Alliance City Council

MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 20, 2006

REGULAR MEETING OF THE ALLIANCE CITY COUNCIL

The meeting was called to order by President Benincasa at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Rhome gave the invocation and led the meeting in the Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL: Alan Andreani, Steve Okey, Phyllis Phillips, Warren Price, Roger Rhome, Sue Ryan, and Larry Thompson present.

MINUTES: Motion and second to approve Minutes of the November 6, 2006 Regular Meeting of City Council. MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS.

COMMUNICATIONS

1. Minutes from the November 6, 2006 Water and Sewer Advisory Board meeting.

2. Minutes from the October 17, 2006 Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting.

3. Agenda for the November 21, 2006 Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting.

4. Notice of Public Meeting of a work session of City Council 11-20-06 @ 6:00 P.M. in Council Chambers.

5. Notice of Public Meeting of Planning, Zoning and Housing Committee 11-20-06 @ 8:30 A.M. at the second floor conference room of the City Administration Building.

6. Letter from Ohio Division of Liquor Control regarding license renewals and advising of right to object.

7. Letter to Chief Dordea RE: liquor license renewals and objections requesting recommendations.

8. Letter from Stark Metropolitan Sewer District regarding public hearing on the Beechwood sanitary sewer project.

9. Notice from Community Mediation Center of Stark County of an open house and award presentation on December 7, 2007 at 3:00 PM.

10. Notice of 2007 observance of legal holidays for City Employees.

11. Notice from Ohio EPA RE: Public Notice 06-11-030 regarding discharge of Alliance Waste Water Treatment Plant.

12. Notice from Stark County Clerk of Court of final appealable order in Sherry‘s Treasurers vs. City of Alliance Board of Zoning Appeals.

13. Summons from Stark County Clerk of Courts RE: Albert Carter vs. Mel’s Towing naming City of Alliance as Third Party Defendants.

14. Summons from Stark County Clerk of Courts RE: Kevin Ward vs. City of Alliance

15. Voluntary Dismissal filed in Kevin Ward Vs. City of Alliance

16. Memo from Auditor Alex Zumbar RE: Operational Budget by department as of October 31, 2006

17. Letter From Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority RE: Safe Housing Ordinance.

18. Keep Alliance Beautiful Memo RE: Keep America Beautiful Bulletin.

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

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS:

Mayor Middleton: No Report.

Safety Service Director Blaser: Updated Council on Street Department Leaf collection program. Updated on the Street Paving program and stated that the Mahoning Road is all that is left and should be done this week as the culverts have been filled and the grinding started.

Reviewed the new Exhibit A for Ordinance 133.01 and reviewed ordinances 135-06;136-06;137-06;138-06; and 139;06

Requested Council go into executive session to discuss collective bargaining agreements following regular business.

Law Director Andrew Zumbar: Reported on the renewal of city liquor permits and council’s ability to object.

Reported that the Dawn Blank vs. Kevin Ward case has been resolved and Kevin Ward vs. City of Alliance has also been resolved and dismissed.

Reported City named as a 3^rd party defendant in a case Mel’s Towing vs. Albert Carter.

Questions by Councilman Okey regarding Kevin Ward vs. City of Alliance will be forwarded to Attorney Conner that handled the matter.

Questions by Councilman Phillips regarding liquor permit objections.

Auditor Alexander Zumbar: Reviewed operational budget by department as of October 31, 2006 and reported the temporary budget must be to the county auditor before December 31.

Reviewed Ordinance 136-06 and responded to Councilman Okey’s questions on Ordinance 136-06.

STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Safety & Judiciary: Andreani: No formal report.

Finance: Okey: Reported a need to set a committee meeting to review temporary budget.

Reviewed the workshop session prior to City Council’s regular meeting tonight which discussed issues such as Safety Forces levy; income tax increase; reduction of tax credit; tax allocation; park and recreation levy; and re-structuring of the fire department.

Comments by President Benincasa regarding this issue and encouraging public input.

Community Development: Phillips: Reported on Ordinance 135-06.

Planning, Zoning, & Housing: Price: Reported the meeting for November 20, 2006 at 8:30 AM had to be re-scheduled due to conflict in chairman’s schedule. The Committee Meeting to discuss the safe housing ordinance is set for November 30, 2006 but the location is to be announced.

Utilities: Rhome: No formal report.

Streets & Alley: Ryan: No formal report.

Properties and Lands: Thompson: No formal report.

PUBLIC SPEAKS:

Kevin Cox of 6531 Market Avenue spoke against the Safe Housing Ordinance as attorney representing Alliance Area Landlord Association.

Sandy Williams of Louisville Avenue spoke against the Safe Housing Ordinance.

Nick Hustus of 130 East Milton Street Avenue spoke against the Safe Housing Ordinance.

Eric Wohlwend of East Sparts Avenue spoke against the Safe Housing Ordinance and gave suggestions of revenue generating for financial situation of City.

THIRD READINGS: None

SECOND READINGS:

Ordinance 133-06: Introduced by Council as a Whole: An Ordinance making temporary appropriations for 2007 for the General Fund, Water Fund, Sewer Fund, and other City Funds, and authorizing the Auditor to draw payments for those appropriations upon receiving proper certificates and vouchers; and declaring an emergency.

NEW BUSINESS:

Ordinance 135-06: Introduced by Phillips: An Ordinance authorizing and directing the Director of Public Safety and Service of the City of Alliance to enter into a contract with the Stark County Regional Planning Commission to provide Fair Housing Services to the City of Alliance.

Ordinance 136-06: Introduced by Okey: An Ordinance making appropriations and transfers of funds in the 2006 appropriations to provide for 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

Motion and second to enter executive session to discuss collective bargaining agreements with Council members, Council President, Council Clerk, Mayor, Safety Service Director, Auditor, and Police Chief. MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS.

Council entered executive session at 7:45 PM.

Council returned from executive session at 8:37 PM.

Ordinance 137-06: Introduced by Okey and Andreani: An Ordinance ratifying a contract between the City of Alliance and the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association for the Police patrolmen’s bargaining unit; 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 138-06: Introduced by Okey and Rhome: An Ordinance ratifying a contract between the City of Alliance and 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

OLD BUSINESS: None

MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS:

Motion and second to hold Special Meeting as a workshop session on December 4, 2006 at 6:00 PM in Council chambers proceeding council‘s regular meeting to further discus financial matters. MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS.

ADJOURNMENT: Noting no further business to come before this Council, President Benincasa adjourned the meeting at 8:40 PM.

SUMMARY OF ACTIONS TAKEN:

Ordinance 133-06 SECOND READING

Ordinance 135-06 FIRST READING

Ordinance 136-06 ADOPTED

Ordinance 137-06 ADOPTED

Ordinance 138-06 ADOPTED

_______________________________ ________________________________

JOHN BENINCASA, PRESIDENT GERARD T. YOST