 664.11 508 Consumer Deposits $ 800.00 Pay 11 $ 88,111.35 Total $ 661,553.49 5. COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR, COUNCIL, AND VILLAGE OFFICIALS: § Mayor O'Keefe § Law Director Bond – Nothing to report § Chief Barfield – Chief Barfield reported that they had received the signage for Operation Craig’s List Safe Place, and encourage residents to use that area when making transactions for internet purchases. He announced that school is out and asked residents to use caution while driving as there will be children and bicycles out. Chief Barfield mentioned that the past two weeks had been a very busy two weeks for his department. He reported that the men and women of the Wellington Police Department had performed fantastically and they deserve a pat on the back. Mr. Schneider reminded residents that there is no bicycle or skateboard riding downtown in the central business district. § Finance Director Shaw – Ms. Shaw reported that she had a telephone conference call with the County Auditor’s Office concerning the millage rate and they want to  have a meeting with herself, Mr. Pyles, possibly a trustee and Ms. Dronsfield. She further reported that she and Mr. Pyles will be attending. Ms. Shaw mentioned that the audit is in full swing, and the auditors will be in on June 11th, probably all day. She reported that the superintendents will soon be able to access their accounts online, to view their account balances, PO’s, etc. Ms. Dronsfield asked Ms. Shaw to let her know the date of the meeting with the auditor’s office, as she would like to attend. Ms. Denes asked if they will be able to tell whether or not the village is paying it twice; Ms. Shaw reported that they already know that they are, and they will be deciding what to do to fix the problem. She further reported that the County Auditor’s had requested the meeting, and they were hoping to go on Tuesday June 9th. § Village Manager Pyles – Mr. Pyles reported that the N. Main St. parking from SR 18 to the RxR will be closed on June 9th. He further reported that they will be beginning to move the tracks over, and there will be sporadic, temporary closures, throughout that process, however, there would also be fewer trains. Mr. Pyles explained that CSX has also closed Barker St. and Magyar St. crossings and has been in conversations with his CSX contact who said they should be opened by this weekend. Ms. Denes asked when the long N. Main St. closure will be; Mr. Pyles said there was a plan for before and for after the fair, and they will know more in a couple of weeks. Mr. Schneider asked how that will change the timeline; Mr. Pyles said it could move the opening back from October to November. Ms. Dronsfield mentioned that in Mr. Pyles report he mentioned the solid waste recycling grant, and how that was going to be used at the new ball field for dugouts. She reported that she and Lisa Bliss applied for the Cleveland Indians Charities, Diamond Improvement Grant, and the Athletic Boosters had been awarded $5,000 which will also be used for the new ball field. Ms. Denes asked about the $5,000 grant for building rehabilitation and what his plans were; Mr. Pyles said that the money would be used for people to come and advise him on the approach and market for rehabilitation. § Main Street Wellington – Amy Szmania introduced Jennifer Arntz, the new Main Street Wellington Director, who began last week. Ms. Arntz reported that the concerts in the park will be held on Friday nights instead of Sunday. She mentioned that she is excited to begin her work and hoped to see everyone at the Cheese Festival. Council welcomed Ms. Arntz. 6. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES § Finance – Mr. Hyde reported that the committee will meet on June 15th prior to council and Fire Board will meet on Wednesday at 7:00 PM. § Police – Mr. Wells reported that the committee had met prior to council. He mentioned that the Chief had made arrangements for Hidden in Plain Sight to come in to town on September 14th, details to follow. Motion by Wells, 2nd by Maurer to accept the resignation of Auxiliary Officer Jeboriah Sheets effective May 6, 2015. Roll call vote was taken with all members voting “yes”. Motion by Wells, 2nd by Denes to end the 6 month probationary period of Chief Tim Barfield and to increase his salary by 5%, effective the next full pay period. Roll call vote was taken with all members voting ‘yes’. Mr. Wells reported that Mr. Ratliff had sent a letter asking council to urge Sunoco to continue its support for the Wellington Duke Pride Day Carnival, as council had been told at the last meeting this would likely be the last year for Sunoco’s $5,000 donation. Mayor O’Keefe mentioned that Marla would be writing a letter to Sunoco. Ms. Dronsfield mentioned that she had sent a letter to Sunoco encouraging their support of the program. § Public Works – Ms. Dronsfield reported that the committee had met prior to council. Motion by Dronsfield, 2nd by Schneider to hire Bryan Doehr for the Public Works Dept. full time employee at $17.00 per hour, to begin after passing a drug screening. Roll call vote was taken with all members voting “yes”. Motion by Dronsfield, 2nd by Maurer to hire Ty Brocksieker, at $8.10 per hour, as a seasonal summer employee for the Finance Dept., to begin after passing a drug screening. Roll call vote was  taken with all members voting “yes”. She mentioned that residents need to remember to not blow grass clippings into the street, as it ends up in the storm sewers. § Utility – Ms. Denes reported that the committee will meet on June 15, prior to council. § Ordinance – Mr. Schneider reported that the committee had met prior to council and discussed the employee handbook and will be discussing trash pickup at the next meeting on July 6th. He mentioned that the Ambulance Bd. will be meeting on June 9th at 7:00 PM. 7. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS ORDINANCE NO. 2015-08 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING ENTERING INTO A NATURAL GAS PROGRAM AGREEMENT WITH THE NORTHEAST OHIO PUBLIC ENERGY COUNCIL AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY Tabled 3/16/2015 3rd Reading Mr. Wells reported that Council had been delaying the third reading to get clarification on the fixed vs. variable rate (which had been more expensive, in the last period, than the market from Columbia Gas). He further reported that the variable plan, means that the price will actually be fixed, by the future gas purchases, according to NOPEC; the fixed rate is the rate that varies every month, according to what the Columbia Gas standard rate is, and will be a small amount less than that. Mr. Hyde asked what a customer will opt in to; Mr. Pyles explained that the customer will opt in to the variable rate. Mr. Wells mentioned that there is no choice for the default option; the customer must opt into the variable rate, however, they may call and opt out completely, or call and opt into the fixed rate. Mr. Schneider asked what the saving was; Ms. Denes reported that in their worst year the savings was $30.00. She mentioned that with 1,000 or more customers on gas, the savings as a whole was significant. Mr. Maurer feels that is wrong for council to tell the residents where they purchase their gas from. Mr. Hyde agreed. Ms. Denes reminded council that no one purchases gas from Columbia Gas, as they are a gas transporter, and they choose a supplier for their customers. Motion by Hyde, 2nd by Maurer to take Ordinance 2015-08 off of the table. Roll call vote was taken with all members voting “yes”. Motion by Hyde, 2nd by Maurer to move the third reading. Roll call vote was taken Wells – No, Denes – Yes, Dronsfield – Yes, Hyde – No, Maurer – No, Schneider – Yes. Mayor O’Keefe abstained. Ordinance No. 2015 – 08 did not pass, Mr. Pyles will inform NOPEC of Council’s decision. ORDINANCE NO. 2015-16 AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION 3rd Reading nd Motion by Denes, 2 by Wells to move the third reading. Roll call vote was taken with all members voting “yes”. Mr. Schneider asked Mr. Bond what the process is; Mr. Bond explained that anyone who would like to, can fill out a petition and take it to the Board of Elections to get on the ballot. It will be on the ballot in November, and the top eleven candidates will be on the Commission. Mr. Hyde asked to get word out in order to get citizens involved with the Charter Commission. Mr. Schneider mentioned that there was a large group interested the last time. ORDINANCE NO. 2015-23 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE AMENDED AND RESTATED PERSONNEL POLICY MANUAL 2nd Reading Motion by Maurer, 2nd by Denes to move the 2nd reading. Roll call vote was taken with all members voting “yes”. ORDINANCE NO. 2015-24 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2015 ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR CERTAIN EXPENSES AND PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE 1st Reading Ms. Denes asked whether or not this needed to be passes as an emergency; Mr. Pyles said no as they had not received the bill as of yet. Mr. Maurer asked what the appropriation was for; Mr. Pyles explained that it was for enhancing the waterline at the High School, in order to make a loop through the Meadows sometime in the future. 8. OLD BUSINESS Village Website – Ms. Denes reported that the new website design was much easier to negotiate, the utility bill pay was easy to locate and she felt that it was user friendly now. She mentioned that the Council Minutes needed to be updated. Bill Pay Online – Ms. Shaw reminded residents that Council had decided to not pass the credit card fees on to the customer when paying their utility bill online. She mentioned that it was easy to use, it is secure, and encouraged residents to take advantage of the feature. Ms. Shaw mentioned that they also have a direct pay feature where a customer can have the bill amount automatically withdrawn from their bank account every month. House North of the High School – Ms. Denes mentioned to Zoning Inspector Furcron that she had received complaints about unlicensed vehicles at the residence north of the High School; Mr. Furcron reported that he will check. Mr. Schneider mentioned that there may be another unlicensed vehicle sitting in a driveway on Parkside Reserve St., near the power line; Mr. Furcron said he will check into it. 9. NEW BUSINESS · Fourth of July – Mayor O’Keefe read a letter from the Chamber of Commerce concerning the 4th of July parade which asked council members wanting to ride in the parade to contact Dorothy McHugh by June 25th. · Heritage Festival – Ms. Denes reported that she had received a complaint about the train ride, as it was advertised that you could ride the Leviathan, where actually you paid $5.00 to look at the Leviathan and ride the train that was already out there. Mr. Pyles explained that the Leviathan pulled one of their train cars and an open gondola, and the $5.00 was to tour the Lincoln Funeral car. He further explained that it was $5.00 to park, $5.00 to tour the funeral car, and $30.00 to ride the train. Ms. Shaw mentioned that it was advertised that way on their website. · Presentation by the Citizens for Equal Representation – Council heard a 30 minute presentation from Jeff Riddell and Dan Grose, representatives from Citizens for Equal Representation. Motion by Schneider, 2nd by Maurer to resolve to support the Citizens for Equal Representation in an effort to get on the November ballot. Roll call vote was taken with all members voting “yes”. · Kelsey Leyva – Ms. Dronsfield asked Kelsey Leyva, the new Enterprise reporter to introduce herself. Council welcomed Kelsey. 10. ADJOURN - Motion by Maurer, 2nd by Schneider to adjourn at 8:31 PM