MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 17, 2007
REGULAR MEETING OF THE ALLIANCE CITY COUNCIL
The meeting was called to order by President Benincasa at 7:00 P.M.. Councilperson Ryan gave the invocation and led the meeting in the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL: Alan Andreani, Steve Okey, Phyllis Phillips, Roger Rhome, Sue Ryan and Larry Thompson present.
Motion and Second to Excuse Councilperson Warren Price due to his being out of town on an unexpected Business matter of urgency. MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL REMAINING MEMBERS.
Motion and second to approval the minutes of the September 4, 2006 regular Council Meeting. MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS.
COMMUNICATIONS:
1. Letter from the Stark County Commissioners with a copy of the revised Resolution approving the Thunderhill Quality Annexation and the resolution disapproving the WMMT-RFIPM annexation.
2. Notice of Public Meeting of the Alliance City Planning Commission on 9-19-07 @ 4:40 p.m.
3. Memorandum from Auditor Zumbar RE: Operational Budget report by department as of August 31, 2007.
4. Copy of letter from Clerk of Council Yost to Clerk of Court Ward RE: Payroll account codes running over budget and request to appear at 9-17-07 Council Meeting.
5. Letter from Clerk of Court Ward RE: Budget issues and request to appear at Council.
6. Notice of lack of agenda for September meeting of the Board of Zoning Appeals.
7. Notice of Appeal of the administrative hearing for the Thunderhill Annexation by Lexington township.
8. Notice of the Ohio Municipal League 56th Annual Conference.
9. Notice of Cancellation of the Alliance City Planning Commission on September 19, 2007.
10. Minutes of the Finance Committee Hearing of September 13, 2007.
11. Minutes of the August 30, 2007 Stark County Commissioners meeting and the related resolution regarding the WMMT annexation.
* Items 4 and 5 were read aloud by Clerk Yost.
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 Ordinance 110-07 and the related expenditures as well as asking for action on the measure as quickly as possible.
Safety Service Director Blaser: Explained Ordinance 111-07 and asked for clarification on Ordinance 112-07.
Commented on the Finance Committee oversight hearing on the WMMT annexation and commented on some of the press coverage and discussions and suggestions arising out of it.
Law Director Andrew Zumbar: Commented on the Finance Committee oversight hearing on the WMMT annexation reviewed the process and current appeal related to it.
Requested changes to Ordinances 112-07 as well as discussion of the Clerk of Court budgetary issues and the council authority to act on Ordinance 112-07.
Auditor Alexander Zumbar: Reviewed the Operational Budget report by department as of August 31, 2007.
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Safety & Judiciary: Andreani: No formal report.
Asking for action on Ordinance 110-07.
Finance: Okey: Commented on the Finance Committee oversight hearing on the WMMT annexation reviewed minutes provided to Council tonight.
Requested changes to Ordinances 112-07 as outlined by the Law Director as well as discussion of the Clerk of Court budgetary issues and requested action on Ordinance 112-07.
Community Development: Phillips: No formal report.
Questioned the sponsor of Ordinance 111-07 and requested that others be included.
Voiced support for Ordinance 112-07.
Planning, Zoning, & Housing: Price: Absent. No report.
Utilities: Rhome: No formal report.
Discussed the sponsorship of Ordinance 111-07 and invited others that want to join in sponsoring to do so.
Streets & Alley: Ryan: Expressed the desire to join Councilman Rhome in sponsoring Ordinance 111-07
Discussed the meeting at Potter’s Creek related to the traffic light issue.
Reported working with the City Engineer to install a center turn lane at Brayton Avenue during the East State Street re-paving project.
Requested a meeting with the City Engineer and Street Department Supervisor on September 25, 2007 @ 9:00 a.m. to address pedestrian safety issues in light of recent pedestrian accidents.
Properties and Lands: Thompson: No formal report.
Public Speaks: None
THIRD READINGS: None
SECOND READINGS:
Ordinance 103-07: Introduced by Rhome: An Ordinance accepting and approving the Replat of part of outlot 398 on Sawburg Avenue in the City of Alliance, County of Stark and State of Ohio. NO FORMAL ACTION TAKEN.
NEW BUSINESS:
Ordinance 110-07: Introduced by Andreani: An Ordinance making appropriations and transfers of funds to provide for necessary expenses and adjustments; and declaring an emergency. Motion and second to excuse Councilman Okey from voting due to conflict of interest: Roll Call: Unanimous to excuse Councilman Okey. Motion and second to suspend rules: Roll Call: 5 to 0 for rules suspension motion fails. NO FORMAL ACTION TAKEN.
Ordinance 111-07: Introduced by Rhome, Okey, and Ryan: An Ordinance authorizing and directing the Director of Public Safety and Service to request Stark County area transportation study (SCATS) to provide a warrant study for a traffic light on U.S. Route 62 at Brayton Avenue; appropriating funds for said study by a professional engineering firm as an alternative; 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 112-07: Introduced by Okey: An Ordinance prohibiting the transfer of funds between certain accounts of the Clerk of Court due to over-budget spending by the Clerk of Court; 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:
Ordinance 84-07: Introduced by Rhome and Thompson: An Ordinance authorizing and directing the Mayor to enter into a cooperative economic development agreement with Lexington Township in accordance with the terms and provisions on attached Exhibit “A”; and declaring an emergency. Motion and second to adopt: Roll Call: Unanimous to defeat: DEFEATED.
MISCELLANIOUS BUSINESS: President Benincasa entertained a request by Mayor Middleton to further discuss the failed WMMT annexation attempt and the accusations or interpretations of the statements made related to the September 13, 2007 Finance Committee oversight hearing. Discussion and questions were raised among various councilmen and the Safety Service Director and Planning and Development Director.
ADJOURNMENT: Noting no further business to come before this Council, President Benincasa adjourned the meeting at 8:12 P.M..
SUMMARY OF ACTIONS TAKEN:
Ordinance 84-07 DEFEATED
Ordinance 103-07 SECOND READING
Ordinance 110-07 FIRST READING
Ordinance 111-07 ADOPTED
Ordinance 112-07 ADOPTED
__________________________________ ________________________________
JOHN BENINCASA, PRESIDENT GERARD T. YOST, COUNCIL CLERK