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 Mr. Turrill present. Also present were Mayor Lorentz; Safety Service Director Mr. Cross; City Law Director Mr. Webster and Clerk of Council Mrs. Meredith. Absent from the February 8, 2016 meeting was City Auditor Miss Pittenger, Treasurer Mrs. Kincaid, and Council person Mrs. Sinnett.
Mr. Neff asked that everyone please rise for the Prayer and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Neff gave the invocation.
Ms. Abdella made a motion to accept the minutes of January 25, 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 reported that since our last meeting I have met with our soon to be new President of the Belpre Noon Rotary. Pastor Tim Lindsey would like for one of his projects to be partnering with the city and police officers and our drug coalition. Please do not forget the next meeting is on March 8th at the Celebration Center at 5PM.
Council finance committee members met with us on February 3rd to finalize the budget for 2016. We still have a ways to go but I feel good about everybody taking part in the process.
On February 5th we attended the Parkersburg, Marietta Contractors Association 50th Celebration in Parkersburg. A few of the business owners and contractors recognized are Belpre residents.
Chief Williams has provided us a report of arrest history for the past few years. The number of arrests have not changed but by a few numbers. The monetary difference in our court is the number of people paying their fines. Prosecutor Webster and I will be working on this problem as a priority.
Buckeye Hills notified me of a grant designated to equipment for our Fire Department or Police Department. Hopefully we will qualify and be successful.
Council, I again remind you to get your ethics and election forms to be filled out and sent in. They are due very soon.
Mr. Neff asked the Mayor if there were any figures yet on the grants. According to the Mayor if we go alone it would be $100,000 and if we partner it would be $500,000.
Safety Service Director Mr. Cross had no report.
City Auditor Miss Pittenger was absent from this evenings meeting. Mr. Neff stated that the Adjustment Report has been posted on-line and I would like a motion to accept as presented. 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 he had signed off on the reconciliation for last month.
City Law Director Mr. Webster reported that he had just got back from Woodsfield and that he apologized for being late. I had sent all members of council a memo regarding the Ohio Avenue Alley. I had received a letter from the attorney representing the folks from the HOA, which I haven’t had the chance to review yet. Mr. Cross and I will discuss the advertising on the alley. There are two separate sections on how to vacate an alley. The last two or three that we have done was a petitioner wanting to vacate the alley and you don’t have to advertise in the newspaper. In this case we have to do advertising for six weeks in the newspaper because of adjacent homeowner joining in and also if everyone had joined in that butted the alley we wouldn’t have to advertise however this is not the case. We are still going forward however we have to do the advertising before we can move forward on the legislation. I will talk to the clerk about advertising.
City Treasurer Mrs. Kincaid was absent. No report was given in her absence.
Communications and Petitions:
Mr. Neff had no Communications and Petitions.
Report of Standing Committee:
Ms. Abdella reported that the Finance Audit Committee met last week and discussed the Annual Appropriation. There was a calculation error found on the worksheet and it was rectified. We also looked for Revenue Enhancement. We are close to being in balance. At this time Ms. Abdella made a motion to add to tonight’s agenda for first reading ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE FOR CALENDAR AND FISCAL YEAR 2016. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Mrs. Miller, Police and Fire Chairman reported that she met last week with the Police Chief in regards to expectations from the department. I would like to call a Police and Fire Committee meeting for 6:45 PM on February 22nd for the purpose of discussing parking ticket rates, Active Shooter, possible demo and the Expectations of the departments. At this time I would like to make a motion to add to tonight’s agenda for first 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.
Mr. Colvin, Streets, Sidewalk and Storm Sewer reported that the Street Department has been busy putting temporary patch in our city streets. I would like to thank the Street Department for the efforts.
Mrs. Marshall, Utilities Committee had no report.
Mrs. Sinnett, Parks and Recreation Committee was absent. No report was given in her absence.
Mrs. Drake had no report for Planning and Zoning Committee.
Mrs. Drake Chairman of the Economic Development Committee told council that Mrs. Miller, Ms. Abdella and herself had met with Economic Development on a Special Project. Information will be forthcoming on the topic.
Mr. Turrill, Rules Committee had no report.
Persons Appearing Before Council – Agenda items only. None
Unfinished Business:
Ms. Abdella brought before council for third reading A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SAFETY-SERVICE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE BELPRE SENIOR CENTER. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Ms. Abdella moved this be Resolution 1, 2016-2017 and duly passed. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Ms. Abdella brought before council for second reading AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING AUTHORIZED MANPOWER FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2016. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye. This will lie over until the next meeting of council.
Ms. Abdella brought before council for second reading A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SAFETY-SERVICE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH THE WASHINGTON SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye. This will lie over until the next meeting of council.
Ms. Abdella brought before council for second reading A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT AND APPROVE FOR USE BY THE CITY OF BELPRE, OHIO, A HOUSING REVOLVING LOAN FUND ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT WITH THE OHIO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AGENCY. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye. This will lie over until the next meeting of council.
Mrs. Marshall brought before council for second reading A RESOLUTION ENACTED BY THE CITY OF BELPRE, WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO, HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE LOCAL PUBLIC AGENCY. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Mrs. Marshall moved to suspend the rule of council on three different days to allow for the third reading of A RESOLUTION ENACTED BY THE CITY OF BELPRE, WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO, HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE LOCAL PUBLIC AGENCY. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Mrs. Marshall brought before council for third reading A RESOLUTION ENACTED BY THE CITY OF BELPRE, WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO, HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE LOCAL PUBLIC AGENCY. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Mrs. Marshall moved this be Resolution 2, 2016-2017 and duly passed. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
New Business:
Ms. Abdella brought before council for first reading ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE FOR CALENDAR AND FISCAL YEAR 2016. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye. This will lie over until the next meeting of council.
Mrs. Miller brought before council for first 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. This will lie over until the next meeting of council.
Persons Appearing Before Council:
Peggy Truax, 1585 Elizabeth Street, Belpre, appeared before council regarding VAP-EZ and the risk caused by vaping. Our youth is inhaling chemicals that are not AFD approved. You do have to be 18 to purchase. They are targeting our youth with the flavors. Ms. Truax has done a lot of research on the topic and she has come to council for help. Ms. Truax was told that she could contact her State Representative and the Consumer Protection Agency regarding the topic. Mr. Webster to check on other sources. Mr. Neff assigned this to the Police and Fire Committee.
Mrs. Marshall thanked Ms. Truax for coming forward about vaping.
Mrs. Drake stated that you could smoke vapors in public.
Ms. Abdella called a Finance/Audit Committee meeting for February 22, 2016 at 7:20 PM for the purpose of discussing the Manpower Ordinance and request for changes.
Ms. Abdella made a motion to excuse Mrs. Sinnett from this evenings meeting. Mrs. Sinnett contacted the President of Council and informed him that she was sick. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Adjourn
Mrs. Marshall made a motion to adjourn at 8:15PM. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.