Thursday, May 5, 2011

Wellsville Village Council Meeting

Wednesday – May 4: Wellsville Village Council met last night for their regular bi-monthly meeting at Village Hall. The meeting was postponed one day since Village Hall is a voting precinct. Present at the meeting was Council President Pro-Tem Randy Allmon and Council members Susan Haugh, John McMahon & Tony Cataldo. Also attending was Fiscal Officer Dale Davis, Village Administrator Jim Saracco, Legal Advisor Andy Beech, Zoning Administrator Rick Williams and United Water Sewage Treatment Plant Manager Greg Stewart. Allmon was sitting in for vacationing Mayor Joe Surace.

Clover Street resident Nunzio Lombardozzi questioned why the absence of Council members were automatically excused without stating a reason. Lombardozzi stated that years ago a reason was needed to be given per Council rules before an absence was excused. He said it was embarassing for the Village and he's been meaning to bring that up at previous meetings. Lombardozzi further stated that the present Council members may know the reasons for members missing the meetings. Allmon responded he knew that Councilman Soldano's father was in the hospital and Haugh noted that, although not officially notified, that Councilwoman Goss was working at her regular job.

The Council Clerk advised he would have to check the Council Rules to see if that rule was still included. Allmon suggested that maybe it should be and entertained a motion that the President Pro-Tem be notified why anyone missing future meetings be required. Cataldo requested the motion be held up until they can check what it says in Robert's Rules. Allmon agreed.

For the Mayor's Report Allmon reported that he talked to Surace on Wednesday and he was enjoying himself in Florida. Allmon stated that they are still waiting to hear from the EPA in regards to who turned them in for malfeasance in office, using the money from the STAG funds. Allmon continued that a letter was written requesting the identity of the accuser and he thinks it will be 20 days before a reply is sent to that letter from the latest correspondence he has had with them.

A few years back the Federal EPA billed the Village for undocumented use of STAG funds when Village officials believed there was over $600,000 left over in that grant. The grant was originally awarded to the Village for various sewage projects and plans were being made to use the remaining funds for a storm sewer project on Highland/Ridge Avenues and to upgrade the forced main. Then it was announced that someone had turned the Village in for improperly using the STAG grant funds. After finding most of the receipts needed the fine was appealed and with the intercession of then Congressman Charlie Wilson it was ruled that no malfeasance had occurred. Since then some Village officials have vowed to bring the accusers name to the light of day stating they have the right to know who their accuser is.

We have to question the wisdom in that line of thinking, especially if the accuser is considered a confidential informant. In our line of thinking the accuser's name is protected by law from becoming a matter of public record. The Village officials have been resolved of any taint in that accusation by the EPA ruling. It's water over the dam. Time to move on.

Allmon also thanked the residents that voted in favor of the Police levy and getting it passed. The levy was on yesterday's Primary Election ballot. It was the only issue Village residents voted on yesterday. There were no other contested issues on yesterday's ballot.

For the Finance Committee Tony Cataldo asked for a clarification on the EPA report on the STAG funds that the Village's share was overpaid by 45% and they owed Wellsville $100,000. Fiscal Officer Dale Davis noted that the amount was $90,000. He explained it was not owed as a pay out but that the EPA is allowing $90,000 to be drawn down from the grant. Any other use of STAG funds have to be approved by the EPA before they are committed to a project.

John McMahon noted “it's like beating a dead dog” for the Street Committee but he has been called about the pot holes on 20th Street. McMahon stated he realizes that crews have been patching but 20th Street looked like it had a swimming pool in the middle of the street. Saracco responded that he has to keep up with the grass mowing in the cemetery and in town with three men, plus have them patching the pot holes. He also advised there will be no part time help available this year. Both the MCTA and CC Jobs & Family Services have no funds to hire employees this year. County Commissioner Penny Traina confirmed today that with no more stimulus funds there is no money available to furnish Wellsville with additional help, as has been done in years past.

Before the stimulus funds were available last year both counties joined together in what is known as the Mahoney & Columbiana Training Association (MCTA) to furnish part-time summer help. With the stimulus funds last year CC Commissioners had Jobs & Family Services administer the summer help program. With the recession and Congress not creating additional stimulus funds the money for extra summer help is not there.

Saracco added that in the last 33 days there have been 28 days of rain. He noted he's been told they would need a whole truck load of hot patch just for 20th Street but they are well aware of the condition. Until they can catch up with the grass he's advises people to drive cautiously. Sue Haugh noted they are doing a very good job with the little time available and asked that 11th Street between Center & Commerce be added to the list. It is heavily used by Post Office customers leaving there to go back uptown. Saracco noted they were able to do some patching between Main and Center on 11th Street and assured Mrs. Haugh that “every street in town is on the list”.

McMahon also inquired about the condition of Lisbon Street where the salvage company removed the old train rails. Saracco reported he recently talked with the company owner and has been assured it will be taken care of as soon as weather permits. He added the company just had employees come back to remove some “spikes” that were left sticking out of the ground.

Allmon asked if people working off fines were still being used. Saracco answered that the only people he gets are from East Liverpool Municiple Court and the County. Sue Haugh volunteered to check why referrels from the Village Magistrate are not being given that option. Saracco added he currently has no one working off fines and the last one he did have was delayed until the weather improved.

For Water, Sewer & Refuse Allmon reported he is still awaiting for the bid proposal from United Water on their offer to repair the flood wall pumps with an extended pay back stipulation of five to ten years. At a recent Sewage Committee meeting officials from United Water offered their help with the pumps provided the contract to run the Sewage Treatment Plant be extended to whatever time frame a pay off schedule is arrange to finance the repair the pumps. The Committee asked that United Water work up a proposal for consideration. United has a separate division that specializes in repairing and maintaining big pumps. Allmon said he expects the proposal in the next week or so.

Council voted to place Ordinance 11-3 on first reading. That legislation is to authorize the Village to participate in the Ohio Department of Transportation rock salt program for the 2011-2012 Winter Season. With only four Council members present the ordinance could not be declared an emergency and passed right away. The ODOT program is done yearly for better pricing consideration in a cooperative with several other political subdivisions throughout the state.

The meeting adjourned at 6:14 PM. The next regular scheduled meeting is Tuesday, May 17 at 6 PM at Village Hall.

ole nib

18 comments:

************* said...

To Anonymous who commented at 9:11 this evening: Your language is a tad too "salty" for us to publish your comment. My sincere apologies...

nib

Anonymous said...

My question is do council members get paid if they are "excused" from meetings ?

Anonymous said...

Some people keep stirring the pot!Why?I would guess it's for their own benefit.Get over it and move forward.That's the problem with Wellsville ,make other people look bad so you look good.Maybe Randy Allmon has bones in his closet that village people should know about?Why doesn't Nunzio ask about the Mayor missing meetings?I guess that's because he supported the mayor? Get over it and move forward!!!!

************* said...

We believe they get paid regardless but to be fair to our Council members, we must say there is more to that position than just attending two meetings per month. Some put in long hours that go mostly unnoticed by the public. There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes which receive little or no fanfare. The mere pittance they get paid works out to pennies per hour for some.

nib

P.S. Salty - nice revision

Anonymous said...

Exactly Right Nib!It's not always what they do at the meeting,but on there own time .It' time for a change, I hope the voters don't let certain people cast their vote for them.Make the right choice in November!And Randy I'm glad some body is watching out how my tax dollars are being spent!Let's buy another street sweeper, pavilion,bear trap,and should I go on?I'm sorry Nib, But this has to stop!!!Wake up people.Make The change.

shhh said...

I couldn't, and wouldn't do what they do for 1,000/ meeting? Like you said Nib, some people don't realize what goes into being a Council member. then add to the list of to-do's, take care of some of the whinny salty people. Some people around here are so bitter, and negative that I wonder why they stay.
Then add to the complaints: The Mayor is not permitted to take a vacation. He needs to be here for his office of Mayor 365 days/ yr...Give it a break people. Better yet, step into their shoes for a day, wk, or month.

Anonymous said...

Council members definitely earn the small amount of money they are paid. How many bones are in someones closet is irrelevant to the subject, does anyone honestly want to start knocking on those doors? I too think questionable decisions have been made, but it is time to move forward. The mayor is entitled to vacation time, make it a positive when he's absent and consider it an opportunity to organize and plan without the pot being stirred from the inside.

Anonymous said...

What law do you think would preclude the EPA from releasing public documents now that the investigation is over

************* said...

We were referring to the commonly called "Whistle Blower" law where identities are withheld of those that "blow the whistle". We're not legal experts by any stretch of the imagination but from our understanding that law was created to protect the identity of anyone who reports a wrong doing, whether falsely percieved or not.

nib

surprised said...

I don't know why I read or post
on your blog, you never post my
comments. They aren't all
that bad. I thought we were
suppossed to be able to express ourselves here.

Happyjack said...

As for the mayor and vacation and what he deserves...If he were actually awarded a vacation for what he deserves it would be a walking tour of Afganistan.

************* said...

Surprised - We think you answered you own question when you remarked "they aren't all that bad". Our question is why keep rehashing the same remark with slightly different wording?

nib

Anonymous said...

Mr.Soldano was at the girl's ball game from beginning to end!Hmmmm!!

Anonymous said...

Where are my comments on lombardozzis bull. Its not bad, its clean. I am not your other poster asking about not being to dirty. Come on Nib you know i am right.

Anonymous said...

Funny but I think the mayor has already been on that trip. Any other ideas?

Anonymous said...

The mayor goes on vacation every time he signs a contract with LSW. Come on people wake up!!!Some people do this for own personal benefit.Not the best interest of the tax paying citizen.

************* said...

It was uncertain why Soldano wasn't at the meeting but if he was at a softball game we find that understandable. We would consider that a legitimate excuse. Mr. Soldano is an assistant coach. We're uncertain but believe it's the only meeting he missed because of that committment since the season began. We didn't keep score.

nib

Anonymous said...

That was the first meeting Mr. Soldano has missed in 3 years. He missed then because his Mother was very ill with cancer. Mr. Soldano did report that he would not be at the meeting due to his coaching softball. Mr. Allmon didn't know why Joe was not there he was just assuming.