MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 17, 2007
REGULAR MEETING OF THE ALLIANCE CITY COUNCIL
The meeting was called to order by President Benincasa at 7:00 P.M. Councilman Price 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.
Motion and second to approval the minutes of the December 3, 2007 regular Council Meeting. MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS.
COMMUNICATIONS:
1. Notice of Special Work Session of Alliance City Council.
2. Memorandum from Auditor Zumbar RE: Operational Budget Report By Department as of November 30, 2007.
3. Minutes of the December 3, 2007 Water and Sewer Advisory Board Meeting.
4. Agenda for the December 11, 2007 Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting.
5. Minutes of the November 20, 2007 Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting.
6. Agenda for the November 21, 2007 Planning Commission Meeting.
7. Agenda for the December 19, 2007 Planning Commission Meeting.
8. Letter from the Ohio EPA RE: Water Pollution Control Loan Fund Draft 2008 Program Management Plan.
Motion and second to receive and file all communications tendered to the Clerk. MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS:
Mayor Middleton:. Discussed meeting in Pittsburgh regarding Amtrak funding for train station upgrading.
Discussed meeting in Cleveland with Lt. Governor Fisher regarding North Eastern Ohio Regional district development strategies regarding “Getting Ohio Moving” Plan.
Safety Service Director Blaser: Discussed problems with Algae and affects on water taste and smell as well as efforts to combat it.
Review Ordinance 142-07.
Law Director Andrew Zumbar: Announced that no Liquor permit concerns have been raised with Law Director’s Office, and reminded council that it is on a strict time line to object to any permit renewals if it desires to do so.
Reviewed the Clerk of Court Budget situation and reported that the office will finish the year in the black.
Reviewed the re-issuing of the Hospital Bonds. Reported that the initial Bond Documents have been received and are available for review if any council member desires.
Auditor Alexander Zumbar: Reviewed the Operational Budget Report By Department as of November 30, 2007.
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Safety & Judiciary: Andreani: Reported the December 14, 2007 meeting did not happen due to the lack of a quorum. Intent was to discuss the city liquor permits and any possible renewal objections. Discussed the plotting of existing liquor permit establishments on City Map and it is available for review.
Finance: Okey: Reported the December 14, 2007 meeting did not happen due to the lack of a quorum. Reported an injury prevented his attendance and apologized for the inconvenience.
Acknowledged the Department heads for the various budgets coming in under for the year and Recognized Warren Price for his service to City Council.
Discussed the work session of Council prior to regular session with the Martin Luther King Jr. Viaduct committee and expressed the desire to follow the recommendation of the committee and proceed with the project seeking a loan or grant to complete it.
Community Development: Phillips: No formal report.
Discussed the Liquor Permit establishments in ward 2.
Expressed the desire to follow the recommendation of the Martin Luther King Jr. Viaduct committee and proceed with the project seeking a loan or grant to complete it.
Recognized Warren Price for his service to City Council.
Planning, Zoning, & Housing: Price: No meeting since last Council Meeting however expressed sentiment of Ordinance 103-06. The Committee was highly involved with this ordinance and placed any action on hold to see how the re-structuring of the Code enforcement Department affected the blighted housing. Hopeful that the next committee / Chairman takes the same approach to the ordinance.
Utilities: Rhome:. No formal report.
Streets & Alley: Ryan: No formal report.
Questioned Planning Commission action on Ordinance 132-07 (Reported no action by Planning Commission). Recognized Warren Price for his service to City Council.
Properties and Lands: Thompson: No formal report.
Public Speaks: None.
THIRD READINGS:
Ordinance 132-07: Introduced by Ryan: An Ordinance vacating a portion of the North South alley West of Parkway Boulevard between Hartshorn Street and Roseland Road in the City of Alliance, County of Stark and State of Ohio. NO FORMAL ACTION.
Ordinance 133-07: Introduced by Price: An Ordinance accepting and approving the replat of Lots 8767 and 7361 and a vacated portion of a 15 foot alley on Hartshorn Street in the City of Alliance, County of Stark, and State of Ohio. NO FORMAL ACTION.
Ordinance 134-07: Introduced by Rhome: An Ordinance authorizing modifying the compensation for the elected offices of Mayor, Law Director, Auditor, Treasurer, Clerk of the Alliance Municipal Court, President of Alliance City Council, and all Council Representatives; and declaring an emergency. Motion and second to Amend Whereas clauses to include new clauses: Roll Call: 3 in favor (Andreani, Rhome, and Thompson) and 4 against (Okey, Phillips, Price, and Ryan) Motion failed . . Motion and second to Amend Section 1 to include new language: Roll Call: 3 in favor (Andreani, Rhome, and Thompson) and 4 against (Okey, Phillips, Price, and Ryan) Motion failed. Motion and second to adopt: Roll Call: 3 in favor (Andreani, Rhome, and Thompson) and 4 against (Okey, Phillips, Price, and Ryan): DEFEATED.
SECOND READINGS:
Ordinance 138-07: Introduced by Price: An Ordinance creating and funding a downtown special events commission; and declaring an emergency. Motion and second to suspend rules: Roll Call: 6-1 (Andreani) for rules suspension. Motion and second to adopt: Roll Call: Roll Call: 4 in favor (Okey, Phillips, Price, and Ryan) and 3 against (Andreani, Rhome, and Thompson): ADOPTED.
Ordinance 139-07: Introduced by Price: An Ordinance allocating an additional ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per year to the Alliance Area Development Foundation for the purpose of Maintaining and attracting living wage jobs to the City of Alliance; and declaring an emergency. Motion and Second to refer Jointly to the Finance Committee and the Community Development Committee: Roll Call: Unanimous for Referral. REFERRED JOINTLY TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
Ordinance 140-07: Introduced by Price: An Ordinance establishing performance based salaries for elected officials; and declaring an emergency. Motion and second to Amend Section 1 and Section 2 to delete Council President and Council Member: Roll Call: 5 in favor (Andreani, Price, Rhome, Ryan, and Thompson) and 2 against (Okey and Phillips): Motion passed. Motion and second to suspend rules: Roll Call: 5 in favor (Andreani, Price, Rhome, Ryan, and Thompson) and 2 against (Okey and Phillips): Motion failed. AMENDED WITH NO FURTHER ACTION.
NEW BUSINESS:
Ordinance 141-07: Introduced by Phillips: An Ordinance authorizing and directing the Director of Public Safety and Service ot 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; 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 142-07: Introduced by Andreani: An Ordinance making appropriations and transfers of funds in the 2007 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.
Resolution 143-07: Introduced by Council as a Whole: A Resolution Honoring Alliance Police Chief Lawrence A. Dordea upon his retirement from the City of Alliance Motion and second to adopt: Roll Call: Unanimous: ADOPTED.
ADJOURNMENT: Noting no further business to come before this Council, President Benincasa adjourned the meeting at 8:40 P.M..
SUMMARY OF ACTIONS TAKEN:
Ordinance 132-07 THIRD READING
Ordinance 133-07 THIRD READING
Ordinance 134-07 DEFEATED
Ordinance 138-07 ADOPTED
Ordinance 139-07 REFERRED JOINTLY TO FINANCE COMMITTEE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Ordinance 140-07 SECOND READING / AMENDED WITH NO FURTHER ACTION
Ordinance 141-07 ADOPTED
Ordinance 142-07 ADOPTED
Resolution 143-07 ADOPTED
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JOHN BENINCASA, PRESIDENT GERARD T. YOST, COUNCIL CLERK