Belpre City Council Minutes
Council President Will 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, Mrs. Sinnett and Mr. Turrill present. Also present was Mayor Lorentz, Safety-Service Director Mr. Cross, City Law Director Mr. Webster, Treasurer Mrs. Kincaid and Clerk of Council Mrs. Meredith. Absent from the February 27, 2017 meeting was City Auditor Miss Pittenger.
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 13, 2017 meeting 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 a sample of the Nurses Contract was sent to Mr. Webster’s office after our last meeting. This contract had been omitted from our agendas and my radar.
On Friday Jason Jolly of the Voinovich Center interviewed me. We discussed all the interviews of elected officials and business people of Belpre. It was interesting to hear what some of the interviewees thought about Belpre and economic development.
On Monday February 20th I attended a town hall style meeting in Meigs County to discuss the impact of Governor Kasich’s budget. Although it doesn’t impact us terribly it does impact our county to the tune of $858,382.00 or about 6.2%. Some counties and townships are hit even harder. If council would like to review the information provided, I have two examples of letters in opposition to the budget. The Auditor and another letter by the Mayor’s Partnership provided one letter.
Mr. Cross, Mike Betz, and I met with the engineer on the Park Drive development. This is progressing but, slowly and with a lot of issues to resolve.
Leonard Wiggins and I spent a little time Friday removing the Holiday Lights from our parks. If any of you have time we really need to assist these folks with this worthwhile endeavor. Old age is creeping up on all of us, and if we are to continue this it will be all hands on deck.
Saturday February 25th we in the City of Belpre celebrated Black History Month at Rockland Church. Councilperson Marshall does a very good job helping to plan this each year.
Hopefully the reports I handed out last meeting were helpful. Just a note to those on the Police and Fire Committee, our officers have confiscated drugs 7 out of eight shifts since a week ago Monday. An updated report is at your seat.
Just a note to let you know the Civil Service Test is being administered as we speak. At last notice we had 36 testing for the openings we have at this time.
Ms. Abdella asked the Mayor if the Holiday Light’s Committee had a workday scheduled for anyone wishing to help. Mayor Lorentz stated every Saturday 9am-noon.
Safety-Service Director Mr. Cross had no report.
City Auditor Miss Pittenger was absent. No report was given in her absence.
City Law Director Mr. Webster reported that he has three pieces of legislation to report on. The Dog Warden Contract has been revised and I should be getting that sometime soon. I checked about the Prisoner Contract and both the County Commissioner and Prosecuting Office are reviewing the contract. The Prosecuting Office is currently working on a murder trial and it will be after next week before we hear anything regarding the Prisoner Contract. Mr. Webster informed Mrs. Miller that the Chief had sent him a letter on parking violations with some recommendations. We will be reviewing a couple of ordinances regarding these violations.
Mr. Neff asked that someone please open the door in council chambers as this is an open meeting and I don’t want anyone to think it is a closed meeting.
City Treasurer Mrs. Kincaid reported that the January 2017 Cash Report has been posted on-line and copies on the back table. A signed copy was given to the clerk prior to the meeting. I would like to have council’s approval. Mrs. Drake made a motion to accept the Cash Report as presented. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Communications and Petitions:
Mr. Neff assigned the following to committee:
Mrs. Marshall – AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SAFETY-SERVICE DIRECTOR TO ADVERTISE FOR BIDS AND TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ORION LIFT STATION.
Ms. Abdella – A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BELPRE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STATE OF OHIO COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAM.
Mrs. Sinnett – A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SAFETY-SERVICE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE CITY OF BELPRE SWIMMING POOL.
Ms. Abdella – A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND HEALTH COMMISSIONER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF MARIETTA CITY BOARD OF HEALTH TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL NURSING SERVICES.
Ms. Abdella made a motion to go into Executive Session at 7:30 PM for the purpose of discussing Contract Negotiations. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Council resumed from Executive Session at 8:00 PM.
Report of Standing Committee:
Ms. Abdella reported that the Finance Audit Committee met prior to this evenings meeting for the purpose of reviewing a summarization of our current appropriations. We discussed some of the short falls and carryovers per line item. There will be another meeting next Wednesday night at 6PMfor the purpose of further reviewing the line items. We will also discuss A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND HEALTH COMMISSIONER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF MARIETTA CITY BOARD OF HEALTH TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL NURSING SERVICE. At this time Ms. Abdella made a motion to add to tonight’s agenda for first reading A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF BELPRE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STATE OF OHIO COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAM. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye
Mrs. Miller, Police and Fire Committee asked the law director about the parking violations. Mr. Webster stated that there were three items that they were working on. Mr. Neff forwarded the items to Mrs. Miller. Mrs. Miller also stated that she is in hopes that they will have something regarding EMS by the March 13th meeting.
Mr. Colvin, Streets, Sidewalk and Storm Sewer had no report.
Mrs. Marshall, Utilities Committee made a motion to add to tonight’s agenda for first reading AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SAFETY-SERVICE DIRECTOR TO ADVERTISE FOR BIDS AND TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ORION LIFT STATION. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Mrs. Sinnett, Parks and Recreation Committee had no report.
Mrs. Drake, Planning and Zoning Committee had no report.
Mrs. Drake, Economic Development Committee reported that the Economic Development Committee met prior to this evenings meeting. Topic of discussion was the interviews held by the Voinovich School. There will be a Town Hall meeting on March 23, 2017 at 7:00 in Council Chambers.
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 21, 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 ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE FOR CALENDAR AND FISCAL YEAR 2017.
Ms. Abdella made a motion to amend the line items under the fire department by increasing the amount to $65,000. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Ms. Abdella brought before council for second reading ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE FOR CALENDAR AND FISCAL YEAR 2017 as amended. 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 AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING AUTHORIZED MANPOWER FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2017. 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 MAYOR TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH THE ATHENS CITY-COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR SERVICES OF A PART TIME SANTARIAN. Discussion followed. 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 third reading of A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH THE ATHENS CITY-COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR SERVICES OF A PART TIME SANTARIAN. 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 TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH THE ATHENS CITY-COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR SERVICES OF A PART TIME SANTARIAN. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Ms. Abdella moved this be Resolution 22, 2016-2017 and duly passed. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
New Business:
Mrs. Marshall brought before council for first reading AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SAFETY-SERVICE DIRECTOR TO ADVERTISE FOR BIDS AND TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ORION LIFT STATION. 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 second and third readings of AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SAFETY-SERVICE DIRECTOR TO ADVERTISE FOR BIDS AND TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ORION LIFT STATION. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Mrs. Marshall brought before council for the second and third readings of AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SAFETY-SERVICE DIRECTOR TO ADVERTISE FOR BIDS AND TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ORION LIFT STATION. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.
Mrs. Marshall moved this be Ordinance 11, 2016-2017 and duly 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 CITY OF BELPRE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STATE OF OHIO COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAM. 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:
Ms. Abdella asked Mrs. Drake what should be expected at the Town Hall meeting. According to Mrs. Drake they are waiting on a summary. There will be a 10-minute video.
Mr. Neff stated that the Alice Training would probably be held in April.
Mrs. Drake asked if there had been any updates on the pledges for the drug dog. According to the Mayor he had not received any.
Adjourn:
Ms. Abdella made a motion to adjourn at 8:25 PM. A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.