MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 2, 2007
REGULAR MEETING OF THE ALLIANCE CITY COUNCIL
The meeting was called to order by President Benincasa at 7:00 P.M. Councilman Okey 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: Noted that Council members did not have time to review the minutes of the December 28, 2006 Special meeting. Motion and second to postpone action on the minutes until the next meeting. MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS.
COMMUNICATIONS:
1. Memo from Auditor Zumbar RE: December 2006 Alliance Municipal Income Tax Recapitulation.
2. Memo from Council Clerk Yost RE: “Old Legislation”
3. Memo from Councilman Okey RE: public survey on city financial situation
4. Memo from Keep Alliance Beautiful RE: Eden’s lost and found
5. Letter from Canton Exchange Club announcing Crime prevention breakfast
6. Memo from Mayor Middleton RE: receipts collected through mayor’s office in the Month of December 2006.
7. Keep Ohio Beautiful letter RE: Keep Alliance Beautiful President’s Circle Award.
Motion and second to receive and file all communications tendered to the Clerk. MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS:
Mayor Middleton: Explained and endorsed Ordinance 01-07 and Ordinance 02-07 asking for council approval of both measures.
Introduced Dean Reynolds as the new Water Treatment Plant Superintendent. Explained Mr. Reynolds’ qualifications and background.
Commended Council on actions leading to Resolution 03-07 and addressing the City budget situation. Announced he will co-chair a committee with President Benincasa to educate the public and endorse the ballot issue to attempt to pass the measure in the May 2007 Primary election.
Safety Service Director Blaser: Noted there has not been formal approval of the contract language for Ordinance 157-06 and 158-06. Asked council for a second reading only on the two pieces of legislation with no further action at this time.
Law Director Andrew Zumbar: Explained Resolution 03-07 and the minor language changes in the final draft. Explained Ordinance 04-07 and the timing of these two pieces of legislation.
Reviewed the legal situation of the City noting that there are a number of pending cases involving the City however only one involves a claim in excess of $25,000.00 and insurance has been notified for that and coverage requested.
Reported that the Law Director’s Office sought and obtained over 50 search warrants and conducted over 30 Criminal Jury Trials in 2006.
Auditor Alexander Zumbar: No formal report.
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Safety & Judiciary: Andreani: No formal report.
Finance: Okey: Announced the results of the public survey that was conducted regarding the City finances. Reported on the December 28, 2006 sub-committee meeting that resulted in the request for preparation of Resolution 02-07.
Noted that the sub-committee expressed a need for a unanimous support of Resolution 03-07 and the .25% income tax increase as the solution needing approval of the voters. Noted that Ordinance 122-06 and Resolution 151-06 should not be passed if council desires to present a united support of Resolution 03-07 for voter approval.
Expressed concern that although Resolution 155-06 was approved on December 28, 2006, any resulting contract language should not interfere with the Department heads being appointed at the pleasure of the Mayor.
Community Development: Phillips: Asked for support and approval of Ordinance 01-07 and Ordinance 02-07.
Planning, Zoning, & Housing: Price: No formal report
Utilities: Rhome: Reported on the 1-02-07 morning meeting and reported that the committee met Dean Reynolds as the new water treatment plant superintendent.
As sponsor of Ordinance 122-06 and Resolution 151-06 asking Council to defeat both pieces of legislation in favor of Resolution 03-07.
Streets & Alley: Ryan: No formal Report.
Properties and Lands: Thompson: No formal report.
As sponsor of Ordinance 122-06 and Resolution 151-06 support Council to defeating both pieces of legislation in favor of Resolution 03-07.
SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Larry Pyers of the Alliance Development Loan Review Committee reported on the loan applications contained in Ordinance 01-07 and Ordinance 02-07. The Committee was in favor of both applications and recommended passage of both ordinances.
PUBLIC SPEAKS: None.
THIRD READINGS:
Resolution 151-06: Introduced by Rhome and Thompson: A Resolution declaring the necessity of an election on the question of approving the passage of a decrease of the existing city of Alliance income tax credit for income tax paid by residents to another municipality. Motion and second to defeat: Roll Call: Unanimous: DEFEATED.
SECOND READINGS
Ordinance 157-06: Introduced by Okey and Ryan: An Ordinance ratifying a contract between the City of Alliance Local 2233 Alliance Street Department Employees and the Ohio Council 8 American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Union, AFL-CIO; and declaring an emergency. NO FORMAL ACTION.
Ordinance 158-06: Introduced by Okey and Rhome: An Ordinance ratifying a contract between the City of Alliance Local 2233-A Alliance Water Treatment Plant Employees and the Ohio Council 8 American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Union, AFL-CIO; and declaring an emergency. NO FORMAL ACTION.
NEW BUSINESS:
Ordinance 01-07: Introduced by Phillips: An Ordinance authorizing the execution of a loan agreement with respect to the proceeds derived from Urban Development Action Grants (UDAG) in the amount of $59,400.00 to Friendz Enterprises, LLC; 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 02-07: Introduced by Phillips: An Ordinance authorizing the execution of a loan agreement with respect to the proceeds derived from Urban Development Action Grants (UDAG) in the amount of $50,000.00 to Courtney‘s Banquet Center, LLC and Courtney‘s Real Estate and Auction Sales, LLC; 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 03-07: Introduced by Council as a Whole: A Resolution declaring the necessity of an election on the question of approving the passage of one quarter percent (.25%) increase to the existing City of Alliance Income Tax.. Motion and second to set a public hearing for January 16, 2007 @ 7:30: Roll Call: Unanimous public hearing set for January 16, 2007 @ 7:30.
Ordinance 04-07: Introduced by Council as a Whole: An Ordinance amending Chapter 181 of the Alliance Codified Ordinance after passage of a ballot issue increasing the Municipal Income Tax from one and three quarter percent (1.75%) to two percent (2%); and declaring an emergency. NO FORMAL ACTION.
OLD BUSINESS
Ordinance 122-06: introduced by Rhome and Thompson: An Ordinance amending Alliance Codified Ordinance Section 181.14 "Credit for tax paid to another municipality"; and declaring an emergency. Motion and second to return from the table for consideration with a recommendation to defeat: Roll Call: Unanimous for return from the table for consideration. Motion and second to defeat: Roll Call: Unanimous: DEFEATED.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS: None
ADJOURNMENT: Noting no further business to come before this Council, President Benincasa adjourned the meeting at 8:05 P.M..
SUMMARY OF ACTIONS TAKEN:
Resolution 122-06 DEFEATED
Ordinance 151-06 DEFEATED
Ordinance 157-06 SECOND READING
Ordinance 158-06 SECOND READING
Ordinance 01-07 ADOPTED
Ordinance 02-07 ADOPTED
Resolution 03-07 FIRST READING SET FOR PUBLIC HEARING
Ordinance 04-07 FIRST READING
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JOHN BENINCASA, PRESIDENT GERARD T. YOST, COUNCIL CLERK