Belpre City Council
Council President Mr. Neff called the Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Belpre, Ohio, to order at 7:30 p.m. The roll was called with the following members present: Ms. Abdella, Mr. Colvin, Mrs. Drake, Mrs. Marshall, Mrs. Miller, Mr. Law and Mr. Shutts present. Also present was Mayor Lorentz, Safety-Service Director Mr. Cross, City Auditor Miss Pittenger, City Law Director Mr. Webster, City Treasurer Mrs. Kincaid and Clerk of Council Mrs. Meredith.
Mr. Neff asked that everyone please rise for the Prayer and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Neff gave the invocation.
Mrs. Marshall made a motion to accept the minutes of April 24, 2017 as presented and by-pass the reading. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Reports of City Officials:
Mayor Lorentz reported that on April 26th I travelled to Columbus with the Port Authority to discuss additional funding sources for our stakeholders in the sewer line project. As this develops I will communicate to council.
April 27th was Dr. Ebersole’s retirement. I joined a huge crowd of well-wishers and during his talk Belpre was mentioned with very positive comments.
Fashion Show for the West Virginia Symphony on Saturday April 29th. Mayor Joyce, Chemour’s Plant Manager Bob Fahrenbacher and I were male models. To my knowledge no job offers have come our way since.
May 3rd the economic development Chairman and I travelled to Athens and met with the Voinovich Center for a sneak peek at our strategic plan. Hopefully we will have the finished product this month.
May 5th the Police Chief and I conducted interviews for our part time dispatch position. We both hope to have this process complete before peak vacation time.
May 6th the Police Chief and I conducted interviews for our part time dispatch position. We both hope to have this process complete before peak vacation time.
May 6th the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development team along with the city celebrated the Grand Opening of Bob’s Market. This is an amazing new addition to our city. If you did not attend please stop and visit this new addition in Belpre.
May 10th we will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony at HHI Tire Center off Hocking Road. Later in the day we will break ground for the new First Settlement building on Rich Miller. We have a tentative date for the Ribbon Cutting at BB’s Hair Salon for June 1st at 5:30 pm. Please, if at all possible try and attend some of these activities.
Safety-Service Director Mr. Cross announced that we have approval from the zoning board of appeals for the lot at 104 Cunningham Street to change from a C-2 to a R-2. We have a public hearing scheduled for neighboring residents within 150 feet of the property on May 22, at 7:20 PM. Please place on the agenda for the next council meeting.
The EMS contract and pharmacy board inspections are complete. We expect service to start by Memorial Day weekend.
The city pool will open Memorial Day weekend with opening day May 27th and Closing Day August 13th. The dates align with Belpre City School summer vacation.
City Auditor Miss Pittenger announced that the Adjustment Report is on line and copies are on the back table. I would like a motion from council to approve the Adjustment report. Ms. Abdella made a motion to accept the Adjustment Report as presented. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Mr. Neff stated that we have received a request from the Regional Council of Governments for approval of a Delegate an Alternate Delegate Designee for city and villages in the State of Ohio. This is for RITA. Mr. Neff asked if anyone would like to volunteer to be the Alternate Designee for Miss Pittenger in the likelihood that she didn’t attend. Ms. Abdella stated that she would be happy to be the alternate designee. Mr. Neff stated by voice vote all in favor say aye. Opposed say nay. Hearing none Ms. Abdella is the alternate designee.
City Law Director Mr. Webster stated that he received paperwork from the Police and Fire Committee that he will be working on before the next meeting of council. I also talked with Mrs. Drake today regarding some issues that we had talked about last fall one being changing the business license fees. I have also spoke once again to the Prosecuting Attorney regarding the Prisoner Contract. It was presented to the County Commissioners again ten days ago. He indicated to me that their inclination was to not amend the statute this year but to amend in 2018. They would forgo any billing if the warrant for the prisoner were from another jurisdiction. I have not received any final formal answer on that. We will wait for the final proposal. Mrs. Miller asked if we would work off of the old contract. According to Mr. Webster we basically don’t have a contract because we haven’t given them a signed contract. They are honoring the same provisions as the old contract. A further report will be given once we receive their final decision.
City Treasurer Mrs. Kincaid reported that both March and April Cash report is on line and copies are on the back table. I would like a motion from council to approve the Cash Reports as presented Mrs. Drake made a motion to accept the Cash Reports as presented. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Communications and Petitions: None
Report of Standing Committee:
Ms. Abdella had no report for the Finance Audit Committee.
Mrs. Miller, Police and Fire Committee reported that her committee met prior to this evenings meeting to discuss parking on city streets, nuisance activity calls and false alarms in the City of Belpre. Information has been forwarded on to the law director to make amendments to the ordinances already in place.
Mr. Colvin, Streets, Sidewalk and Storm Sewer had no report.
Mrs. Marshall, Utilities Committee had no report.
Mr. Law, Parks and Recreation Committee had no report.
Mrs. Drake, Planning and Zoning Committee reported that she has reviewed the property that Mr. Cross spoke about this evening that we are going to have a Public Hearing on. I would also like to mention that last week I attended the National Day of Prayer and one of the gentlemen that spoke talked about the Mid-Ohio Valley. He said that he thought it should be the Great Ohio Valley. I thought this was a good point to make especially with the progress that Belpre is making.
Mrs. Drake, Economic Development Committee reported that Karen Waller said that there will be a Town Hall meeting within the next two weeks on the plan that OU is working on.
Mrs. Drake also reported on the Special Rules Committee meeting that was held on May 3rd at 6:45PM in regards to the Code of Ethics & Conduct. Mrs. Drake stated that a Code of Ethics is needed for the City of Belpre that applies to all elected officials and appointed officials. A copy of the Code of Ethics for Belmont is to be reviewed and considered to be adopted by the City of Belpre according to the State of Ohio requirements.
Mr. Shutts, Rules Committee had no report.
Persons Appearing Before Council – Agenda items only. None
Unfinished Business: –
Mrs. Marshall brought before council for second reading AN ORDINANCE AMENDING BELPRE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES, SECTION 939.01 (d). This ordinance will allow the City of Belpre to go from a weekly billing system to a monthly billing system. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye. This will lie over until the next meeting of council.
Persons Appearing Before Council: None
Mr. Neff spoke to the newest members of council earlier regarding Code Section 121, Rules of Council.
Mr. Neff also reminded the newest members of council that they would need to file a Financial Disclosure form. Failure to do so could result in a fine.
Mr. Neff also asked that the newest members on council to please share their email address.
Mrs. Marshall and Mrs. Drake welcomed the newest members of council and wished them well.
Adjourn:
Ms. Abdella made a motion to adjourn 8:00 PM. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.