MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 16, 2007
REGULAR MEETING OF THE ALLIANCE CITY COUNCIL
The meeting was called to order by President Benincasa at 7:00 P.M. Councilman Phillips gave the invocation and led the meeting in the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL: Alan Andreani, Phyllis Phillips, Warren Price, Roger Rhome, Sue Ryan and Larry Thompson present.
Motion and second to excuse Councilman Okey due to work commitments that kept him out of town. MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS.
MINUTES: Motion and second to approve the minutes of the December 28, 2006 special meeting. MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS.
Motion and second to approve the minutes of the January 2, 2006 regular meeting. MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS.
COMMUNICATIONS:
1. Minutes of the Water and Sewer Advisory Board Meeting of 1-2-07
2. Letter from City Engineer Curtis Bungard RE: 2006 Bridge Inspection Report
3. Memo from City Engineer Curtis Bungard RE: Agenda for 1-17-07 Planning Commission Meeting
4. Ohio Municipal League Legislative Bulletin No. 1
5. Minutes of the 12-20-06 Treasury Investment Board
6. Memo form Planning & Development Director Marion RE: 2007 CDBG Proposals
7. Notice of Public Hearing on Resolution 03-07
8. Letter from Ohio EPA RE: Public Notice 07-01-002
9. Letter from Keep Ohio Beautiful RE: recognition of Keep Alliance Beautiful
10. Memo from Safety Service Director Blaser RE: 2007 Budget Requests
11. Memo from Councilman Price RE: Chairman Report on Planning Zoning and Housing Committee status with the Zoning Ordinance.
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 formal Report.
Safety Service Director Blaser: Update on Ordinance 157-06 and 158-06 and reported on Updated Exhibit “A” for each. Reviewed Ordinance 05-07 and reported on the ongoing negotiations with the newly formed union and the existing labor unions. Reviewed the Water and Sewer fund balances, transfers and rates.
Law Director Andrew Zumbar: Explained the City was granted Summary Judgment in the easement lawsuit from the 1950’s.
Auditor Alexander Zumbar: Reported the office is transferring books to 2007 and closing out 2006.
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Safety & Judiciary: Andreani: No formal report.
Finance: Okey: No formal report.
Community Development: Phillips: Asked for support and approval of Ordinance 06-07.
Planning, Zoning, & Housing: Price: Reported that there will be a fair coming up at carnation mall sponsored by the employment source. Reported on the committee status with the zoning ordinance and explained his memo provided in communications.
Utilities: Rhome: No formal report.
Streets & Alley: Ryan: No formal Report.
Properties and Lands: Thompson: No formal report.
PUBLIC HEARING: President Benincasa called the public hearing on Resolution 03-07 at 7:30 P.M. Vern Martin spoke in favor of the income tax increase to 2% but in opposition to the reduction of the income tax credit. With no further speakers, either for or against the Resolution present to speak, President Benincasa closed the public hearing at 7:35 P.M.
PUBLIC SPEAKS: Bill Fast of 2192 Western Avenue in Alliance spoke in favor of funding for the park system to continue the use for the Hot Stove Baseball Program and the benefits it brings to the City.
Motion and second to postpone action on Ordinance 157-06 and Ordinance 158-06 and to conduct an executive session at the conclusion of other business to discuss the labor contracts with council, council president, council clerk, mayor, safety service director, law director, auditor, and department heads present with anticipated action on the legislation upon return to regular session. MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS.
SECOND READINGS
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 adopt: Roll Call: Unanimous: ADOPTED
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.
NEW BUSINESS:
Ordinance 05-07: Introduced by Okey: An Ordinance making appropriations and transfers of funds in the 2007 Temporary 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
Ordinance 06-07: Introduced by Okey and Phillips: An Ordinance accepting the recommendations of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Luther Jr. Viaduct improvement advisory commission, and authorizing and directing the director of public safety and service of the City of Alliance to enter into a contract with William Hahn to provide certain engineering services to the City of Alliance in relation to the MLK Viaduct, and declaring an emergency. Motion and second to suspend rules: Roll Call: Unanimous for rules suspension. Motion and second to adopt: Shelia Cheri of the Martin Luther King Jr. Viaduct Committee spoke of the committee recommendations and time schedules: Roll Call: Unanimous: ADOPTED
Council entered executive session at 7:55 P.M. with council, council president, council clerk, mayor, safety service director, law director, auditor, and department heads present to discuss Ordinance 157-06 and Ordinance 158-06.
Council returned from executive session to regular session at 8:22 P.M.
THIRD 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. Motion and second to adopt: Roll Call: Unanimous: ADOPTED
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. Motion and second to adopt: Roll Call: Unanimous: ADOPTED
OLD BUSINESS: None.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS: None
ADJOURNMENT: Noting no further business to come before this Council, President Benincasa adjourned the meeting at 8:24 P.M..
SUMMARY OF ACTIONS TAKEN:
Ordinance 157-06 ADOPTED
Ordinance 158-06 ADOPTED
Ordinance 01-07 ADOPTED
Ordinance 02-07 ADOPTED
Resolution 03-07 ADOPTED
Ordinance 04-07 SECOND READING
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JOHN BENINCASA, PRESIDENT GERARD T. YOST, COUNCIL CLERK