Belpre City Council Minutes
President of Council Protem Ms. Abdella 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, Mrs. Drake, Mr. Gant, Mrs. Miller, Ms. Riffle and Mr. Shutts present. Also present was Mayor Lorentz, City Auditor Miss Pittenger, City Law Director Mr. Webster, City Treasurer Ms. Carpenter and Clerk of Council Mrs. Meredith. Absent from the meeting was Council President Mr. Martin.
Ms. Abdella asked that everyone please rise for the Prayer and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance Mr. Gant gave the invocation.
Ms. Riffle made a motion to accept the minutes of October 14, 2019 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 stated that hopefully council has taken the time to review the police department contract for the next three years. Given our budget constraints and the age of our employees I believe this is a good contract. Some language clarifications and insurance being the big items for us. We do need to meet in executive session to discuss and pass so it goes into effect as negotiated.
October 17th. The Women’s Club hosted the Meet the Candidates Night which went very well. Many thanks to the club for all they do in our city.
On the 18th we took part in the fund raiser for Habitat for Humanity. The DuVall’s were the high bidders for my dinner night out.
October 24th I met with ODOT to discuss the Urban Paving projects upcoming. We have a couple large ticket items coming up and many grants to review before 2020 fiscal year. It looks like we will stay on schedule for 2022 paving of Washington Boulevard. This means all engineering and crosswalks need completed before fall of 2021 when work will start.
The Chamber of Commerce dinner was Thursday evening and very successful. Over 250 people attended with many awards presented. Truly a wonderful night for Belpre and our Chamber.
Negotiations with the AFSCME union starts in a couple weeks. I am travelling to Athens so to meet with our insurance folks in hopes of a better coverage and or costs.
On your desk is a sample resolution to adopt a tobacco ordinance for the Marietta/Belpre Health Board and councils. The only thing I see are that the penalties are vague. Could the President assign this to committee? As a health board we also need our finance committee to meet collectively with the Marietta Finance committee to hammer out a budget. If you could choose a couple dates I will be glad to communicate with Marietta.
Prior to the meeting this evening we had a Census training with about eight in attendance. Amber Kohler is with us this evening to speak to us regarding the Census in 2020.
Amber stated that she is a Partnership Specialist with the Census Bureau. I work with Mayors and County Commissioners to get information out to the public about the 2020 Census which is fast approaching. The 2020 Census is extremely important to our nation for many reasons. It became a law that the Census would be done every ten years. This is a population count that is reported to the State and on to the President. Census count is used for many reasons such as roads, hospital’s schools, etc. If we miss you in our count we miss you for 10 years when the next count is taken. During the last decade we were 18% undercount. My job is to educate you on the safety of the census and to teach you how it affects our community. I’m asking that you help us get an accurate count for Belpre so when funds are disbursed it is done appropriately.
Ms. Riffle asked about our Grant writer and if there are any Grants out there floating around at this time. Mayor Lorentz stated that we have the JAG Grant which is in regards to safety equipment for our police officers, the MLB Grant for Major League Baseball and there is one other one that the Mayor couldn’t remember however he was to get back with Ms. Riffle regarding this.
Mayor Lorentz reported for the Safety-Service Director office that Trick or Treat will be held this Thursday from 6-7:30PM. Mayor Lorentz also stated that some of our officers went to Athens this past weekend and it went very well.
City Auditor Miss Pittenger reported that on-line and the back desk is the Adjustment Report. I would ask for approval by council. Also we are looking at changing our Software System for budgetary, payroll and billing. What we are using now is for counties and not real user friendly for cities. On November 6, 2019 at 8:30 AM Software Solutions will be here to demonstrate to Lisa and myself and anyone else the new software. Ms. Abdella asked for a motion to accept the Adjustment Report. Ms. Riffle 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 had no report.
City Treasurer Ms. Carpenter had no report.
Communications and Petitions: –
Ms. Abdella assigned to the Finance/Audit Committee the Temporary Appropriations.
Ms. Abdella assigned to the Rules Committee RESOLUTION TO RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF UPDATED TOBACCO ORDINANCES TO BELPRE AND MARIETTA CITY COUNCILS. The clerk will make copies so each member of council can review.
Mayor Lorentz had also requested that our Finance Committee meet collectively with the Marietta Finance Committee to hammer out a budget. I have given him a couple dates to communicate with Marietta. Also those assigned to the committee are Ms. Abdella, Mrs. Drake and Ms. Riffle.
Report of Standing Committee:
Ms. Abdella Finance/Audit Committee reported that she had received a rough draft of the Temporary Appropriations. Mayor Lorentz has been working closely with the department heads so that we are more solid on their needs. Ms. Abdella called a Finance/Audit Committee meeting for November 6, 2019 at 6PM to discuss the Temporary Appropriations.
Mrs. Miller, Police and Fire Committee called a committee meeting for November 4th at 6PM to discuss golf carts. Mrs. Miller had a complaint regarding meetings scheduled on Wednesday evenings as some folks attend church or Bible Study.
Ms. Abdella stated that the law director just handed her A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, SAFETY-SERVICE DIRECTOR AND LAW DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE A LABOR AGREEMENT WITH UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS, LOCAL 400 AFL-CIO. Ms. Abdella asked if this needed acted on this evening. According to the Mayor he would like to have it done this evening.
There was no report given for Streets, Sidewalks and Storm Sewer.
Mr. Gant Utilities Committee had no report.
Mr. Shutts, Parks and Recreation Committee had no report.
Mrs. Drake Planning and Zoning Committee reported that her committee is still waiting to hear from Mr. Rauch regarding the architectural drawing.
Mrs. Drake, Economic Development Committee reported that the last Economic Development Committee meeting was cancelled.
Ms. Riffle, Rules Committee reported that her committee met prior to this evening’s council meeting for the purpose of discussing abandoned cars/vehicles in the City of Belpre. I will be getting with Mr. Webster to discuss as information died in committee. We will be looking at verb age and what we might be able to do. Once I have this information I will be calling another meeting to discuss.
Ms. Riffle called a Rules Committee Meeting on November 4, 2019 at 7PM for the purpose of discussing the Tobacco/Vaping Ordinance.
Ms. Abdella made a motion to add to tonight’s agenda for first reading A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, SAFETY-SERVICE DIRECTOR AND LAW DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE A LABOR AGREEMENT WITH UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS, LOCAL 400 AFL-CIO. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Persons Appearing Before Council – Agenda items only. None
Unfinished Business: – None
NEW BUSINESS:
Ms. Abdella brought before council for first reading A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, SAFETY-SERVICE DIRECTOR AND LAW DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE A LABOR AGREEMENT WITH UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS, LOCAL 400 AFL-CIO. Mayor Lorentz went over the labor agreement briefly. Bill Locke 726 Tuttle Street asked the Mayor if the employees had voted on it. Mr. Locke was informed that yes they did. 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 readings of A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, SAFETY-SERVICE DIRECTOR AND LAW DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE A LABOR AGREEMENT WITH UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS, LOCAL 400 AFL-CIO. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Ms. Abdella brought before council for the second and third readings A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, SAFETY-SERVICE DIRECTOR AND LAW DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE A LABOR AGREEMENT WITH UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS, LOCAL 400 AFL-CIO. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Ms. Abdella moved this be Resolution 30, 2018-2019 and duly passed. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
PERSONS APPEARING BEFORE COUNCIL:
Steve McDougle 125 ½ Walnut Street addressed council in regards to a letter he received from Kimble that they would no longer be picking up trash or recycling on Hamilton Court. They also informed us that we would have to take our trash/recyclables to Walnut Street. Their service would no longer be available after October 28, 2019. This goes back to the closure of Hamilton Court. Ms. Abdella informed Mr. McDougle that council knew nothing about this and that he should address the Mayor. Mayor Lorentz said that he would investigate this further. Mr. McDougle stated that it is something constant down there. Ms. Abdella asked that he get a copy of the letter and give to the Mayor. Mr. Webster stated that he had researched the alley and found that the alley had not been dedicated as public property.
Bill Locke 726 Tuttle Street Belpre addressed council regarding the new nursing home and the sewer issues. Mayor Lorentz stated that we know that we are not getting a good flow where the county enters the city. We are in hopes of getting it started in the near future. Ms. Riffle asked if Buckeye Hills would be involved. According to the Mayor they would be.
ADJOURN:
Mrs. Drake made a motion to adjourn at 8:09 PM. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.