Belpre City Council Minutes
Mr. Neff called the Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Belpre, Ohio, to order at 7:30p.m. The roll was called with the following members present: Ms. Abdella, Mr. Campbell, Mrs. Drake, Mr. Gant, Mrs. Miller, Ms. Riffle and Mr. Shutts present. Also present was Mayor Lorentz, Safety-Service Director Mr. Cross, City Auditor Miss Pittenger, City Law Director Mr. Webster, Treasurer Mr. Smith 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.
Ms. Riffle made a motion to accept the minutes of November 26, 2018 as presented and to by-pass the reading. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Reports of City Officials:
Mayor Lorentz reported that Mr. Cross and I held a telephone conference with FEMA on November 29th. It looks like we will get some assistance with a couple slips on Farson Street hill.
Today we had a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Candle store on the corner of Walnut and Washington Blvd. Cutler’s Candles.
Council, you are invited to the ribbon cutting next Monday at the new shoe store, Perfeet across from Citizens Bank. Two o’clock is the time of this event.
Our Senior citizens reported that for 2018 they have 315 clients and for the year 16,866 participated in various activities in our facility. The O’Neill in Marietta boasts a number just shy of 20,000.
Student Government Day must change from January due to Martin Luther King Day. Do you have a preference as to which Monday night council meeting we choose? Choices are February 11 or 25th. Mr. Neff stated February 11th, 2018.
The Civil Service Board has agreed to stay on for another year. As of now their terms are Ron Duvall goes off this year, Karen next year, and John Underwood this year but also agreed to stay on for one more.
Our court clerk compiled a report for you so to let you know how our collections are going to date. On the same note our part time clerk has tendered her resignation. I am waiting on a report from Civil Service as to whether we need to test for part time.
Over the past few weeks I have been working with Denzil Ray to formulate a plan for Mike Betz departure. Mr. Cross and I have offered the job to Mr. Ray. Denzil will now assume the duties of the water department as well as the sewer plant employees. One of our new hires has the license for water distribution as well as an operator 2 status. My hope is to use Denzil’s experience and leadership so to better streamline our operations. At some point after the year’s end I would like to add another position at the water department. As we develop the job description I will communicate to council.
Saturday we will be decorating the graves at Cedarville Cemetery if anyone is interested. The event starts at 11 am.
Safety-Service Director Mr. Cross had no report.
City Auditor Miss Pittenger reported that the part time clerk that has tendered her resignation in the police department per Mayor Lorentz has also tendered her resignation in my department. Her position is not on the Manpower in the police department. Keep that in mind. I will be hiring a part-time position in my department. I have contacted Civil Service to see if we will need to test for the part-time position. One is on Manpower, the other one will need to go through the Grant Process. We may need to hire two part time positions. The Adjustment Report is on the back desk and appears on-line. The report looks much better this month. I would like to have council’s approval. 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 had no report.
City Treasurer Mr. Smith reported that the November Treasurer’s report is before you this evening and is awaiting approval by council. The report is on line, copies on the back table and a signed copy has been given to the clerk. Mr. Campbell made a motion to accept the Treasurers Report as presented. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Communications and Petitions:
Mr. Neff announced that the only thing he has is the request to change Student Government Day to either February 11th or 25th. Ms. Abdella made a motion to change Student government Day to February 11th. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Report of Standing Committee:
Ms. Abdella Finance/Audit reported that her committee met last Wednesday night for the purpose of discussing the Temporary Appropriations. We talked through some of the issues and the revenue streams. We also discussed some revenue generations that are still being discussed. We have requested information on the PNL for the pool and information from MCA regarding squad runs from 6PM to 6AM. We would like to know the number of runs and how many of them were billed through MCA. We are still waiting on that data.
Mrs. Miller, Police and Fire Committee had no report. Mrs. Miller stated that she was unaware of any funds being collected by the fire department for squad runs.
Mr. Campbell, Streets, Sidewalk and Storm Sewer had no report.
Mr. Gant Utilities Committee presented a year-end report to council. This is some of the improvements this year:
Sewer Plant: New Generator was installed and tested/old diesel tanks removed/(will remove old generator next year) worked on friction pump and sludge press/repaired boiler/replaced some of the lab equipment/raw pump central upgrade/rebuilt pumps and controls for lift station at Washington Blvd./replaced controls on lift station at Boulevard Sands.
Water Department: New back hoe and trailer/Mead street-replaced water line that improved the pressure because of the multiple leaks in the old line/repaired multiple leaks throughout the city/cleaned and inspected Well #1/new bucket truck/ and the new dump truck was ordered and will be here next year.
AGGREGATE PROGRAM FOR GAS THROUGH AEP: Rate for program is $3.39 and Ron and I saw where gas has raised to over $4 MCF.
If passed tonight the new Solar panels will be installed at Fire Station 1.
New charging station for cars was installed.
Thanks to everyone this year for their hard work. We got a lot accomplished this year and I’m looking forward to next year.
Mr. Shutts, Parks and Recreation Committee had no report.
Mrs. Drake Planning and Zoning Committee had no report.
Mrs. Drake, Economic Development Committee announced that the committee would meet next Thursday, December 20th, 2018 at 6PM.
Mrs. Drake commended Miss Pittenger for the work she does for the city.
Mrs. Drake asked Miss Pittenger how much revenue is generated through the police department and code enforcement. Miss Pittenger stated that approximately 90% of $100,000 is collected for minimal fines/permits. She deferred the Code Enforcement to Mayor Lorentz as he would know what is going through Mayor’s Court. According to Mayor Lorentz there wasn’t much going through Mayor’s Court. He said that he would guess approximately $5,000.
Ms. Riffle had no report for the Rules Committee.
Persons Appearing Before Council – Agenda items only. None
Unfinished Business: –
Mr. Gant brought before council for second reading A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SAFETY-SERVICE DIRECTOR AND MAYOR TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH PICKERING ENERGY SOLUTIONS, LLC. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Mr. Gant moved to suspend the rule of council on three different days to allow for the third reading of A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SAFETY-SERVICE DIRECTOR AND MAYOR TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH PICKERING ENERGY SOLUTIONS, LLC. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Mr. Gant brought before council for third reading A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SAFETY-SERVICE DIRECTOR AND MAYOR TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH PICKERING ENERGY SOLUTIONS, LLC. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Mr. Gant moved this be Resolution 18, 2018-2019 and duly passed. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Ms. Abdella brought before council for second reading TEMPORARY APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE FOR CALENDAR AND FISCAL YEAR 2019. Mr. Campbell stated that it would seem to me that whenever we ask for various reports of financial matters for various things that when we are delayed at getting those reports it makes it harder to pass our temporary appropriations and normal appropriations. I would encourage the continue flow of information at a steady pace. 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 second reading AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 145.01 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BELPRE. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye
Mrs. Miller moved to suspend the rule of council on three different days to allow for the third reading of AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 145.01 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BELPRE. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Mrs. Miller moved this be Ordinance 11, 2018-2019 and duly passed. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
New Business: None
PERSONS APPEARING BEFORE COUNCIL:
Mr. Neff stated that he is aware that some of you are wanting another council meeting before the end of the year. I must remind you that you will need 6 affirmative votes in order to pass. You will need 6 council persons present. Ms. Abdella stated that we would have passed the legislation this evening had we received the information that was requested. Ms. Abdella stated that she is in hopes of having the meeting on December 27th, 2018 at 6PM.
Mr. Neff asked by a show of hands who could be present on December 27th, 2018. There were six members of council that can be present for the meeting on the 27th.
Mr. Neff suggested that we cancel the next regular council meeting on the 24th and hold a Special Meeting on December 27th at 6PM.
Ms. Abdella made a motion to have a Special Council Meeting on December 27th at 6PM for the purpose of completing the Temporary Appropriations for 2019. Miss Pittenger asked is the information requested was from her as she had already submitted an updated attachment. According to Ms. Abdella is was not. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Mrs. Drake made a motion to cancel the regular scheduled council meeting on December 24th, 2018. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Mr. Neff went over committee assignments. Removed from the list was Pickering Energy Solutions, LLC, Ohio revised Code 124.41/145.01 and Signal Improvements.
ADJOURN:
Mr. Shutts made a motion to adjourn at 8:00PM. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.