ole nibTuesday, November 3, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
A Few Village Announcements
November 2 - Monday - Village Administrator Jim Saracco advised today that beginning early Thursday morning, November 5, paving work will begin on the Wells Avenue bridge surface. Once begun it will be restricted to one lane with members of the Wellsville Police Dept. maintaining traffic. The bridge surface will be ground down to the base and replaced with 2 inches of new asphalt. Only one lane at a time will be worked on allowing the bridge to remain open. West Point Paving will be doing the work. It is expected to be completed in just a few days.
Don Brown speaking on behalf of the Veterans Memorial Council advises there will be a Veterans Day Memorial service held at Wellsville High School. The service is open to the public and will take place in the gym starting at 1:50 P.M., November 11. Guest speakers will be Wellsville resident & Iraqi War veteran Sgt. Todd Farnsworth, Korean Veterans Council member George Piggott and Wellsville's VFW Commander Bill Wolf. Farnsworth is in the Army Reserves and has served two tours in the Mid-East. Wolf is a veteran of the Korean conflict. Pastor Dirk Hall of Wellsville's Nazarene Church will be leading the prayers.
Village Officials wish to publicly thank good neighbor & generous friend Mike Pusateri of Pusateri Excavating for work done cleaning out the ditch on 10th St. Ext. At no cost to the Village Pusateri had company employees perform the work. The ditch was cleaned out from near the cemetery entrance going down hill to the old entrance.
Finally, applications are being taken for a full-time Village fireman. Applicants must agree to submit to a full personal background check. Candidates will be jointly selected by the Fire Chief and Mayor and submitted to Village Council for the final approval. The successful applicant will have to take 240 hours of training to obtain a Fire Fighter certification from either the Ohio Bureau of Public Safety or the Ohio Department of Education, if they don't already have one. Applications can be picked up at the Wellsville Fire Dept. at 1200 Main St. A deadline for filing applications will be determined when the Mayor returns from vacation next week. The vacancy was created with the resignation of Fireman Marty Thorn effective this past Saturday.
You're a good man Marty Thorn and will be missed. Good luck in all your future endeavors.
ole nib
Don Brown speaking on behalf of the Veterans Memorial Council advises there will be a Veterans Day Memorial service held at Wellsville High School. The service is open to the public and will take place in the gym starting at 1:50 P.M., November 11. Guest speakers will be Wellsville resident & Iraqi War veteran Sgt. Todd Farnsworth, Korean Veterans Council member George Piggott and Wellsville's VFW Commander Bill Wolf. Farnsworth is in the Army Reserves and has served two tours in the Mid-East. Wolf is a veteran of the Korean conflict. Pastor Dirk Hall of Wellsville's Nazarene Church will be leading the prayers.
Village Officials wish to publicly thank good neighbor & generous friend Mike Pusateri of Pusateri Excavating for work done cleaning out the ditch on 10th St. Ext. At no cost to the Village Pusateri had company employees perform the work. The ditch was cleaned out from near the cemetery entrance going down hill to the old entrance.
Finally, applications are being taken for a full-time Village fireman. Applicants must agree to submit to a full personal background check. Candidates will be jointly selected by the Fire Chief and Mayor and submitted to Village Council for the final approval. The successful applicant will have to take 240 hours of training to obtain a Fire Fighter certification from either the Ohio Bureau of Public Safety or the Ohio Department of Education, if they don't already have one. Applications can be picked up at the Wellsville Fire Dept. at 1200 Main St. A deadline for filing applications will be determined when the Mayor returns from vacation next week. The vacancy was created with the resignation of Fireman Marty Thorn effective this past Saturday.
You're a good man Marty Thorn and will be missed. Good luck in all your future endeavors.
ole nib
Personnel Committee Meeting II
November 2 - Monday -Members of Wellsville Council's Personnel Committee met again today. In attendance was Personnel Committee Chairman Randy Allmon, Committee members Tony Cataldo & Rosie Goss, Councilmen Don Brown & John McMahon, Village Administrator Jim Saracco and Fiscal Officer Dale Davis.
Chairman Allmon announced the meeting will be about pending negotiations on the union contract and they will be discussing wages. The entire meeting was held in Executive Session behind closed doors and lasted nearly 40 minutes. Following the meeting the only comment offered by Allmon was that they will once again be going into Executive Session at the regular council meeting scheduled for Wednesday night when the full Council will be present. Councilman Joe Soldano was the only councilman that wasn't at this afternoon's meeting.
Last Friday the Personnel Committee meeting was adjourned so members could study and compare the present union contract to what has been negotiated so far by consultant Joe Lencewicz for a new contract. The present contract expires at the end of the year. Members of the committee told the Village Administrator to put a hold on any further services by the consultant at that Friday meeting.
The firm of J. F. Lencewicz & Associates revised and updated the police manual. Since then Lencewicz has be handling a union grievance and negotiating the new contract. No one seems to know who authorized this and discussion was tabled on that aspect until the Mayor returns from vacation next week. Lencewicz bills the village $140/hour plus travel expenses. In years past all grievances and contract negotiations have been handled in-house.
Council normally meets the first and third Tuesdays of the month. With tomorrow being election day the next meeting has been moved to Wednesday, November 4 at 6 o'clock.
ole nib
Chairman Allmon announced the meeting will be about pending negotiations on the union contract and they will be discussing wages. The entire meeting was held in Executive Session behind closed doors and lasted nearly 40 minutes. Following the meeting the only comment offered by Allmon was that they will once again be going into Executive Session at the regular council meeting scheduled for Wednesday night when the full Council will be present. Councilman Joe Soldano was the only councilman that wasn't at this afternoon's meeting.
Last Friday the Personnel Committee meeting was adjourned so members could study and compare the present union contract to what has been negotiated so far by consultant Joe Lencewicz for a new contract. The present contract expires at the end of the year. Members of the committee told the Village Administrator to put a hold on any further services by the consultant at that Friday meeting.
The firm of J. F. Lencewicz & Associates revised and updated the police manual. Since then Lencewicz has be handling a union grievance and negotiating the new contract. No one seems to know who authorized this and discussion was tabled on that aspect until the Mayor returns from vacation next week. Lencewicz bills the village $140/hour plus travel expenses. In years past all grievances and contract negotiations have been handled in-house.
Council normally meets the first and third Tuesdays of the month. With tomorrow being election day the next meeting has been moved to Wednesday, November 4 at 6 o'clock.
ole nib
The "New" Riverside Roadhouse
It's back! Under new and enthusiastic ownership and staff the Riverside Roadhouse pictured above has been reopened. After nearly two months of cleaning and sprucing up the place the new co-owners opened the doors October 14.They started in August putting on a new roof, siding and windows. There was lots of painting and scrubbing. They even put in new landscaping around the building. Inside they installed new restrooms. All the kitchen appliances were taken completely out and a professionally cleaned and refurbished. It is locally owned and operated and they are ready to serve all your dining needs from just stopping in yourself, to families or hosting large parties for receptions, club luncheons or dinners. They have a seating capacity for 150 customers. There's a working gas fire place in the main dinning room to take the chill off your bones when it gets really cold.
There is a full menu with appetizers, salads, sandwiches, pastas and steak, pork, chicken and seafood entrees. They use their own homemade beer batter breading on the cod dinners. Paul Blevins said the piece of cod they serve remind him of Jonah the Whale on a platter! They'll oven roast the fish if you don't want it breaded. They have the usual variety of beverages along with beer and wine coolers. In the true roadhouse tradition you can munch on peanuts and toss the shells on the floor. You won't get scolded for making a mess. I always found that kind of fun to do.
The kitchen staff is lead by Head Chef Chelsea Rawson and her experienced assistants. Rawson is a certified chef and graduated from the Pennsylvannia Culinary Institute. Rawson was formerly the Seafood Chef at Pittsburgh's Bistro 19. Along with Rawson there are three other experienced cooks taking care of things in the kitchen preparing some of the best food found anywhere in the area. Presently they have 14 employees.
They are open seven days a week with Monday - Saturday hours from 11 A.M. - 10 P.M. Sunday hours are 11 A.M. - 7 P.M. Their phone number is 330-532-4421. Except for American Express credit cards are accepted. They are located along the river at 565 Wells Avenue Extension.
This past Thursday members of Wellsville's Chamber-of-Commerce Welcoming Committee stopped by to say hello. Shown here from the left is CC Commissioner Penny Traina, Welcoming Committee Chairperson Diana Spenser, Co-owners Bill & Laura Reed, Head Chef Chelsea Rawson, Co-owners Rebecca & Eric Smith, Chamber President Randy Allmon and Welcoming Committee Member Margaret Gill.
Stop in and let them serve you. The prices make it easily affordable. You won't regret it and will want to make it a frequent dinning experience.
ole nib
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Chamber-of-Commerce October Luncheon - 2009
The monthly Chamber-of-Commerce luncheon was held this past Thursday, October 29, at Kat's Kitchen on Main Street. The luncheon was opened by President Randy Allmon with invocation offered by Speakers Chairman Paul Blevins.
Allmon welcomed new Chamber member Scott Shepherd of A & I Studio Architectural Firm. Shepherd has offered to redo the plans for the gazebo remodeling. Allmon also announced that the new, treated lumber for the gazebo has dried out and they are ready to begin work.
A date for the annual Holiday Installation Dinner will be set at the next Board meeting. That meeting is scheduled for November 10. It will be announced as soon as it is determined. Election of the 2010 officers will be held at the Board meeting.
Parade Chairwoman Vickie McCombs announced the Christmas parade will be December 12 starting at 6 P.M. at Village Hall. The line-up will begin at 5 P.M. The parade will go from Village Hall up Main Street to the gazebo at the 4th Street Square. McCombs offered an open invitation to anyone wishing to have an entry in the parade. Entry forms can be picked up at Center Pharmacy or by calling McCombs at 330-532-4149. There will be trophies awarded for the best float, marching group, band, fire truck and car or truck. McCombs cautioned that the Parade Committee has invited Santa and ask that no "substitutes" be included in your entry. Donations are being accepted to sponsor Santa with his sleigh, toward the cost of the prizes and for candy for the children.
Holly Development will be hosting a Taste of the Holidays at their place of business on Main on November 7 from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. There will be crafts, baked goods and holiday decorations. Tables are available for anyone wishing to participate. Contact Holly Development at 330-532-4339 for details and prices.
Guest speaker at the luncheon was Mrs. Lynette Rawlings, MPA. Mrs. Rawlings was filling in for Dr. Jeff Nolte and is the Academic Program Director of Justice Studies at Kent State EL & Salem campuses. A former State Trooper Mrs. Rawlings earned her bachelors and masters degree from Kent and is currently enrolled in studies for her doctorate in Sociology. She was one of Paul Blevins students at KSU when she first got started with her college work. She also has a Wellsville connection. Her in-laws are ville residents Mr. & Mrs Dave Rawlings.
Mrs. Rawlings stated the Kent State is now in their 100th year of existence as an educational institution. Over the years both the EL and Salem campus have shown a steady increase in student population. With their variety of health care courses nearly 80% of their students stay in the area once they graduate. There is a strong demand for health care workers. Average starting salaries for KSU graduates in this area is $40,000 per year. The two regional campuses will soon be offering courses for a full bachelor's degree eliminating the necessity of students moving to the main campus.
With Thanksgiving coming the last Thursday of November the next Chamber luncheon will be held November 19 at Kat's Kitchen.
ole nib
Allmon welcomed new Chamber member Scott Shepherd of A & I Studio Architectural Firm. Shepherd has offered to redo the plans for the gazebo remodeling. Allmon also announced that the new, treated lumber for the gazebo has dried out and they are ready to begin work.
A date for the annual Holiday Installation Dinner will be set at the next Board meeting. That meeting is scheduled for November 10. It will be announced as soon as it is determined. Election of the 2010 officers will be held at the Board meeting.
Parade Chairwoman Vickie McCombs announced the Christmas parade will be December 12 starting at 6 P.M. at Village Hall. The line-up will begin at 5 P.M. The parade will go from Village Hall up Main Street to the gazebo at the 4th Street Square. McCombs offered an open invitation to anyone wishing to have an entry in the parade. Entry forms can be picked up at Center Pharmacy or by calling McCombs at 330-532-4149. There will be trophies awarded for the best float, marching group, band, fire truck and car or truck. McCombs cautioned that the Parade Committee has invited Santa and ask that no "substitutes" be included in your entry. Donations are being accepted to sponsor Santa with his sleigh, toward the cost of the prizes and for candy for the children.
Holly Development will be hosting a Taste of the Holidays at their place of business on Main on November 7 from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. There will be crafts, baked goods and holiday decorations. Tables are available for anyone wishing to participate. Contact Holly Development at 330-532-4339 for details and prices.
Guest speaker at the luncheon was Mrs. Lynette Rawlings, MPA. Mrs. Rawlings was filling in for Dr. Jeff Nolte and is the Academic Program Director of Justice Studies at Kent State EL & Salem campuses. A former State Trooper Mrs. Rawlings earned her bachelors and masters degree from Kent and is currently enrolled in studies for her doctorate in Sociology. She was one of Paul Blevins students at KSU when she first got started with her college work. She also has a Wellsville connection. Her in-laws are ville residents Mr. & Mrs Dave Rawlings.
Mrs. Rawlings stated the Kent State is now in their 100th year of existence as an educational institution. Over the years both the EL and Salem campus have shown a steady increase in student population. With their variety of health care courses nearly 80% of their students stay in the area once they graduate. There is a strong demand for health care workers. Average starting salaries for KSU graduates in this area is $40,000 per year. The two regional campuses will soon be offering courses for a full bachelor's degree eliminating the necessity of students moving to the main campus.
With Thanksgiving coming the last Thursday of November the next Chamber luncheon will be held November 19 at Kat's Kitchen.
ole nib
Chamber October '09 Businees of the Month
On Thursday, October 29, Kat's Kitchen was named the Wellsville Chamber-of-Commerce Business of the Month for October. Kat's is located at 1025 Main Street here in Wellsville.
Opened earlier this year Kat's offers a full menu for diners with prices easy on the wallet. Except for Sunday they are open daily from 7 A.M. until 8 P.M. Sunday hours are 8 A.M. until 7 P.M. Breakfast is served all day. The dinner menu starts at 4 P.M. They have daily specials and home cooking is their specialty.
Pictured above, from the left, is Chamber members Mark Bayless & Debbie Koffel, Kat's owner Kathleen Andrews and Chamber President Randy Allmon.
ole nib
Personnel Committee Meeting
This past Friday, October 30, the Wellsville Council's Personnel Committee held a meeting at Village Hall. Present at the meeting was Personnel Committte Chairman Randy Allmon and Committee members Rosie Goss & Tony Cataldo. Also present was Councilmen Don Brown & John McMahon, Village Administrator Jim Saracco, WFD Chief Bill Smith and Zoning Administrator Rick Williams.
The first order of business was to discuss the committee's recommendations to full council on what to do with the position soon to be open with the resignation tendered by regular, full-time Fireman Marty Thorn. However, Fire Chief Smith advised that according to Ohio Revised Code Thorn has until mid-night of the 31st to rescind that resignation. Further discussion was tabled until after that deadline passes.
The second item on the agenda was the question of using consulting firm J.F. Lencewicz & Associates to handle matters normally done by the administration and members of council. Lencewicz earlier revised and updated the police manual for the village. Since then he has been working on negotiating the pending union contract and handling the Lombardozzi grievance filed against the village. No one seems to know who authorized Lencewicz for this work and discussion on this aspect was put on hold until the Mayor returns from vacation.
Lencewicz bills the village $140 per hour plus .85 cents per mile & tolls. He recently invoiced the village for $5,273 for 37 hours plus travel expenses. Lombardozzi filed a grievance for $550/month that he claims he is losing in income since he and his family can no longer live in the village owned house at the cemetery. The AFSCME Local 1869 contract that covers five village employees expires at the end of the year.
In the pursuing conversation Councilwoman Rosie Goss questioned why the village is paying for negotiating the contract stating that it was getting out of hand. Tony Cataldo responded that he works for the administration and has a contract with the village. John McMahon said he thought he was brought in as an adviser and Jim Saracco stated that he thought Lencewicz was in full control.
Discussion continued on about the union with Cataldo stating he would like to see an ordinance passed to make all village employees equal. Except for a prescription plan for the union members everything else is. Cataldo said he was advised by Lencewicz that since Wellsville is not classified as a city the union does not have to be recognized. It is Council's wishes if they want to continue doing so. McMahon questioned if there had been any problems in past negotiating with the union and the answer was no. Goss stated handling both the grievance and the contract negotiations should both be handled in house. Cataldo stated the union asked to open the contract just for wages and everyone knows there is no money for wage increases. Lencewicz advised the committee earlier this year if the want to open the contract for wages then the whole contract is open to bargaining.
The committee decided to have Saracco advise Lencewicz that any additional work is being put on hold until committee members can review what they got. All members got copies of the current contract and copies of what Lencewicz has done so far. Another meeting was scheduled for next Monday. Since it is pertaining to contract negotiations the meeting will be in Executive Session.
Cataldo then advised the committee that he was going to get together with the Fiscal Officer to see if the village can afford a reduced holiday Christmas bonus of $200 for each village employee. A bigger bonus was discussed earlier but was nixed for lack of funds.
The regular council meeting has been moved to Wednesday, November 4, at 6 o'clock since next Tuesday is Election Day. Village Hall is used as one of the polling places in town.
ole nib
The first order of business was to discuss the committee's recommendations to full council on what to do with the position soon to be open with the resignation tendered by regular, full-time Fireman Marty Thorn. However, Fire Chief Smith advised that according to Ohio Revised Code Thorn has until mid-night of the 31st to rescind that resignation. Further discussion was tabled until after that deadline passes.
The second item on the agenda was the question of using consulting firm J.F. Lencewicz & Associates to handle matters normally done by the administration and members of council. Lencewicz earlier revised and updated the police manual for the village. Since then he has been working on negotiating the pending union contract and handling the Lombardozzi grievance filed against the village. No one seems to know who authorized Lencewicz for this work and discussion on this aspect was put on hold until the Mayor returns from vacation.
Lencewicz bills the village $140 per hour plus .85 cents per mile & tolls. He recently invoiced the village for $5,273 for 37 hours plus travel expenses. Lombardozzi filed a grievance for $550/month that he claims he is losing in income since he and his family can no longer live in the village owned house at the cemetery. The AFSCME Local 1869 contract that covers five village employees expires at the end of the year.
In the pursuing conversation Councilwoman Rosie Goss questioned why the village is paying for negotiating the contract stating that it was getting out of hand. Tony Cataldo responded that he works for the administration and has a contract with the village. John McMahon said he thought he was brought in as an adviser and Jim Saracco stated that he thought Lencewicz was in full control.
Discussion continued on about the union with Cataldo stating he would like to see an ordinance passed to make all village employees equal. Except for a prescription plan for the union members everything else is. Cataldo said he was advised by Lencewicz that since Wellsville is not classified as a city the union does not have to be recognized. It is Council's wishes if they want to continue doing so. McMahon questioned if there had been any problems in past negotiating with the union and the answer was no. Goss stated handling both the grievance and the contract negotiations should both be handled in house. Cataldo stated the union asked to open the contract just for wages and everyone knows there is no money for wage increases. Lencewicz advised the committee earlier this year if the want to open the contract for wages then the whole contract is open to bargaining.
The committee decided to have Saracco advise Lencewicz that any additional work is being put on hold until committee members can review what they got. All members got copies of the current contract and copies of what Lencewicz has done so far. Another meeting was scheduled for next Monday. Since it is pertaining to contract negotiations the meeting will be in Executive Session.
Cataldo then advised the committee that he was going to get together with the Fiscal Officer to see if the village can afford a reduced holiday Christmas bonus of $200 for each village employee. A bigger bonus was discussed earlier but was nixed for lack of funds.
The regular council meeting has been moved to Wednesday, November 4, at 6 o'clock since next Tuesday is Election Day. Village Hall is used as one of the polling places in town.
ole nib
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