Alliance City Council

MINUTES OF APRIL 20, 2009

REGULAR MEETING OF THE ALLIANCE CITY COUNCIL

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

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

Motion and second to excuse Councilperson Phillips who is out of town on business. MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS.

Motion and second to approve the minutes of the April 6, 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: No Formal Report

Safety Service Director Blaser: Reviewed Ordinance 37-09 and 38-09.

Reviewed the situation discussed by a citizen at last meeting regarding a rude dispatcher presented the tape of actual telephone conversation.

Discussed the situation with the Railroad crossing at Mahoning Avenue and the schedule for repair and situation with Ordinance 26-09

Review the situation with the COPS grant application and the requirements upon the City. Has concern and advise City may want to recind the grant application.

Law Director Andrew Zumbar: Absent, No Report.

Auditor Knowles: Reviewed the General Fund Summary / Operational Budget Report as of March 31, 2009

STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Safety & Judiciary: Andreani: Reviewed the April 20, 2009 committee meeting to discuss Ordinance 32-09 and the questions that arose. Fire Chief is going to do some investigation on cost, need, and other topics. Committee has no formal recommendation on this ordinance as of yet.

Request a future Finance Committee meeting to further review the financial details of the grant in Ordinance 25-09 prior to the actual institution of the grant to study the financial impact.

Properties and Lands: Clunk: No Formal Report.

Finance: Okey: No formal report but thanked Committee and Fire Chief for work on Ordinance 32-09

Noted disagreement with Safety Service Director and asking for action on Ordinance 26-09

Noted the next meeting would by at Alliance High School on May 4, 2009 @ 10:00 AM pursuant to the legislation passed last year regarding the first regular May Council Meeting.

Community Development: Phillips: Absent No Formal Report

Utilities: Rhome: No formal Report

Streets & Alley: Ryan: No formal Report but noted Engineer is working on summer paving list

Planning, Zoning, & Housing: Thompson: No formal Report.

PUBLIC SPEAKS: None.

SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS: Terry Leach and Brenda Fargo from First Energy spoke regarding electric aggregation program and Tom Bellish of Buckeye Energy Brokers spoke on natural gas aggregation

Ordinance 23-09: Introduced by Andreani, Thompson and Ryan: An Ordinance amending Chapter 1327, Licensing of Contractors” to provide citizens with the ability to Grieve issues relating to contractors. (Noted the matter is in Committee) NO FORMAL ACTION.

Ordinance 32-09: Introduced by Okey: An Ordinance authorizing and directing the Director of Public Safety and Service to submit an application to the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the purpose of acquiring grant funds to construct a new fire station that replaces the existing Mount Union Fire Station; and declaring an emergency. (Noted the matter is in Committee) NO FORMAL ACTION.

Ordinance 26-09: Introduced by Okey: An Ordinance Ordering the Norfolk and Southern Corporation to repair and maintain its Railroad crossing located on Mahoning Avenue, Immediately North of Railroad Street, in the City of Alliance; and declaring an emergency. Motion and second to suspend rules: Roll Call: 3 to 3(Clunk, Okey, and Ryan in favor Andreani, Rhome, and Thompson against), Motion fails. NO FORMAL ACTION.

Ordinance 35-09: Introduced by Rhome: An Ordinance authorizing and directing the Director of Public Safety and Service to execute an amendment to the Master Agreement with First Energy Solutions to provide services to Commercial and Residential users within the Alliance Aggregate; and declaring an emergency. Motion and second to suspend rules: Roll Call: 5-1 (Okey against) Motion fails. NO FORMAL ACTION.

Ordinance 36-09: Introduced by Rhome: An Ordinance authorizing and directing the Director of Public Safety and Service to enter into an Agreement for Natural Gas in the City of Alliance with Volunteer Energy Services Inc.; and declaring an emergency. Motion and second to suspend rules: Roll Call: 4-2 (Okey & Thompson against). Motion fails. NO FORMAL ACTION.

Ordinance 37-09: Introduced by Andreani: An Ordinance authorizing and directing the Director of Public Safety and Service to donate items of personal property which are not needed for Municipal purposes and do not exceed $1,000.00 in estimated value; 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 38-09: Introduced by Clunk and Andreani: An Ordinance authorizing and directing the Director of Public Safety and Service to advertise for bids and enter into a contract for repair and resurfacing of the City Parking lot West of Mechanic Avenue between East Main Street and East Market Street in an amount not to exceed $50,000; 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.

Motion to refer Ordinance 25-09 back to Safety and Judiciary Committee for further review. Roll Call: 5-1 (Okey against) MOTION PASSED matter referred back to Committee.

DJOURNMENT: Noting no further business to come before this Council, President Benincasa adjourned the meeting at 8:07 P.M.