Tuesday - Sept. 21: Wellsville Village Council met in regular session a week ago Tuesday at Village Hall. Present at the meeting was Mayor Joe Surace, Council Members Susan Haugh, John McMahon, Joe Soldano, Randy Allmon & Tony Cataldo. Also in attendance was Village Administrator Jim Saracco, Fiscal Officer Dale Davis, Village Legal Advisor Andy Beech, Zoning Administrator Rick Williams & WFD Chief Bill Smith.
In the Public Speaking portion of the agenda, Mrs. Sue Lynn addressed council about the two trees in front of her residence on Main St. Lynn asked Council "what are we going to do about them?" She stated that they have been trying since July to get approval to take the trees down at their own expense. The Tree Board members looked at the trees and advised her she would need a bond and to call when she had it. Checking into that she said the bond would cost at least $100, possibly more and it was something she could not afford. Lynn added the trees are dead. There are pieces falling every day and tree pieces falling on their cars. The sidewalks are torn up and people are tripping on them. The roots are causing water to come in to the basement. The trees are hollow and if not taken down before winter they will come down with the snow.
Tony Cataldo advised he made changes in the ordinance and passed it on for the Mayor & Administrator to review, stating he asked that the Law Advisor get to review it. One change was to give the Village Administrator the authority to approve trimming or cutting down trees. Dale Davis stated he hand delivered the revised ordinance to the Advisor's office.
Andy Beech said he had "feelings" about it and expressed concerns and thoughts to the Village Administrator. Beech added it is obviously going to come back to Council for final approval.
Joe Soldano added although he is no longer on the Tree Board there is an appeal process in the current ordinance that most people don't know about. In response to his question, Mrs. Lynn answered she was never advised of it by the Tree Board. Any decision made by the Tree Board can be appealed to Council. Council has final say. Soldano added no one should have to go through this.
Saracco told Council about a 10th St. rental property where tree limbs have grown up against the windows. He added the resident told him when she opens a window the branches come into the house. The owner wants to have the limbs trimmed but is experiencing the same delaying problems with the Tree Board.
Everyone agreed with the Mayor when he said they need to make it possible where a quick decision can be made on requests concerning trees instead of having to go through a lengthy, time consuming process. Mrs. Lynn was invited to file an appeal that evening with a promise of a Special Council meeting being called before the end of the week. The meeting was scheduled for 1 P.M. Thursday, Sept. 23.
Permission was given to Angelo Luckino of Aten Ave., to block off 12th St. from Commerce to Anderson, on Tuesday, October 12, from 8 A.M. to 3 P.M. for a KIKO Auction.
Mrs. Bobbi Holt of Riverside was assured by the Mayor that the grant received to run a water line to the pound would be used. The grant has to be used by October. Mrs. Holt stated that the dog pound needs running water and if not used by the deadline it will have to be returned. Mrs. Holt is associated with the St. Francis Animal Welfare group. Surace stated there was already a plan in place to install the line using the grant money.
For Administrative Reports, WFD Chief Smith reminded the Mayor that they will be traveling to Pittsburgh for a meeting in mid-October with the Corp of Engineers & FEMA representatives to see what is needed and how big of trouble we're in with the flood control system. Results will be brought back to Council.
Village Administrator Jim Saracco reported by October 1 they will be shutting down Hammonds Park. The water will be shut off and the Port-a-Johns will be removed. As of meeting night there was only one fountain in Broadway Park still working. The other fountains were not refilled and the pumps were disconnected as the water went down in them. All fountains will be turned off by the end of the month and the pumps put in storage for the winter. Work on the Sewage Treatment Plant digester conversion is going "really good" and he has been advised they are looking at a March completion date.
In the Mayor's Report, Surace got unanimous approval from Council to appoint Mrs. Heidi Jo Pecorelli as the new Animal Control Officer. We'll have more on Mrs. Pecorelli later. She replaces Mrs. Leslie Dean who recently resigned.
For Committee Reports, for Finance, Tony Cataldo clarified some things previously covered. The transfer of the Broadway Park fund to the General Fund, that was approved, will be used for the Village share of the grant for the 18th St. playground equipment. It will not be used for benches along Riverside. That will be looked at next year.
For the sewage contract for Russell Heights Cataldo stated "we just got bad news. The engineer we were going to hire resigned, lets say, from the company". Without offering an alternative Cataldo stated 'we're either going to have to find someone to do that". Negotiations that follow an EPA guideline formula are due by October 17 according to the Councilman. Cataldo was referring to GGJ Engineer Bill Boyle, pictured above. Cataldo refused to elaborate farther what he meant when he stated "resigned, lets say" after the meeting.
On Issue 1 Cataldo said they have learned the Wellsville was going about it wrong applying for those funds. For the last couple of years the Village has not received and Issue 1 funds since they were only applying for Wellsville projects. To have a better chance Wellsville has to work with another municipality or township. You get more points for the project that way. Boyle was going to do that for $1,000. Applications have to be in by November and now another engineer has to be found. Surace advised he and the Administrator have a meeting scheduled Thursday with the owner of GGJ.
Cataldo announced there will be a Finance Committee meeting Thursday, Sept. 23, at 2 P.M.
Council approved a resolution accepting the amounts 7 rates determined by the Budget Commission authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the County Auditor. Fiscal Officer Davis advised this is done annually.
Meeting adjourned at 6:34 P.M. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 5 at 6 P.M. at Village Hall.
ole nib
15 comments:
Not exactly sure why St. Francis (Bobbie Holt) is involved with the Village dog pound. Don't we have a new ACO? Isn't that her job? Is St. Francis trying to run their animal rescue out of that building? I thought they had their own building or were working from their homes? Why didn't they take in that poor puppy that died that was brought to them in the first place? Isn't that what they do? It seems the "confusion" or "miscommunication" comes when too many lines are blurred with people's positions in Wellsville and what their responsibilites are.
Somehow we lost one comment. Was having site problems earlier today or we screwed something up. If it was us we apologize. Could you please repeat it? You had some good points. Thanks...
nib
Just a few questions Mr. Nib,
Where was the tree board when the whole discussion took place in changing an ordinance? Doesn't the Mayor serve on this tree board? When did Mr. Soldano resign from the tree board? Did the Mayor or any of council talk to members of the board before deciding to make changes to the ordinance or give permission to take down the tree? I believe it's a little shady (no pun intended), that Mr. Cataldo took it upon himself to have changes made to the ordinance without taking it through committee or council voting to make the changes.
It's a sad day when laws are changed to accommodate one or two people.
To Anonymous,
Did you seriously, not read the paper? The ACO was hired after the whole puppy incident occurred. Mrs. Holt told the couple that she could not take the dog, for reasons she can explain. St. Francis has nothing to do with the village pound. Although St. Francis is not involved with the village anymore, Mrs. Holt's number is still being given out by village employees in regards to dogs. St. Francis is not INVOLVED with the village pound. The main responsibility belongs to the mayor who knew the former ACO had resigned, but he was too busy vacationing in Florida for 6 weeks, so he didn't do anything about it till he came back.
There was not one Tree Board member at either the regular meeting or the subsequent Special Council meeting. One was a regular meeting and the other was advertised.
Soldano claimed he was no longer on the Board at the 9/21 meeting. He stated when the new Board was formed he was no longer a part of it.
We also were wondering why the changes in the Tree Board ordinance didn't go to Committee. You may be right. Cataldo is not even a memeber on the Claims, Rules & Ordinance Committee. Nor is he a member of the property, Equipment & Cemetery Committee that is responsible for play ground equipment.
However we believe the change on authorizing the cutting or trimming of trees is necessary with the Board's reluctant, non-chalant attitude regarding safety of Village residents. The request for changes was not just for two residents. It just took these two to bring the matter to light.
The ordinance hasn't been changed yet. It has to be drawn up and go through three readings before it's changed. Anyone concerned will have a chance to speak up in the Public Speaking portion of the Council meeting agenda.
nib
Do you seriously think there was a need to hurry up and replace the ACO? With the option to use the County Dog Pound in the interim there was no rush. There was even consideration given to eliminate the position in light of the Village financial condition.
You're "barking" up the wrong tree trying to lay this on the Mayor. We're not taking sides and we are staying away from the puppy incident. There was no need to cut short a planned vacation especially with the alternatives available.
nib
Ole Nib help me out here. I have two large Maple tree's on my property , not the village property or sidewalk. Both tree's need trimmed as they are lying against my roof and will damage it , if they haven't already. I contacted someone about trimming them and got an estimate.
But do i understand correctly that before i can have them trimed i have to get permission from a "Tree Board ?"
If so , who is the tree board and how to i contact them ?
thanks
Well Johnny, if you're for real the way we understand it is yes, you have to obtain approval from the Tree Board before getting work done on your trees. As we understand it the current ordinance requires their ok on any work done on trees with in the Village whether on Village owned or private property. The last we heard Dawn Johnston is the President of that Board and we think her number is in the book.
There is an appeal option available to the Village Council if you don't agree with their decision or as happened recently, if there is no response. You can file your appeal with the Village Administrator and he will present it to Council.
Council ordered in legislation to get that process changed but it is not yet in effect and will be some time before it is acted upon.
We hope this answers your questions.
nib
I wish Andy Beech would have
"feelings" about enforcing
ordinances that make people
clean up their properties. I have some feelings about some things that Andy could do to earn his salary from the village.
To the last commenter - Apparently you have no idea what the Village Law Director's job is or you wouldn't be making such asinine statements.
To enlighten your vindictive mind, the Law Director writes legislation ordered by Council and renders legal opinions of existing ordinances or state law as pertains to certain situations. His job is to see that what other Village officials do is within the relm of the law.
Now listen closely...the Village Law Advisor is not, and I repeat, n o t, a law enforcement officer or an official that has responsibility to enforce laws. Enforcing the law falls upon our Administrative officials and the WPD & WFD. Wellsville's Administrative Officials are the Mayor, the Village Administrator, the Fiscal officer, the Zoning Administrator, the WPD Chief & the WFD Chief.
The mere pitance that Mr. Beech earns from the Village is money well spent in our opinion. You would probably soil yourself if you have the capacity to even to begin to realize what legal services would cost if it wasn't for the Law Advisor. We have a hunch you know all about legal fees.
If you want to point fingers please make sure which direction you want to aim at.
nib
Nib thanks for the info. I wasn't aware of any such law regarding the trimming of ones tree's on their own property. It was just by chance i happened to be reading your blog. I'm not going to go into how rediculous , if not even totalitarian it seems that one would need permission to trim a tree they planted on their own property and is damaging their roof, because , after all , this is Wellsville, and nothing surprises me anymore. And yes , I am for real. And the tress are real.And my thanks for passing on the information to me is sincere.
The tree ordinance only governs trees on village property and what is considered "street trees", trees located between sidewalk and curb. If a tree is in your yard, then you do not have to get permission to have work done on them.
You're welcome for the information. That stipulation has is the main reason new legislation was ordered to get rid of both the ordinance & the Tree Board. In all fairness we don't believe anyone realized what all they were voting on three, four or longer, years ago when Council voted in this ordinance. From what we've been told they only thought they were authorizing the Tree Board to become part of Tree City USA.
What do they say about reading the fine print?
nib
ALWAYS read the fine print! Of course nowadays that requires taking my glasses off and squinting until i find that sweet spot , not to close and not to far away , where i can actually read what it says :)
"former tree board member" is absolutely correct. we were wrong in our response to Johnny. Ordinance 06-34 Section 1 states "Street trees" are herein defined as trees, shrubs, bushes and all other woody vegetation within the public easement running parallel to all streets, avenues, alleys or ways with the Village.
Then it goes on to mention Park trees. No where does the ordinance mention trees on private property. We picked up a copy of the ordinance today.
Unless I'm missing something Johnny is free to do whatever with his trees.
Sorry for misleading you.
nib
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