August 16, 2010 Council Meeting Minutes

Regular Council Meeting

August 16, 2010

The Council of the Village of Riverlea met on the above date at the Thomas Worthington High School, Worthington. The following Council members were present: Mayor Mary Jo Cusack, Jon L. Ankrom, Scott K. Gordon, Briggs W. Hamor, Eric A. MacGilvray and Kirk M. McHugh. Also present were Pamela M. Colwell, Clerk-Treasurer, Steven W. Mershon, Solicitor, William P. Charles, Street Commissioner, and Karen McElmurray, Marshal. Guests of Council were Ron Mills (SWACO), Brad McLaughlin, Mike Blanchard and Paul Butler. At 7:05 pm the Mayor called the meeting to order.

Daniel Noonan Resignation

1. Daniel Noonan submitted his resignation from Council today. The Mayor expressed her disappointment and is sure many on Council feel the same way. He was instrumental in helping the Village get a records retention policy in place as well as a public records policy. He has done a lot for the Village and she wished he had stayed. .
2. The Mayor also said she is fully aware of how difficult it has been for this Council to deal with the cut-through issue. She is grateful for Council’s courage even though everyone did not agree on what was to be done. Council members are not expected to always agree on matters or there would not be a need for a Council. She stated that this Council has been great to work with and she knows that each member has done what he thought was the right thing to do. No one can ask any more than that from anyone.

Swearing in of the Marshal

1. Karen McElmurray was sworn in as Marshal. It was noted that she is the first female Marshal for the Village.

Minutes

1. The minutes of the regular Council meeting of July 19, 2010 were not read since each member had received a copy. MacGilvray moved and Ankrom seconded a motion that the minutes be approved as submitted by the Clerk-Treasurer. The motion was approved unanimously (5-0).
2. The minutes of the Special Council meeting of July 26, 2010 were not read since each member had received a copy. MacGilvray moved and Hamor seconded a motion that the minutes be approved as submitted by the Clerk-Treasurer. The motion was approved unanimously (5-0).

Report of the Clerk-Treasurer

1. MacGilvray moved and Gordon seconded a motion to approve the payment of bills and to accept the financial report for July 2010, as submitted by the Clerk-Treasurer. The motion was approved unanimously (5-0).

Report of the Mayor

1. The Mayor reported that she will be attending the upcoming Watershed meeting this month. Most of the meetings lately have not involved the Village at all.

Report of the Solicitor

1. The Solicitor reported that he has drafted letters to the property owners with Planning Commission violations per the request of Council. He will review these with the Planning Commissioner in the next few days and then mail them.
2. Regarding Noonan’s resignation, Council has 30 days from today to choose a replacement. If they do not, then the Mayor can appoint someone.

Report of the Planning Commissioner

1. There was no report. The Planning Commission did not meet in July.

Report of the Marshal

1. There was no report. The Mayor will contact Worthington Police to let them know we have a new Marshal.

Report of the Street Commissioner

1. The Commissioner reported that the street maintenance will begin in mid September and should be completed by mid October.
2. Burgess & Niple completed the draft of the report on the sewer inspections. Most of the sewers look better than expected. They were out today videoing the last section of sewer at the lift station.

Report of the Newsletter Editor

1. The Editor would like copy for the Newsletter by September 5. MacGilvray has volunteered to submit an article.

Report of the Web Manager

1. There was no report.

Report of Parks and Recreation

1. There was no report.

Report on Safe Routes to School Committee

1. There was no report. Hamor will talk with Noonan about his continuing to help with this.

Report of Communications Committee

1. The Clerk will continue to work with the Web Manager and Newsletter Editor to come up with better ways to keep the residents informed regarding Village matters.

Comments from Residents on Agenda Items

1. There were no comments on agenda items.

Old Business

1. The Solicitor commented on the Planning Commission violations in his report

New Business

1. Proposed SWACO Increase
   Ron Mills, Executive Director of SWACO gave a presentation regarding the reasons for their request for an increase. The rate will increase about $3.00 per household in 2011 and another $3.00 in 2012. The money will help fix current problems and continue for future development. Mills stated that the rate increase would put them in line with other county waste disposal fees. Right now they are one of the lowest. Without the increase there will be reduced services and maintenance which would impact communities by causing delays in waste collection and increase costs. He said many communities are joining consortiums for waste collection. As a group they can save money because they are bigger.

   McHugh liked the suggestion of a consortium for waste collection to save money. We should at least investigate it, even though Local Waste Services has been going a great job for the Village. The Mayor asked Council how they wanted her to vote on the rate increase. McHugh moved and Hamor seconded the motion for the Mayor to vote yes for the SWACO rate increase. The motion was approved unanimously (5-0).

2. Purchase of Community Bulletin Board $1500
   At the last Council meeting the option of a larger bulletin board on the Riverglen circle was discussed. The Communications Committee thought a bulletin board with additional information such as recreation notices, minutes posting, school activities, etc. would help connect the residents who did not use the internet. This would be in addition to the kiosks, which are used for public notices. The Clerk checked into the cost and found a double sided one for $1500. McHugh suggested that since the current kiosks are getting old and may need replacing in the near future, it may be better to replace one of those each year with a little bigger kiosk. This would allow the Village to stretch the replacement costs over five or more years. Council agreed. The biggest kiosk could go at the circle. The Clerk will look into this for the next meeting.
3. Discussion of Section 151.07(A)(8) 
   This is a section of the Riverlea zoning code. The Clerk stated that Council has been talking about the code needing changes due to complaints about the Planning Commission. Since the Planning Commission tries to follow the code in their decisions, Council needs to start looking at the code for revisions. She has provided this section as an example of what causes problems for residents at Planning Commission meetings. Council asked the Solicitor for the best way to approach this. The Solicitor said he is willing to work with them in any way they want. He recommended that they share their specific concerns with the Planning Commissioner. Gordon asked what to do regarding other ordinances outside of zoning and the Solicitor stated he would work with them to produce an ordinance to amend the section for them or give them past history on a current ordinance.
4. Noonan Council Position Replacement
   Since Don Griffith was next in line for votes when he ran for Council, Council wanted to offer him the open position. The Mayor will contact Griffith to see if he is interested. If so, he will be appointed at the next regular Council meeting. If he is not interested, Council will hold a special meeting to find a replacement of Noonan

Comments from Residents on Non-Agenda Items

Next Meeting Announcement

Adjournment

MARY JO CUSACK, MAYOR

M. COLWELL, CLERK OF COUNCIL