The meeting was called to order by President Benincasa at 7:00PM. Phillips gave the invocation and led the meeting in the Pledge of Allegiance

ROLL CALL: Sammeh Alihassan, Brant Luther, Phyllis Phillips Mark Roller, Doug Schwarz and Alex Zumbar present. Motion and second to excuse Ogline: MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS.

MINUTES: Motion & second to receive and file the minutes of the December 16, 2002 regular meeting of Alliance City Council: MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS.

Water and Sewer Department Financial Report for December 2002.

Letter from Joe Amabeli to John Kwolek, Ohio E.P.A. dated December 18, 2002. Re: Ohio E.P.A. letter dated December 6, 2002 concerning the compliance inspection conducted at the Alliance Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Minutes of the December 18, 2002 Alliance City Planning Commission meeting.

Letter from Mayor Toni Middleton to R. Mark Locke dated December 27, 2002. Re: re-appointment of Mr. Arnold Hirvela and Mr. Rick Wilt to the Alliance City Board of Zoning Appeals for 5 year terms expiring on 12/31/07.

Letter from Mayor Middleton regarding the receipts collected through the Mayor’s Office during the month of December 2002 totaling $617,460.68.

Motion and second to receive and file all communications tendered to Clerk Locke. MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS.

Motion and second to approve the appointments as detailed in the letter from the Mayor. MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS.

Mayor Middleton: reviewed Resolution 09-03; asked Council to confirm the hiring of Bill Hawley as the Zoning Inspector/ Code Enforcement Officer. Motion and second to confirm Mr. Hawley: MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS.

Safety Service Director Blaser: announced that the City has reached a settlement with the contractor on the repairs to the digester at the Treatment Plant; asked for an Executive Session at the end of regular business to discuss personnel issues; reviewed Ordinances 03-03, 04-03, 05-03, 06-03 & 07-03.

Law Director Zumbar: no report

Deputy Auditor Kittoe: reviewed the Worker’s Comp Report and Ordinance 08-03.

Properties and Land: Alihassan: no report

Streets and Alleys: Luther: no report

Planning, Zoning & Housing: Ogline: Roller reported for Ogline- Planning, Zoning and Housing met concerning Ordinance 159-02 and voted unanimously to give an unfavorable recommendation on the Ordinance.

Utilities: Phillips: the Water/ Sewer Advisory Committee met this morning and heard a report on the electrical savings at the treatment plant.

Safety and Judiciary: Roller: spoke in favor of Ordinance 04-03.

Community Development: Schwarz: read a letter from the Alliance Area Development Foundation thanking the City for their financial support- Motion and second to receive and file the report: MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS.

Finance: Zumbar: submitted the minutes from the Finance Committee meeting on December 19, 2002- Motion and second to receive and file the minutes: MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS; spoke in favor of Ordinances 01-03, 02-03, 03-03, 04-03, 05-03, 06-03, 07-03, 08-03 and 09-03. Motion and second to hold an executive session at the conclusion of regular business: MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS.

Clerk of Courts Kevin Ward was introduced to review Ordinance 08-03.

PUBLIC SPEAKS: none

Ordinance 159-02: introduced by Alihassan: an Ordinance adopting Alliance Codified Ordinance Section 361.01 ET. SEG. "Residential Parking Permit" and declaring an emergency. Motion and second to send back to Planning, Zoning and Housing for revisions: MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS.

Ordinance 163-02: introduced by Luther: an Ordinance vacating part of the east west alley west of Haines Avenue for a distance of approximately two hundred forty three feet and declaring an emergency.

Ordinance 165-02: introduced by Ogline: an Ordinance accepting and approving the replat of part of outlots 504 and 587 located on West Main Street in the City of Alliance, County of Stark and State of Ohio.

Ordinance 170-02: introduced by Ogline: an Ordinance accepting and approving the replat outlot 308, City lots 7476 through 7479, 8365 through 8367, 6188 and 6189 located between Parkway Boulevard and Rockhill Avenue in the City of Alliance, County of Stark and State of Ohio; and declaring an emergency.

Resolution 01-03: introduced by Council as a Whole and the Administration: a Resolution congratulating Andrei A. Dordea, CPA, City Auditor, for his service to the City of Alliance and wishing him continued success in his future endeavors. Motion and second to adopt: Roll Call: unanimous: ADOPTED

Resolution 02-03: introduced by Council as a Whole and the Administration: a Resolution of congratulations recognizing the 2002 Mount Union College Football team for their National Championship. Motion and second to adopt: Roll Call: unanimous: ADOPTED

Ordinance 03-03: introduced by Zumbar: an Ordinance authorizing and directing the Director of safety and Service to enter into a renewal agreement for various types of Comprehensive Municipal Liability coverage; and declaring an emergency. Motion and second to suspend rules: Roll Call: Unanimous for rules suspension. Motion and second to adopt: Roll Call: unanimous: ADOPTED

Ordinance 04-03: introduced by Roller/ Zumbar: an Ordinance authorizing and directing the Director of Public Safety and Service to apply for and enter into a grant agreement with the Ohio Department of Youth Services for funds to support the Kick Drugs Out of Alliance Program in an amount not to exceed $30,000; and declaring an emergency. Motion and second to suspend rules: Roll Call: Unanimous for rules suspension. Motion and second to adopt: Roll Call: unanimous: ADOPTED

Ordinance 05-03: introduced by Zumbar: an Ordinance setting wages and salaries for employees of the City of Alliance who are not represented by a collective bargaining agent, and elected officials; and declaring an emergency. Motion and second to suspend rules: Roll Call: Unanimous for rules suspension. Motion and second to adopt: Roll Call: unanimous: ADOPTED

Ordinance 06-03: introduced by Zumbar: an Ordinance authorizing the Director of Public Safety and Service to enter into contract extension agreements covering City of Alliance employees affiliated with collective bargaining units whose negotiations are not yet completed; and declaring an emergency. Motion and second to suspend rules: Roll Call: Unanimous for rules suspension. Motion and second to adopt: Roll Call: unanimous: ADOPTED

Ordinance 07-03: introduced by Phillips/ Zumbar: an Ordinance ratifying a contract with the Alliance Water and Sewer Distribution Employees Association; and declaring an emergency. Motion and second to suspend rules: Roll Call: Unanimous for rules suspension. Motion and second to adopt: Roll Call: unanimous: ADOPTED

Ordinance 08-03: introduced by Zumbar: an Ordinance making appropriations and transfers of funds to provide for the necessary expenses and adjustments; and declaring an emergency. Motion and second to suspend rules: Roll Call: Unanimous for rules suspension. Motion and second to adopt: Roll Call: unanimous: ADOPTED

Resolution 09-03: introduced by Council as a Whole and the Administration: a Resolution opposing Amtrak’s decision to reduce its daily rail passenger services through Alliance and urging that all affected communities and parties work together, identify possible solutions to retain and improve said services. Motion and second to adopt: Roll Call: unanimous: ADOPTED

ADJOURNMENT: Noting no further business to come before this Council, President Benincasa adjourned the meeting to Executive Session at 7:55 p.m. Executive Session adjourned at 8:22 p.m.

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John Benincasa, President of Council