Tuesday - February 3: Wellsville Village Council met in their regular meeting Tuesday, February 3. Present at the meeting was Mayor Joe Surace, Council Members Susan Haugh, John McMahon, Joe Soldano, Rosie Goss, Randy Allmon and Tony Cataldo. Also present was Fiscal Officer Dale Davis, Village Solicitor Andy Beech, Zoning Administrator/Acting Village Administrator Rick Williams, WFD Chief Bill Smith and Animal Control Officer Leslie Dean.
In the Public Speaking portion of the agenda yours truly got up to remind Council members that at a meeting December 16, 2008, we requested to be notified of all unscheduled meetings as permitted by Ohio's Sunshine Law. With that request the Sunshine Law stipulates we must be notified at least 24 hours in advance of any such meeting. That failed to happen for a Sewage Committee meeting held January 26. The first we knew anything about it was the next day when we read about it in the newspaper. We find we better understand what is going on at the regular meetings by getting background information at the various Committee Meetings.
When questioned Sewage Committee Chairman Randy Allmon alleged he "called the secretary and she was going to make the necessary calls". Tony Cataldo remarked he didn't want to put this task on the Mayor's secretary. We got a clerk and that should be done out of the clerk's office. Joe Soldano added it's not her job. She more or less took it on and she only calls who she is told to call. He went on to add that this should be done by the Council Clerk. Under the Sunshine Law a Village Fiscal Officer also serves as the Council Clerk. Soldano noted "we're all adults up here. We can surely make two calls... This is the council clerk's job. She's just doing it to be nice". The Mayor agreed stating the Mayor's secretary is different from Council Clerk. Surace went on to say this will be corrected. Following the meeting Fiscal Officer/Council Clerk Dale Davis stated he questioned this when he first got hired. He further stated he believes there is an ordinance in place covering this, believing it was necessary as part of getting the Village out of fiscal emergency.
We went on to reiterate that, for the record, we are requesting to be notified of all unscheduled, emergency meetings no matter what the subject or where it is to be held.
Also in Public Speaking, Ruth Gibson representing the WHS Alumni Activity Committee got approval to block Main St. from 4th St. to Cherry Alley for the All Class Reunion from 5 P.M. - 1 A.M. June 30 through July 3.
Connie Carmichael of 10th St. representing the Revitalization Committee announced the Committee will be holding a Town Hall Meeting, February 18 at 7 P.M. at Wellsville Village Hall. The purpose of the meeting is the revitalization of Wellsville's Main St. Carmichael said the Revitalization Committee is encouraging the administration and everybody to attend to express their thoughts, ideas, desires and hopes on what they would like to see accomplished. It is hoped that all interested citizens will put their thoughts out there and promised everybody will be heard. Mayor Joe Surace expressed he thought it was a good idea to get everybody involved to get this thing up and running. Councilwoman Sue Haugh stated she is looking forward to it.
Faye Lombardozzi of Clover St. read a letter of resignation from husband Nunzio Lombardozzi from the Village's first ever Fix-Up/Clean-Up Committee. Lombardozzi has served as Chairman for all six years of the Committee's existence and stated it was with deep regret to resign. Lombardozzi turned the the balance of the Committee funds in for the General Fund. He ended his letter stating he would continue to volunteer whenever possible. The Mayor stated Nunzio was always great for the Village and he hated to see him resign. Surace went on to thank him for all that he has done.
The Mayor recognized WHS Junior Brian Bell in the audience. Bell is working toward his Eagle Scout award and is a member of Troop 29. Part of earning that award is to report on the workings of the Village Council meeting. Pictured above with Bell is Councilman Joe Soldano explaining some of the reports a council member gets. Soldano noted that Bell is also a WHS Tiger baseball player and swings a nice bat.
For Administration Reports WFD Chief Bill Smith advised he is at the point where he needs Council help proceeding with the dilapidated structures. There already is a number of structures approved for demolition through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. They are just waiting for the County to get bids and award contracts. Smith was referring to structures on the list that owners have not been located. Late last year there were a series of classified ads published attempting to notify and locate owners of record. The next step is to go to court for approval to proceed. A joint Property & Finance Committee meeting will be held Monday morning at the Wellsville Fire Station.
Acting Village Administrator Rick Williams reported that Street Dept. employees have removed 45 - 50 signs around town that did not meet Zoning regulation requirements. Williams also reported that work on the storm drain at 20th & Clark Avenue has been completed. That damaged drain recently caused a flooding situation following a heavy rain. A man hole was removed with a catch basin installed and the pipe was replaced. The street surface will be repaved as soon as the weather permits.
Animal Control Officer Leslie Dean submitted her monthly report stating that January was a busy month. She received 19 calls with 10 of them being for dogs running at large. Seven dogs were impounded and seven were transferred to the County Dog Pound. Dean reminded everyone that 2010 licenses are now required. Owners can be fined up to $150 and lose their dog if found without a license. At this date licenses can only be purchased at the Pound in Lisbon.
Dean went on to thank the officers of WPD that are always there for back-up whenever needed and she thanked members of the WVFD for their assistance, especially with frozen locks at the pound. Thanks was also given to Evelyn from Tractor Supply, the Angels of the Alley Cat Aid Brigade and one anonymous donor. Evelyn has been donating dog feed and the other two made donations of dog beds. Three more beds ($60 each) are needed along with new or used leashes and collars, bleach,blankets, towels and rawhide chews for large dogs.
For the Mayor's Report, Surace said he has been receiving calls about the pending Highland Avenue project that is waiting for a U.S. EPA decision on the remaining STAG funds. Surace advised they have had a couple of meetings and believe a decision will soon be coming. Hopefully it will be a favorable decision and the project can proceed.
For Committee Reports, Water, Sewer & Refuse Committee Chairman Randy Allmon made a motion to pay engineering firm Gills, Gard & Johnson $1,835 for aerial photos taken of the Village last October or November. Allmon explained the photos were ordered by Bill Boyle of G,G&J to be used with applications for grants. Once paid the photos will be property of the Village. Councilman Tony Cataldo seconded the motion but noted that this is another deal with money spent that the Village didn't authorize. Cataldo said he feels the Mayor or Administrator should be contacted before money is spent noting too many times money is spent with nothing to back it up. The Mayor agreed stating that the Fiscal Officer has brought this up many times. Soldano suggested that Mr. Boyle be called in for a meeting to reach an understanding on this practice and to see what money was spent for last year. The motion passed. Allmon noted that the maps will be used multiple times.
For Personnel, Soldano reported that union negotiations are on-going and going pretty good. He also noted that the Fiscal Officer included generic insurance applications with every one's pay check. The purpose of the applications is to get a survey on what is wanted for future insurance coverage. With the current policy soon to expire the results will be used by the Village insurance agent to shop for the best deal on a new one. Soldano wanted to remind everyone to get those applications back to Davis as soon as possible.
For Property, Equipment & Cemetery, Councilwoman Haugh advised the bid site govdeal.org is still be investigated. That is the e-bay type site that sells unused or unwanted equipment to the highest bidder possibly allowing the Village to make some money on that equipment. Although she didn't get a chance to mention it they are also looking into getting some cemetery help through the County with people working off their fines. It is hoped to get the many tomb stones that have been knocked down or fallen over repaired with this help.
Under Legislation a resolution was passed authorizing the Mayor to apply for a USDA Rural Development grant for $388,654 for catch basin installation, paving and sidewalk replacement. The grant will be used to install 48 catch basins and paving on Aten from Clark to Commerce, 18th from Clark to Chester and Center from 9th to 15th. According to newspaper accounts there is 1,700 feet of sidewalks to be replaced. $7,500 has already be spent on this project for an environmental study. Wellsville will be responsible to pay for 30% of the grant.
Being no New Business the meeting was adjourned at 6:27. Next meeting is Tuesday, February 16 at 6 o'clock.
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