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: Mr. Colvin, Mrs. Drake, Mrs. Marshall, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Sinnett, and Mr. Turrill present.  Also present were Mayor Lorentz, City Auditor Miss Pittenger, City Law Director Mr. Webster and Clerk of Council Mrs. Meredith.  Absent from the December 12, 2016 meeting was Safety-Service Director Mr. Cross, Treasurer Mrs. Kincaid and Councilperson Ms. Abdella.

Mr. Neff asked that everyone please rise for the Prayer and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Lorentz gave the invocation.

Mrs. Marshall made a motion to accept the minutes of November 28, 2016 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 informed Council that the Government Teacher and I have elected to have Government Day on January 23rd. Please know that we need a little help to make this a success. If you could just schedule part of the day with us, it would help immensely. Mock trial will be held in the afternoon after lunch at the Sr. Center. All participating council members are welcome. Our local Rotary Club is sponsoring the meal. A note was sent to Ms. Pintz so that our Clerk, Ms. Meredith can easily prepare the agenda for the meeting.

The contract with our Police Officers passed. The contract with our maintenance groups did not pass. Mr. Cross and I are trying to schedule future meetings so this can be completed by year-end.

On December 7th I was invited to the V.F.W in Parkersburg to take part in their Pearl Harbor Day Memorial. The presentation was very informative and very professional. It was an honor to be invited.

Today Mr. Cross and I met with the Engineer helping develop the land next door to the city building. Hopefully the information and requirements were clear and this project can move forward.

Today we held a ribbon cutting at Mocha Masters on Washington Blvd. and also at Barrett’s Alignment just behind the veterinary clinic on Stone Road.

Wednesday the 14th at 11 am we will break ground at Bob’s Market for their new 25,000 sq. ft. greenhouse and garden center. All are invited.

Tonight we have a few recognition awards to present to our police officers. At this time I will ask for time to introduce them and present their awards.

Chief of Police Terry Williams presented the following awards:

Chief Terry Williams stated that since he has been the Chief he wanted to recognize police officers every six months for outstanding service to the City of Belpre.  Officers are nominated and a committee is formed consisting of Donna Miller, Former Police Chief Ira Walker, Pastor Mark Eaton and myself.  We discuss the service and decide who should receive the award.

Every year Triple A (AAA) presents an award for police servicing our community.  This year Officer Kirby went to Chillicothe to receive a Platinum Award.  This is the second year in a row that the Belpre Police Department has received this award.

This year we have a citizen in Wood County, WV that was nominated for his actions.  In this day and age of law enforcement tensions, Mr. Mackey has founded a website on the Social Media Facebook Page.  The website promotes the support of Law Enforcement in the Mid-Ohio Valley.  Mr. Mackey was awarded the Distinguished Volunteer Service Cross.

June 26, 2016 – SGT. Fields responded to a call of a suicidal female on the railroad bridge on Main Street wanting to commit suicide by jumping.  SGT. Fields climbed up onto the railroad bridge, made personal contact with the female and got her to come down after talking with her without incident.  SGT. Fields received the Croix De Negotiator Laurel Award.

July 4, 2016 – SGT Fields and Patrolman Holiday responded to a call at 600 Phillip Street for a female not breathing (known Heroin House).  Upon their arrival, they found a female on the living room floor not breathing.  People in the home were frantic and screaming during the incident.  SGT. Fields recognized the situation as a possible Heroin Overdose.  Patrolman Holiday secured the scene and assisted in loading the Narcan for SGT Fields as SGT Fields administered Narcan.  Within a few minutes the female was breathing and speaking.  Squad arrived to assist after the fact. Sgt. Fields received the Life Saving Award and Patrolman Holiday received an Honorable Service Award.

September 27, 2016 – Sgt. Fields and Patrolman Tewanger were dispatched to Napoli’s Pizza parking lot in reference to a female not breathing.  When they arrived the female was located, not breathing and turning blue.  Belpre Squad man Mike Matheny arrived at the same time in his personal vehicle to see if officers needed help.  Squad man Matheny was unaware of what was going on, as Belpre Squad had not been toned yet.  Sgt. Fields grabbed his Narcan and Mr. Matheny administered the Narcan after Sgt. Fields prepared it.  The female regained consciousness.  Sgt. Field received the Honorable Service Award and Mike Matheny received the Life Saving Award.

Safety-Service Director Mr. Cross was absent.  No report was given in his absence.

City Auditor Miss Pittenger reported that the Auditor’s Office has been working very hard to get the year closed.

City Law Director Mr. Webster congratulated the Police Department and Mr. Matheny for their service to our community.  Mr. Webster also announced that a revised copy of the golf cart legislation has been presented with an emergency clause.  This legislation bands golf carts in the city.  We can act on it in January with exceptions.  Mr. Webster passed out copies of the legislation.

City Treasurer Mrs. Kincaid was absent.  No report was given in her absence.

Communications and Petitions:

Mr. Neff asked council as a Committee As A Whole how they felt about the legislation regarding Golf Cart/Low Speed Vehicle.  All members present were in agreement to approve as presented and revisit in January.

Mr. Neff assigned the newly revised Golf Cart/Low Speed Vehicle to the Police and Fire Committee.

Report of Standing Committee:

Ms. Abdella Finance Audit Committee was absent.  No report was given in her absence.

Mrs. Miller, Police and Fire Committee made a motion to by-pass committee and add to tonight’s agenda for first reading AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE OPERATION OF A LOW-SPEED OR UNDER-SPEED VEHICLE UPON ANY CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY.  A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.  Mrs. Miller called a Police and Fire Committee meeting for January 16, 2017 at 6PM for the purpose of discussing EMS proposals.

Mr. Colvin, Streets, Sidewalk and Storm Sewer had no report.

Mrs. Marshall, Utilities Committee had no report.

Mrs. Sinnett, Parks and Recreation Committee had no report.

Mrs. Drake, Planning and Zoning Committee had no report.

Mrs. Drake, Economic Development stated that Mr. Bob McCloy has contacted Voinovich School of Economics at Ohio University.

Mr. Turrill, Rules Committee had no report.

Persons Appearing Before Council – Agenda items only.

None

Unfinished Business:

Mrs. Marshall brought before council for third reading TEMPORARY APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE FOR CALENDAR AND FISCAL YEAR 2017.  A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.

Mrs. Marshall moved this be Ordinance 9, 2016-2017 and duly passed.  A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.

New Business:

Mrs. Miller brought before council for first reading AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE OPERATION OF A LOW-SPEED OR UNDER-SPEED VEHICLE UPON ANY CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY.  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 second and third readings of AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE OPERATION OF A LOW-SPEED OR UNDER-SPEED VEHICLE UPON ANY CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY.  A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.

Mrs. Miller brought before council for the second and third readings AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE OPERATION OF A LOW-SPEED OR UNDER-SPEED VEHICLE UPON ANY CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY.  A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.

Mrs. Miller moved this be Ordinance 10, 2016-2017 and duly passed.  A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.

Persons Appearing Before Council:  None

Mrs. Marshall made a motion to excuse Ms. Abdella from this evenings meeting.  A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.

Mrs. Marshall made a motion to dismiss the second meeting in December for observance of the Christmas Holiday.  A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.

Mrs. Marshall made a motion to adjourn at 8:00 PM.  A vote was taken with all members of council present voting aye.