The Council of the Village of Riverlea met on the above date via Zoom teleconference software. The following Council members were present: Mayor Eric A. MacGilvray, Marc J. Benevento, Scott K. Gordon, Kathy E. McClintock, Ted C. Miller, Leah M. Pyter, and Dan Schlichting. Also present were Gregory Bonk, Web Manager, Joshua C. Mehling, Clerk-Treasurer, Bryce Jacob, Planning Commissioner, L. Leah Reibel, Solicitor, and William P. Charles, Street Commissioner. At 7:02 p.m., the Mayor called the meeting to order.

 

Election of President Pro Tempore

 

Benevento nominated Kathy McClintock as President Pro Tempore of Council for 2021 and Gordon seconded the motion. The motion was approved (6-0).

 

Resolution 2021-01

 

Resolution 2021-01, A Resolution of Council for 2021 and to Provide for Certain Other Organizational Matters was introduced by Schlichting. Schlichting moved and McClintock seconded the motion to waive the three readings of this resolution in order to have the Council rules in place for the year. The motion carried (6-0). McClintock moved and Pyter seconded the motion to approve the resolution. The motion carried (6-0).

 

Minutes

 

The minutes of the Council meeting of December 21, 2020 were not read since each member had received a copy. McClintock moved and Schlichting seconded the motion that the minutes be approved as submitted by the Clerk-Treasurer. The motion carried (6-0).

 

Report of the Clerk-Treasurer

 

Miller moved and Benevento seconded the motion to approve the payment of bills and to accept the financial reports for December 2020 as submitted by the Clerk-Treasurer. The motion carried (6-0).

 

Report of the Mayor

 

  1. The Mayor reminded Council members that there will be four seats on Council up for election in November, and encouraged members to collect signatures to put their name on the ballot if they are interested in running for re-election.

 

  1. The Mayor noted that the owner of a camper that had been parked in a driveway had been notified of the code violation and the camper was moved.

 

Report of the Solicitor

 

  1. The Solicitor stated that she had researched the topic of political signs in yards. Riverlea’s ordinances do not include language on the amount of time that these signs may remain up, but she noted that Worthington’s code includes a limit of one week after the election for the removal of these signs.

 

  1. The Solicitor stated that she had discussed amending the section of Riverlea’s noise ordinance concerning the prohibition of work after 7 pm and on Sundays, and other issues, with Councilmember Gordon of the Ordinance Committee. The committee will discuss this issue.

 

 

Report of the Street Commissioner

 

  1. The Street Commissioner stated that he has not received a response from the Worthington Fire Department as to their requirement for clearance at intersections. He will continue to reach out to them for this information.

 

  1. The Street Commissioner stated that he had purchased and installed a new RTU and antenna for the lift station and that there had been no issues with communication since this installation.

 

  1. The Street Commissioner mentioned that the storm sewer inlet at Beverly and Dover is cracked. He stated that he found a replacement for about $2,000. He is also contacting the City of Worthington to see if it might be possible to purchase a replacement from their inventory as a means of expediting the repair. He noted that some concrete work will also be needed around the sewer inlet, but that this will probably have to wait until the spring.

 

Report of the Planning Commissioner

 

The Planning Commissioner stated that he had sent a letter to the selling agent of 5809 Olentangy after noting that the home was on the market. The letter was to ensure that potential buyers are aware that the gravel walkway in the front yard is indeed a walkway and not to be parked on, per the COA issued by the Village. The attorney for the homeowners sent a letter to the Village in response criticizing the Village for sending this. The Solicitor will research the issue of the walkway and will discuss the issue with the Mayor and Planning Commissioner.

 

Comments from Residents on Agenda Items

 

There were no comments from residents on agenda items.

 

Old Business

 

  1. Committee on Infrastructure

 

Benevento, the Chair of the Committee, stated that the top upcoming priorities for the Infrastructure Committee would be developing contingency plans for the high-risk items in the asset management plan and scoping the work for generator installation at the lift station.

 

  1. Committee on Communications

 

Gordon, the Chair of the Committee, raised the question of whether the Committee should be formalized by the Village via resolution or continue as a working group. These discussions will continue.

 

  1. Committee on Nuisances

 

Gordon, the Chair of the Committee, stated that the Committee had met to discuss potential changes to the Village Code of Ordinances. He stated that there are several sections of the code that could contain a provision for nuisances, most notably section 94, which involves construction within the Village. The Committee is discussing the best way to modify the code to allow residents to work on their own property without incurring violations. The Solicitor is researching similar language in other area municipalities.

 

 

  1. Web Manager

 

  1. The Web Manager said that he had been working on updates to the Village web site, including updating the meeting dates for 2021 and installing security updates.

 

  1. The Web Manager noted that he continues to work on the Village directory and that he had been having difficulties fitting the information onto the pages properly.

 

  1. The Web Manager noted that the Village web site had about 10,000 unique page views in 2020.

 

New Business

 

  1. Ordinance 03-2020

 

Ordinance 03-2020, An Ordinance to Amend the Village of Riverlea Zoning Code, to Regulate Swimming Pools had its third reading.

 

Benevento proposed amending section F to remove the language “…if erected for long-term purposes, defined as longer than one swim season” and to add the language “as defined in Section A” to the end. Gordon seconded this motion. Yea: 5, Benevento, Gordon, McClintock, Miller, and Schlichting; Nay: Pyter; Abstain: None. The motion carried (5-1-0).

 

Schlichting proposed amending section D to remove the language “…nor shall such fence be located closer than 5 feet to adjoining lots to the sides and rear.” Benevento seconded this motion. Yea: 5, Benevento, Gordon, McClintock, Miller, Pyter, and Schlichting; Nay: None; Abstain: None. The motion carried (6-0-0).

 

Miller moved and Benevento seconded the motion to approve the ordinance with these modifications. The motion passed (6-0).

 

 

  1. Resolution 2021-02

 

Resolution 2021-02, A Resolution to Confirm the Appointment of William Charles as Street Commissioner was introduced by Benevento and had its first reading.

 

  1. Resolution 2021-03

 

Resolution 2021-03, A Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Enter into a Contract with the City of Columbus for Legal Representation in Certain Criminal and Traffic Cases, and to Declare an Emergency was introduced by McClintock. McClintock moved and Schlichting seconded the motion to waive the three readings of the resolution in order to sign the contract in a timely manner. The motion passed (6-0). McClintock moved and Miller seconded the motion to approve the resolution. The motion passed (6-0).

 

  1. Resolution 2021-04

 

Resolution 2021-04, A Resolution to Authorize the Infrastructure Committee to Support the Work of Village Council and to Appoint Members Thereto, and to Declare an Emergency was introduced by Pyter. Pyter moved and McClintock seconded the motion to waive the three readings of the resolution in order to establish the Committee in a timely manner. The motion passed (6-0). Pyter moved and Schlichting seconded the motion to approve the resolution. The motion passed (6-0).

 

Expenses

 

McClintock moved and Schlichting seconded the motion to authorize the following expenditures:

 

  • $82.65 – Josh Mehling – Supplies & Postage
  • $745.47 – Franklin County Emergency Management & Homeland Security – 2021 Proportionate Share

 

The motion was approved unanimously (6-0).

 

Comments from Residents on Non-Agenda Items

 

Leah Pyter addressed the Council as a resident to mention that someone had scattered chocolate chips across the entrance to Rush Run Park the previous week, which is concerning because chocolate can be harmful to dogs. She had reported the incident to the Worthington Police at the time, who recommended that in the future residents should not attempt to clean up such a mess but should call the Police immediately. Benevento stated that there had been a similar incident involving a neighbor and that he is following up with Police about it.

 

Next Meeting Announcement

 

The next regular meeting will be Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom teleconference.

 

Adjournment

There being no further business, Miller moved and McClintock seconded the motion to adjourn.  The motion was approved unanimously (6-0).  The meeting was adjourned at 8:23 p.m.

 

Joshua C. Mehling, Clerk-Treasurer

Eric A. MacGilvray, Mayor