Alliance City Council

MINUTES OF MAY 4, 2009

REGULAR MEETING OF THE ALLIANCE CITY COUNCIL

The meeting was called to order by President Benincasa at 10:00 A.M. Councilman Okey 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 Clunk who is out of town with family obligations. MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS.

Motion and second to approve the minutes of the April 20, 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: Absent No Formal Report

Safety Service Director Blaser: Reviewed the situation with the water smell and taste and MIB’s in water sources at Deer Creek and Walborn Reservoirs.

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

Explained job duties and that of the department heads for the student audience present.

Law Director Andrew Zumbar: No Report request an executive session to discuss pending civil litigation regarding the Jail situation.

Auditor Knowles: Reviewed the April 2009 Alliance Municipal Income Tax Recapitulation.

STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Safety & Judiciary: Andreani: Explained committee. Discussed the Liquor license transfer and need time to look at it. Will conduct a meeting to discuss Ordinance 25-09 and 32-09 in the near future.

Properties and Lands: Clunk: Absent No Formal Report.

Finance: Okey: Explained committee. Announced the downtown business roundtable meeting set for May 5, 2009 @ 6:00 at Shaffer’s Diner.

Reported a business owner called concerning the water quality.

Discussed the Railroad crossing at Mahoning Avenue and situation with Ordinance 26-09.

Community Development: Phillips: Explained committee. Asking for action on Ordinance 39-09.

Utilities: Rhome: Explained committee. Reported on Earlier Water and Sewer Advisory Board meeting. Committee favorably recommends Ordinance 35-09 and 36-09.

Streets & Alley: Ryan: Explained committee. No formal Report. Commented on Ordinance 26-09

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

PUBLIC SPEAKS: None.

THIRD READINGS:

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: 3 in favor (Okey, Phillips and Ryan) 3 against (Andreani, Rhome and Thompson) MOTION FAILS.

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: Unanimous for rules suspension. Motion and second to adopt: Roll Call: Unanimous: ADOPTED.

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: Unanimous for rules suspension. Motion and second to adopt: Roll Call: Unanimous: ADOPTED.

Ordinance 39-09: Introduced by Phillips: An Ordinance accepting the proposed annual consolidated plan for the City of Alliance pursuant to the FY-2009 Community Development Block Grant Program in an amount not to exceed $693,414.00; 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 and Second to enter Executive Session to discuss pending litigation and Contract negotiations with counsel with Council Members, Council President, Auditor, Law Director, Mayor, Safety Service Director present. Council Clerk asked to be excluded due to a potential conflict of interest. Roll Call: Unanimous: Council entered into Executive Session at 10:55 A.M.

ADJOURNMENT: Noting no further business to come before this Council, President Benincasa adjourned the meeting at _______ A.M.