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. Gilbert, Mrs. Marshall, Mr. Martin, Mrs. Miller, Mr. Newberry and Mr. Robinson present. Also present were Safety Service Director Mr. Ferguson, City Auditor Miss Pittenger, City Law Director Mr. Webster, Treasurer Miss Martin and Clerk of Council Mrs. Meredith. Absent from the September 08, 2014 meeting was Mayor Lorentz.
At this time, Mr. Neff asked that everyone please stand 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 August 25, 2014, 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 prepared his report and Mr. Neff presented the report to council.
The executed deed and promissory note have been signed and delivered for the city and 601 Plaza LLC, for the firehouse.
As of last week I also signed paperwork for the WPCLF so that we can continue looking for grants and funding so to extend the RT. 7 sewer line. There is no implied obligation; this just keeps us moving forward.
Tomorrow morning is the Kick-off breakfast for the 2014 – 2015 United Way Campaign. Your pledge materials will be on your desk tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully council will consider pledging to this wonderful cause that helps so many as well as our city.
Advertisements for a Civil Service test are in the area newspapers. Belpre is testing for street and water departments’ laborer 2 positions. We are also testing for police officers now as our workable list is depleted.
Friday night marked the end of our summer festivals as I attended the kick-off for Marietta’s Stern wheel festival. Now all we have to worry about is salt prices and slick roads.
Safety Service Director Mr. Ferguson reported that on September 10, 2014 from 7:30 to 9:30AM and 11:30AM to 2:00PM, State Route 618 would be closed from Price Inlet to Kraton. They will be bringing in 2 new very large boilers.
We have hired Brian Harpold as a new employee for the Street Department.
The Civil Service Test will be given at the Belpre Volunteer Fire Department Training Center on Thursday at 6PM for Laborer 2 positions. We will also be testing for police officers now as our workable list is depleted.
As most of you have noticed there is a lot of remodeling in the City of Belpre. The inside of Kroger’s is being remodeled, McDonalds is getting a new face-lift and the Nursing Home and apartment units on Hill Street have broken ground.
I have had several questions and I would imagine that we would be seeing folks here regarding the alternate route through Laurel Estates and the possibility of extending Hill Street.
The Belpre Pool will be put to sleep either this week or next. We have had a lot of issues at the pool this year.
Each member of council should have received a Sanitary Sewer Cleaning and CCTV Inspection flier as to the precautions to be taken when they are in your area. Precautions are on one side of the flier and the Projected Sewer Cleaning Schedule is on the other side.
City Auditor Miss Pittenger reported that this month with your water bills there would be an insert from Washington-Morgan Community Action regarding the CHIP Funds. Please refer calls to the Washington-Morgan Community Action.
Tonight I have the Adjustment Report for the Month of August. The report appears on the city website. I ask that council approve the Adjustment Report for August. Ms. Abdella made a motion to accept the adjustment report as presented. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
City Law Director Mr. Webster announced that the deed to the new fire station has been submitted. Once the deed is recorded the law director’s office will submit to the State Auditor’s Office requesting that this property be tax exempt.
Treasurer Miss Martin reported that a copy of the Treasurers Report for August has been put on the cities website with a signed hard copy to the clerk. I would like to ask that council approve the Treasurer’s Report. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Communications and Petitions:
Mr. Neff announced that he received an email from Susie Casto stating that on Thursday, Kraton will have a Fall Business Luncheon at the Senior Citizens Building.
Also on my desk was an updated Manpower Roster for the City of Belpre.
Mr. Neff stated that he had received and signed off on the Utility Adjustment Report for August.
Report of Standing Committee:
Ms. Abdella, Finance Audit Committee reported that her committee met on September 8, 2014 at 6:30 PM for the purpose of discussing Supplemental Appropriations, Shift in Manpower, and the discussion of the 10th Officer. It was the decision of the committee to have the SSD talk to Mr. Webster about drawing up the legislation.
Mr. Gilbert, Police and Fire Committee had no report. Mr. Gilbert stated that before you this evening is AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING RULES, REGULATIONS AND REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS RELATIVE TO THE OPERATION OF GOLF CARTS WITHIN THE CITY OF BELPRE, OHIO. Also additional work is needed on the Clandestine Drug Lab.
Mr. Martin, Streets, Sidewalk and Storm Sewer Committee had no report. Mr. Martin asked the SSD if he had received any quotes on the cost of salt for our city streets this winter. Mr. Ferguson stated that as of today he had not yet received any quotes.
Mr. Robinson, Utilities Committee had no report.
Mrs. Marshall, Parks and Recreation Committee had no report.
Mr. Newberry had no report for Planning and Zoning Committee.
Mr. Newberry had no report for the Economic Development Committee.
Mrs. Miller had no report for the Rules Committee. Mrs. Miller did state that she is gathering information on inoperable vehicles.
Persons Appearing Before Council – Agenda items only. None
Unfinished Business:
Ms. Abdella brought before council for second reading A RESOLUTION SUPPLEMENTING YEAR 2014 APPROPRIATIONS. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye. This will lie until the next meeting of council.
Ms. Abdella brought before council for second reading RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE AMOUNTS AND RATES AS DETERMINED BY THE BUDGET COMMISSION AND AUTHORIZING THE NECESSARY TAX LEVIES AND CERTIFYING THEM TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye. This will lie over until the next meeting of council.
New Business:
Mr. Gilbert brought before council for first reading AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING RULES, REGULATIONS AND REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS RELATIVE TO THE OPERATION OF GOLF CARTS WITHIN THE CITY OF BELPRE, OHIO. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting nay except for Mr. Robinson whom voted for the legislation. The legislation failed with 1 for and 6 against. Motion failed.
Persons Appearing Before Council-
Tom Logston, Middle Street, Belpre appeared before council wanting to know the rationale for turning down AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING RULES, REGULATIONS AND REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS RELATIVE TO THE OPERATION OF GOLF CARTS WITHIN THE CITY OF BELPRE, OHIO. The majority of council stated that it had to do with safety issues within the city.
Adjourn
Mr. Robinson made a motion to adjourn at 8:00. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.