Session 19, October 7, 2024

Mayor Justin Cline called the 19th Regular Session of Council to order on Monday, October 7, 2024.  Mayor Cline began the meeting by asking Council person Josh Smith to say a prayer, then led attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.  This public meeting is being recorded.  Members answering roll call were Carla Carl, Abigail Caldwell, Daniel Rouse, Josh Smith and Molly Lehman. Council member Joe Kammer was absent.  Also attending the meeting were Fiscal Officer Kim Meek-Obed, Village Administrator Blake Dibell and Village Solicitor Attorney Terry Seeberger and village residents Deloris Schmidt and Chauni Skirtich.

Mr. Smith made the motion to approve the minutes of the 18th session of council held on September 16, 2024 and Mr. Rouse seconded. Carl abstain, Caldwell yes, Rouse yes, Lehman yes, Smith yes. Four yes votes.  Motion carried.  Minutes approved.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Deloris Schmidt wanted to ask a question. She stated that Agnus Meats is closed and she would like to buy the property and wants to know if the village can re-zone it from commercial to residential.  Atty. Seeberger explained that the village is the authority to re-zone the property.  After some discussion it was determined that the property is already zoned as R-1 residential.  Mr. Smith stated that ordinance section regarding the property is section 151.1.

FINANCE

Ms. Kim Meek-Obed stated that Carla emailed and asked if the minutes of the September 17th meeting had been done.  She apologized if anyone didn’t get their email when she originally sent it on September 25th because she was having email issues and didn’t realize that the email hadn’t gone.  She re-sent the minutes today and reported that the email issues from 2 weeks earlier were fixed.  She reported that she had spoken to LGS to see if they could assist us with researching things and she just emailed back today and said she hasn’t been able to get any info from the person she needed to talk to.  Ms. Meek-Obed stated that she is trying to get financial reports done but hasn’t had a lot of luck getting information out of the old system.

SOLICITOR

Mr. Seeberger spoke about Resolution 2024-22, which is a resolution that recognizes the playground equipment that was purchased for Underwood Park as public infrastructure under agreements entered into with Stark Board of Trade, LLC.

Mr. Smith made the motion to adopt Resolution 2024-22 as emergency and Ms. Lehman seconded. Rouse yes, Caldwell yes, Carl yes, Smith yes, Lehman yes. Five yes votes. Resolution adopted.

Mr. Seeberger explained that Resolution 2024-23 is a resolution approving extra work on Fohl St. SW turn lane project at a cost of $165,000.00.

Ms. Lehman made a motion to adopt Resolution 2024-23 as an emergency to approve the extra work on the Fohl St. project and Mr. Smith seconded. Rouse yes, Lehman yes, Smith yes, Carl yes, Caldwell yes. Five yes votes. Resolution approved.

Mr. Seeberger presented Resolution 2024-24, a resolution approving the second pay application from United Earthworks on the Fohl turn lane in the amount of $288,000.00.

Mr. Smith made the motion to approved Resolution 2024-24 to pay United Earthworks $288,000.00 as an emergency and Ms. Lehman seconded. Caldwell yes, Lehman yes, Carl yes, Rouse yes, Smith yes. Five yes votes.  esolution approved.

Mr. Seeberger presented Resolution 2024-25, a resolution authorizing grant application for Community Block Grant Funds for Market Street sidewalks.

Ms. Lehman made a motion to authorize the application for a CDBG grant for Market Street sidewalks and pass as an emergency to meet the deadline of October 18th and Ms. Carl seconded. Smith yes, Rouse yes, Carl yes, Lehman yes, Caldwell yes. Five yes votes. Resolution passed.

Mr. Seeberger reported that we received a quote to do a water rate study from RCAP for $12,826.00.  He would like council to approve that we do this rate study.  After some discussion it was decided that we need to get more information from RCAP regarding the financial information that they need to prepare this study.

ADMINISTRATOR

Mr. Dibell reported that the installation of the basketball hoops is completed.  He also reported that  we had to fix a water leak today.  Mr. Dibell reported that he looked into the flashing sign to not block the alley for Earie Valley Fire Dept. the flashing light would be very expensive, around $2,000.00 because it would be a special-order sign.  We should look into something else.  Mayor Cline stated he would talk to the fire department later this week to find out what they want.

MAYOR

Mayor Justin Cline reported that he did interviews last week for the zoning inspector.  His recommendation it that we go with Chris Ross.  Mayor asked Mr. Dibell for his opinion about Mr. Ross. Mr. Dibell reported that he thinks he would do a good job and he is always here in town because he works at the sewer plant. Resident Ms. Skirtich asked if he can do that since he is a village employee that works at the sewer plant.  Mr. Seeberger stated that he can do the zoning job even though he is employed at the sewer plant and that if council and the administrator are okay with the hiring, he has no issues with it. Ms. Lehman asked if we can approve the hiring with a probationary period to make sure it will work with his other position.

Mayor Cline is appointing Chris Ross as a zoning inspector, asking for council approval, for a probationary period of 90 days.  Council vote: Smith yes, Lehman yes, Rouse yes, Caldwell yes, Carl yes. Five yes votes. Appointment approved.

Mayor Cline reported that he received an email form Beth Alban asking for a donation to the YMCA to help with the Halloween party.

Ms. Lehman made a motion to donate $500.00 to the YMCA for the Halloween party and Ms. Caldwell seconded.  Lehman yes, Smith yes, Carl yes, Caldwell yes, Rouse yes.  Five yes votes. Donation approved.

MISCELLANEOUS

Ms. Carl asked if there was a decision about the toy donations for Fairless Toy Team.  It was not found if or how much we donated last year.

Ms. Carl made a motion to donate $500.00 to the Fairless Toy Team and Mr. Smith seconded. Carl yes, Caldwell yes, Rouse yes, Lehman yes, Smith yes. Five yes votes. Motion passed.

Ms. Carl also reported that she spoke to Chief Shetler about the hide & seek with the police during trick-or-treat and he reported that he only has two officers on during that time so Ms. Carl is asking the Fire Department if they would like to participate. Once the plants are all pulled, she will make a pile and if Blake could have someone take the pile away, she would appreciate that. 

Ms. Caldwell stated that she has noticed that people are still parking in the no parking area in front of Real Deals Discount Store.  She asked Mr. Dibell if we could paint the pavement or something, he said he would get that taken care of.

Ms. Lehman wanted to let everyone know that she talked to Bethlehem Twp. trustee Renee Veselenak and they have run into a problem with the requirement for the township and village  to have someone on the Historical Society Board because their legal counsel felt it was a conflict of interest.  Our solicitor, Mr. Seeberger stated that he does not feel like there is a conflict for the village to have someone on the Historical Society Board.

Ms. Lehman also reminded that Coffee with Council is this Saturday, October 12th, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. at Rise-Up Café. She stated that candidates Rich Regula and Jody Salvo will be there and she has reached out to Kevin Hall and Joe Rinehart who are also candidates to invite them to come.

Mr. Smith checked with Ms. Meek-Obed if everything was ready to be submitted. She said she has contacted the lady at Natureworks to see what all needs to be done and she will get it submitted.

Reminder of Auditor of State Fraud training needs to be done by everyone.  Ms. Meek-Obed reported that she has everyone’s certificates except for Joe Kammer’s.

BILLS AND CLAIMS

Ms. Lehman made a motion to pay the Bills & Claims and Ms. Carl seconded. Lehman yes, Carl yes, Rouse yes, Smith yes, Caldwell yes.  Five yes votes.  Motion passed.

Mr. Smith made a motion to go into executive session to discuss imminent court action and Ms. Carl seconded.  Caldwell yes, Carl yes, Smith yes, Lehman yes, Rouse yes.  Five yes votes.  Into executive session at 8:33 p.m.

Ms. Lehman made a motion to return from executive session and Ms. Caldwell seconded.  Carl yes, Caldwell yes, Rouse yes, Lehman yes, Smith yes.  Five yes votes.  Returned form executive session at 9:02 p.m.

Mr. Smith made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Ms. Carl seconded. Smith yes, Lehman yes, Rouse yes, Caldwell yes, Carl yes. Five yes votes. Meeting adjourned at 9:03 p.m.

______________________________                        __________________________   

Kim L. Meek-Obed, Fiscal Officer                             Justin G. Cline, Mayor

Coffee with Council . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Saturday, October 12, 2024 9:00 – 11:00 am

Next Council Meeting. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Monday, October 21, 2024 @ 7:00pm

Trick-or-Treat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . Thursday, October 31, 2024, 5:30 – 7:00 pm