Belpre City Council Minutes
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, and Mrs. Sinnett present. Also present were Mayor Lorentz; Safety Service Director Mr. Cross; City Law Director Mr. Webster; Treasurer Mrs. Kincaid and Clerk of Council Mrs. Meredith. Absent from the March 14, 2016 meeting was City Auditor Miss Pittenger and Council person Mr. Turrill
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 February 22, 2016 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 informed the Council President that you have the legislation for the Partner Agreement between The Washington Co. Commissioners and the City of Belpre to assign this evening please. This should be the last needed for the CHIP Program this year.
Mr. President, you also have a resolution for the ARC Grant to purchase a generator for the sewer plant. If possible we need to run this through as quickly as possible to catch this grant cycle. Normally we do not require this but everything is getting more competitive.
On the 8th Belpre sponsored their third town hall meeting on drug prevention and or eradication. Attendance was not as hoped but, everyone appreciated the Police Department effort in educating us.
Last Wednesday the Fire Department Association e-mailed the newspaper to announce that April 1st the paid EMT’s would no longer be available. Our service will then be all volunteer or reliant on Mutual Aid from surrounding areas.
February 27th was the Black History Celebration at Rockland Methodist. A thank you to Ms. Marshall for the invitation. My wife and I both enjoyed the program and music and the food.
On the 29th the Chamber Economic Development Committee met with Mayor Colombo and Jody Murphy of Parkersburg. Both Mayor Colombo and I agree our cities should cooperate more when it comes to development. Jimmy was very complimentary of our city and improvements made over the past few years.
Thanks to the Sr. Levy we now have added storage for the Sr. Center. The group used their grant this year for the storage building you see behind the activity room.
March 5th I was able to participate in a court of honor for two Eagle Scouts from Troop 91. Nick Starner and Jason Hubbard achieved this award and from the write-up went well above the minimum requirements. Senator Gentile sent a proclamation for both scouts.
Hopefully some of you have noticed the rather large building being constructed just north of the four-lane. Mr. Brian Casey is here tonight to give us an update.
Mr. Casey stated that he just wanted to give council an update on the facility on Hill Street. After two years we are about 6 weeks away from opening. Over the next two weeks we will be receiving furniture, furniture packets, and all the things we need to operate the facility. There will be a soft opening around the end of April. I wanted to come and thank council for their patients through this time and also thank council for the work that council did to help get this project up and running. We have started our hiring process and hopefully by mid June we will have around 75 employees hired. Around the first of June we will begin adding more patients. Thank you all for your support.
Mr. Neff asked Mr. Casey if they would be hiring from the City of Belpre. Mr. Casey would like to pull employees locally.
Mr. Webster asked if they have anyone on site that is interested in moving their loved ones from one nursery home to another. We do have a trailer set up for that reason. We have had some traffic. Soon we will have 8AM to 5PM hours for that purpose.
Will there be an additional access road? According to Mr. Casey there is 16 buildable acres that we can still build on. At this time there will not be an additional access road however should we build on to the facility we will have to work with council about an additional access road.
Mr. Casey stated that there would be an Open House sometime around the middle of June.
Safety Service Director Mr. Cross reported that he has the contract for the dog warden that needs signed. Also he stated that he is working on saving the city some money on their phone bills. He is in hopes of saving about 50%,
City Auditor Miss Pittenger was absent. No report was given in her absence.
City Law Director Mr. Webster thanked the Safety-Service Director and city folks for helping pump the water out of Lake Tom. Before you this evening is two pieces of legislation that was requested for the addition to the CHIP legislation and the ARC legislation. I would also encourage everyone to get out and vote.
City Treasurer Mrs. Kincaid reported that a signed copy of the February Cash Report has been presented to the clerk, copies on the table in the rear and also it has been uploaded on the cities website. At this time I would like Council’s approval. Ms. Abdella made a motion to accept the February’s Cash Report. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Communications and Petitions:
Mr. Neff stated that he had received a call today regarding the street light in front of the Senior Center is out and asked the Mayor if he could handle it. Mayor Lorentz turned it over to Mr. Cross who stated that AEP is replacing all poles and lights and it would be taken care of. Also Mr. Neff stated that he had a complaint about the water from Lake Tom being directed out to our city streets. Several citizens had just cleaned their automobiles and the water splashed their cars. Mr. Neff apologized to them.
Assigned to Finance Audit Committee were the ARC and the addition to the CHIP.
Report of Standing Committee:
Ms. Abdella announced that she would like to call a Finance Audit Committee meeting for March 28, 2016 at 7:15 PM for the purpose of making changes to the Manpower Roster.
Ms. Abdella made a motion to by-pass committee and adds to tonight’s agenda for first reading:
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO APPLY FOR A GRANT TO THE APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION for the generator and;
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A COMMUNITY HOUSING IMPACT AND PRESERVATION PROGRAM PARTNER AGREEMENT WITH THE WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Ms. Abdella made a motion to accept the Adjustment Report for February. The Adjustment Report is available on line. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Mrs. Miller, Police and Fire Committee reported that she had attended one of the meetings regarding the Vap-EZ and directed the lady that appeared in council to contact Lou Gentile Also on Monday, March 21st at 5:30 PM there will be a ribbon cutting for the Rail to Trails Bike Path at the Chamber.
Mr. Colvin, Streets, Sidewalk and Storm Sewer discussed parking on some of the streets in downtown Belpre with no license. I have talked to one of the officers and he was going to do some investigating. He also addressed the leaves that are piled up around these cars, Mr. Colvin would like to get some of this resolved. Mr. Neff asked Mr. Colvin if he had talked to anyone about this topic. Mr. Colvin stated that he has talked to the Safety-Service Director.
Mrs. Marshall, Utilities Committee had no report. Mrs. Marshall received a concern at the 900 Block of Main Street selling drug paraphernalia. The city police told Mrs. Marshall that it was not illegal to sell the paraphernalia but if it has had a drug in it then it is illegal.
Mrs. Sinnett, Parks and Recreation Committee had no report.
Mrs. Drake, Planning and Zoning Committee stated that she is still waiting to hear back from Mr. Wiggins. He is putting a report together for her.
Mrs. Drake reported that Economic Development Committee met February 29th with Mayor Lorentz, Safety-Service Director Mr. Cross, Mrs. Miller and myself was in attendance. We were privileged to have Mayor Colombo and Jody Murphy Executive Director of Pleasants Area Chamber of Commerce speaking to the group on ways and means to develop, contact and attract new business, development and growth to the community. Good creativity! Also attending was Janet K. Nelson from Southeastern Ohio Port Authority, Washington County Economic Development.
The Economic Development Committee is exploring ways and ideas on how to develop an area of Belpre to expand business and create an area to be wet. Ideas are being explored knowing it will take months to come to be but knowing it is a positive thing for advancement of the community. Belpre has potential and this committee has positive outlook for the future.
Mr. Turrill, Rules Committee was absent. No report was given in his absence.
Persons Appearing Before Council – Agenda items only. None
Unfinished Business:
Ms. Abdella brought before council for third reading ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE FOR CALENDAR AND FISCAL YEAR 2016.
Mrs. Miller stated that she could not vote for this until the $2,000 was given back to our police officers for training.
Ms. Abdella stated that she had talked to the auditor about this. Mrs. Miller stated that the $2,000 that Miss Pittenger was talking about was for the state.
Mrs. Miller made a motion to amend attachment 3300 by adding back the $2,000. For training, A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Ms. Abdella made a motion for the third reading as amended. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Ms. Abdella moved this be Ordinance 4, 2016-2017 and duly passed. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Ms. Abdella brought before council for third reading A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY FOR THE CARE AND SUSTENANCE OF PRISONERS. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Ms. Abdella moved this be Resolution 5, 2016-2017 and duly passed.
New Business:
Ms. Abdella made a motion for first reading A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO APPLY FOR A GRANT TO THE APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Ms. Abdella moved to suspend the rule of council on three different days to allow for the second and third reading of A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO APPLY FOR A GRANT TO THE APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Ms. Abdella brought before council for second and third readings A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO APPLY FOR A GRANT TO THE APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION. Ms. Abdella stated that this was for the generator. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Ms. Abdella moved this be Resolution 6, 2016-2017 and passed. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Ms. Abdella brought before council for first reading A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A COMMUNITY HOUSING IMPACT AND PRESERVATION PROGRAM PARTNER AGREEMENT WITH THE WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. 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:
Charlotte Rowe lives on 4th Street in Belpre between 307 and 310 addressed council regarding the parking issue. Mrs. Rowe was informed that the No Parking signs was due to the school bus.
Flite Freimann appeared before council introducing himself and informing voters that he was running for Judge.
Ms. Abdella made a motion to excuse Mr. Turrill from this evenings meeting. Mr. Turrill came to council but was too sick to stay. Mr. Neff stated that he had an excusable absence. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Mrs. Miller made a motion to go into Executive Session at 8:20 PM to discuss personnel matters. There will be no further business to come before this council other than the adjournment. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Adjourn
A motion was made to adjourn at 9:10PM. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.