MINUTES OF MARCH 2, 2009

REGULAR MEETING OF THE ALLIANCE CITY COUNCIL

 

 

 

The meeting was called to order by President Benincasa at 7:00 P.M. Council person Rhome gave the Invocation and led the meeting in the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

 

Motion and second to approve the minutes of the February 17, 2009, Regular Council Meeting. MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS.

 

 

COMMUNICATIONS:

 

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

 

 

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS:

 

Mayor Middleton:  Reviewed the Receipts collected through the Mayor’s office in the month of February 2009.

 

Safety Service Director Blaser: Reported that the Planning Commission granted an extension to the applicant on Ordinance 52-08 and 53-08 to comply with the requirements.

 

Noted that Ordinance marked 12-08 in new business should be 12-09 mismarked due to clerical error

 

Explained the State purchasing Coop for ODOT and its cause of cost increase for Road Salt.

 

Explained Ordinance 20-09 and the appropriations.

 

Discussed modifications to stimulus projects.

 

Asked Council members to pass citizens complaints on to Director, Mayor, or Department Heads

 

Law Director Andrew Zumbar: Reported on “Kays” lawsuit – reported that one patrolman has been dismissed and currently awaiting a ruling on a summary judgment motion.

 

Reported on  the Letter from the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office RE: Payment for housing Municipal Prisoners at the Stark County Jail.  Responded to the items in the letter and explained the City’s position on the issue.

 

Auditor Knowles: Reviewed the February 2009 Alliance Municipal Income Tax Recapitulation

 

 

STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:

 

Safety & Judiciary: Andreani:  Reported on the Safety and Judiciary Committee Meeting on February 27, 2009 and the discussions related to Ordinance 06-09-S.

 

 

Properties and Lands: Clunk: No Formal Report.

 

 

Finance: Okey:  Reported on the Status of Ordinance 06-09-S.

 

Reported on the Tax Abatement and CRA Agreements in Ordinance 18-09 and Ordinance 19-09

 

Reported on Resolution 16-09 and Resolution 17-09

 

Responded to Director Blaser’s request pass citizens complaints on to Director, Mayor, or Department

Heads and reported he doesn’t recall the administration passing specific complaints on to council members so he didn’t pass on complaints he received.

 

 

Community Development: Phillips:  Thanked Vince Marion for work on the Tax Abatement and CRA Agreements in Ordinance 18-09 and Ordinance 19-09

 

 

Utilities:  Rhome:   Reported on the March 2, 2009 Meeting of the Water and Sewer Advisory Board Meeting. 

 

Reported there will be a special Meeting of the Water and Sewer Advisory Board on March 6, 2009 to tour the Water Treatment Plant.

 

Reported that the Water and Sewer Advisory Board unanimously recommended defeating Ordinance 10-09.

 

Yielded time to Dean Reynolds to report on Water Treatment.  It was stressed that the Water is Safe for consumption and how MIB naturally occurs in the reservoir and not at the treatment plant.  Reported that there are 18,000 test of the water each year and equipment at the treatment plant is monitored by certified operators 24 hours a day.  Noted that there were 16 calls of complaints in February.  Two callers identified false radio reports indicated lead and toxins in the City water.  These radio reports are false.

 

 

Streets & Alley: Ryan: Reported on the Streets and Alleys Committee Meeting on February 27, 2009 and  reported that John Thorpe of ODOT joined the meeting and shared information on snow removal with the committee.  Noted there is a snow and ice removal seminar in Solon on May 14, 2009

 

Reported the Committee recommends passage of Ordinance 12-09 and noted she had spoken with State Representative Mark Okey regarding road salt costs.  Noted that there is an effort to reduce road salt costs.

 

Expressed thanks to Dean Reynolds for his ongoing work on solving the frustrating water problems.

 

 

Planning, Zoning, & Housing: Thompson:  No Formal Report.  Asked to be added as a sponsor to Ordinance 21-09

. 

 

PUBLIC SPEAKS:

 

 Mary Lou Hoskins of 55 West Carol Street spoke of the ongoing City water problems

 

Dale Vickers of 130 East Grant Street spoke of the ongoing City water problems

 

Nicole DeVault of 820 Fairway Drive spoke of the ongoing City water problems

 

Jerry Mauck of 215 W. Harrison Street spoke of the ongoing City water problems

 

SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS:  Vince Marion introduced Tom Bellish of Buckeye Energy spoke of Gas Aggregation in the City.  Discussed rates and potential savings.  Addressed a question from President Benincasa regarding Opt out notice and a price question from Councilman Okey.

 

 

 

THIRD READINGS:

 

Ordinance 6-09-S: Introduced by Okey and Ryan: An Ordinance to enact Chapter 379 of the Codified Ordinances of Alliance, Ohio; to provide a system of inspection for Golf Carts to be operated on streets in the City; and to restrict the operation of Golf Carts to streets where the speed limit does not exceed 25 miles per hour.  NO FORMAL ACTION.

 

 

 

SECOND READINGS:

 

Ordinance 10-09: Introduced by Okey: An Ordinance to authorize and require a one-time credit of

ten percent to the monthly water bill of each residential customer of water from the City of Alliance; and to declare an emergency.   Motion and second to suspend rules: Roll Call: 2 in favor (Okey / Phillips) 5 against (Andreani, Clunk, Rhome, Ryan, and Thompson) Motion Failed.  NO FORMAL ACTION.

 

 

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

Ordinance 11-09: Introduced by Rhome: An Ordinance authorizing and directing the Director of Public Safety and Service to enter into an agreement for Natural Gas Aggregation services in the City of Alliance with Buckeye Energy Brokers, and declaring an emergency. Motion and second to suspend rules: Roll Call: 6 - 1 (Okey) for rules suspension. Motion and second to adopt: Roll Call: 6 - 1 (Okey): ADOPTED.

 

Ordinance 12-09: Introduced by Ryan and Andreani: An Ordinance authorizing and directing the Director of Public Safety and Service to enter into an agreement to participate in the Ohio Department of Transportation’s contract for the purchase of Sodium Chloride: 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 13-09: Introduced by Thompson: An Ordinance vacating part of a 15 foot alley East of Madison Avenue North of Vine Street in the City of Alliance, County of Stark, and State of Ohio, and declaring an emergency. Motion and second to refer to the Aliance City Planning Commission: Roll Call: Unanimous for referral.  REFERRED TO THE ALLIANCE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION.

 

Ordinance 14-09: Introduced by Thompson: An Ordinance accepting and approving the replat of lot 6079 and part of a vacated 15 foot alley located on Madison Avenue in the City of Alliance, County of Stark, and State of Ohio.  Motion and second to refer to the Aliance City Planning Commission: Roll Call: Unanimous for referral.  REFERRED TO THE ALLIANCE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION.

 

Ordinance 15-09: Introduced by Thompson: An Ordinance accepting and approving the replat of lot 11735 and part of Outlot 290 located on South Union Avenue in the City of Alliance, County of Stark, and State of Ohio.  Motion and second to refer to the Aliance City Planning Commission: Roll Call: Unanimous for referral.  REFERRED TO THE ALLIANCE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION.

 

Resolution  16-09: Introduced by Okey: A Resolution committing the City of Alliance to buy American when spending funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  Motion and second to adopt: Roll Call: Unanimous: ADOPTED.

 

Resolution  17-09: Introduced by Okey: A Joint Resolution of the City Councils of Youngstown and Alliance, Ohio urging the Ohio General Assembly to enact legislation that authorizes and establishes a pilot program of tax-free renaissance zones in the Cities of Youngstown and Alliance.  Motion and second to adopt: Roll Call: Unanimous: ADOPTED.

 

Ordinance 18-09: Introduced by Council as a Whole: An Ordinance authorizing and recommending to the Stark County Commissioners the continuance of the tax abatement agreements with Terry’s Tire Town, Robertson Heating and Supply Company, Coastal pet products and Winkle Industries; 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 19-09: Introduced by Council as a Whole: An Ordinance authorizing and recommending to the Stark County Commissioners the continuance of the Alliance Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) agreement tax abatement with Coastal pet products CRA No. 1, Coastal pet products CRA No. 2, Winkle Industries, Terry’s Tire Town, Lavery Chevrolet-Buick, Inc., and Trilogy Real Estate Partners, 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 20-09: Introduced by Andreani: An Ordinance making permanent appropriations for 2009 for the General Fund, Water Fund, Sewer Fund, and other City Fund, and authorizing the Auditor to draw his warrants for payment of any appropriations upon receiving proper certificates and vouchers; and declaring an emergency. Motion and second to refer to the Finance Committee: Roll Call: Unanimous for referral.  REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.