Tuesday - June 1: Wellsville Village Council held their only regular meeting for the month Tuesday evening at Village Hall. Present at the meeting was Mayor Joe Surace, Fiscal Officer Dale Davis and Council Members Sue Haugh, Joe Soldano, Randy Allmon & Tony Cataldo. Council Members John McMahon & Rosie Goss were excused. Both were reported working. Also in attendance was Village Administrator Jim Saracco, Village Legal Advisor Andy Beech and Zoning Administrator Rick Williams.
New Life Hope's Bishop Bill Rudder offered the opening prayer.
In the Public Speaking portion of the agenda, George Crews, representing the Wellsville Veterans Memorial Council, approached Village Council seeking permission to proceed with construction of a new Honor Roll memorial listing all Wellsville area residents that served in the Armed Forces in WWI, WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, and beyond. Crews was accompanied by Memorial Council members Debbie Koffel & Don Brown.
Crews advised Council that in years past there were Honor Roll memorials near Kountz Avenue, in Hill Crest and on Main St. next to the old City Hall. The one on Main was originally constructed in 1943 and believed to have been removed prior to the building of Shoub Towers. Crews remarked that no one knows the fate of the old memorial.
Crews advised that the new memorial will be located in the Phyllis Thrasher park on the upper side of Route 7 and will face Route 45. It will be constructed mostly of brick and block "20' across and tapered on either side". It will have a tank, an airplane and hopefully the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima. Pictured above is an artist's rendition shown Council members. Permission from the state has already been obtained and the project has been given Mr. Thrashers blessing. Since the property is within Village limits Council's approval was required.
With an unanimous vote the project was approved and a waiver for a Zoning permit was given. Crews advised that with the approval the next step is to get started with a footer, get actual plans drawn up and mount a donation campaign to pay for the materials. Hopefully the labor to build the memorial will be donated.
Candy Bangor, representing the Wellsville Revitalization Committee, advised Council that the Committee has been working with the newly formed CC Bureau of Tourism to hopefully get the Village included on the talked about bus tours. Bangor was accompanied by fellow members Connie Carmichael, Ruth Ensinger & Beverly Hentzell. The Bureau will be coming to town later in the month to see what Wellsville has to offer. Bangor related that the floodwall murals, the Boy & the Boot, the kiln, the 9/11 Memorial and the River Museum are some of the Village sites being considered. Bangor related that the murals are beginning to accomplished what was originally intended with attracting visitors into town and hopefully support local shops and businesses.
Bangor asked Council if there are existing ordinances that can be used to get the owner of the unsightly and unkempt property adjacent to the flood wall behind the Boy & the Boot to clean up that mess. Stating that the way it looks now could very well get the Village taken out of consideration for the proposed bus tours. She said the Committee would even offer to take care of it or get someone to maintain it.
Village Administrator Saracco advised that he has offered in the past to have Village workers to take care of that area and was told by the owner that the property was an animal sanctuary. His offer was refused. Councilwoman Haugh advised that zoning ordinances are currently being reviewed to be updated and amended. Soldano said the property needs to be thoroughly re-inspected for any violations of existing codes and the ORC needs to checked for regulations on designating an area as an animal sanctuary. Saracco indicated this particular property has been the attention of both Village officials and the Revitalization Committee for a few years now. They were advised not to installed a pole for lighting on the murals some time ago because of a question of property boundaries. The Mayor said that the owner will have to contacted once again.
Jeff Haugh, Chairman of the Main St. Clean-up, advised that Saturday, June 19, has been scheduled to thoroughly clean up Main from 3rd to 9th. This is part of the Main Street USA project being sponsored by the Revitalization Committee. In addition to using brooms and shovels Haugh said they will wash windows, trim weeds, paint curbs and generally try to get that part of Main looking good. There will be a meeting to finalize the details but they are currently looking to get started around 8 A.M. Right now they are looking to sign up any clubs, organizations, churches and individuals to volunteer to supply the man-power. Anyone willing to pitch in with help for this community project can contact Jeff or Susie Haugh.
Sue Haugh took the opportunity to thank those business owners that have already made improvements. The Mayor announced that the Village will have 20 to 25 people hired through the County youth program starting June 7.
For Administration Reports, WFD Chief Bill Smith reported on his recent meeting about the Village Flood Control system in hopes of getting started to find funding. Current estimates to completely rehabilitate the system is over $9 million and will take years to accomplish.
Smith also announced that this past Sundy he inspected the flood wall in preparation of getting it cleaned up for painting new murals. The remaining panels have to be hosed off and primed before the murals can be painted. Smith advised that he found problems with the seams needing to be resealed before anything can be done. Sealer is available and he is making arrangements to have that done. Until the seams are resealed nothing can be done with the flood wall.
Zoning Administrator Williams reported that $1,010 was collected for zoning permits for the month of May. That is a sharp increase since the last monthly report from the Zoning Office.
For the Mayor's Report, Surace thanked the Veteran's Memorial Council for "a job well done" for Monday's Memorial Day observance in the Village. Surace also thanked Bishop Rudder for his 13 years of praying for the Village each and every Sunday.
For Council Committee Reports, Finance Chairman Cataldo reported that as of the end of April the General Fund had $1,519, another fund had $673,627, the Sewage Disposal Fund had $123,622 and the Sewage Up-date had $377,930 which represents 7% of the funds. Final adjustments still have to be made as the result of the recent State Audit. There will be a Finance Committee meeting Friday, June 4, at 1 P.M. to go over the budget.
Sewage Chairman Allmon announced that nothing has been heard in regards to the STAG funds and doesn't know what is going on with that. Allmon stated that it has been "released but haven't got any money yet".
Saracco added he has been in contact with State Senator Wilson's office in regards to getting the funding released to begin on work on the Sewage Treatment Plant digestors. He was advised by Wilson's secretary, Mr. Jason Phillips, that word is expected any day now.
Saracco added that LSW is finding a lot of debris and grease in the sewer lines that are being scoped. Two sewer lines needed immediate work to repair breakages and jet rodding the lines is undergoing.
Personnel Chairman Soldano thanked the Veteran's Memorial Council for including him in the program stating it is a very touching ceremony. He also advised that the 20 to 25 summer help employees will be here until August 20. That help is being paid for by the CC Jobs & Family Services Dept.
For Claims, Rules & Ordinances, committee Member Haugh made some clarifications on the two pieces of legislation ordered in at the last meeting in regards to nuisance mobile homes and Zoning fees for business signs. New wording on trailers will include that any trailer unoccupied for six months will be deemed a nuisance and the owner will be given a 60 day notice. Signage fees will be amended to increase from $5 to$10 for any signs up to 4 square feet and from $1 to $2 for each additional square foot over that.
Property Chairwoman Haugh said a meeting has been scheduled for Friday, June 4, to go over three proposals for new play ground equipment for the 18th St. playground.
Under New Business Haugh reminded everyone of the WVFD Homecoming going on this week with a parade Saturday, June 5 starting at 4 o'clock.
Meeting was adjourned at 6:36 P.M. Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 6 at 6 P.M. at Village Hall.
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