Wellsville Council Claims, Rules & Ordinance Committee

Friday - January 15: Wellsville's Claim, Rules & Ordinance Committee held the first committee meeting of the New Year yesterday at Village Hall. Present at the meeting was Chairwoman Rosie Goss, Committee Members Joe Soldano & Susan Haugh and Acting Administrator Rick Williams.

The first order of business was to review a Money Damage Claim submitted by Meadow Woods apartment resident Betty Farnsworth. Farnsworth submitted a claim for medical bills saying she broke her left foot by falling in a pot hole at 10th St. & Commerce she didn't know was there. The accident occurred on November 30, 2009 and Goss said a Police Report was filed. The claim was turned into Village officials on December 16 and on January 3 Farnsworth furnished copies of medical bills.

Goss reported she talked to Farnsworth and asked her how much the claim was for. Goss said she was told $2,073.40 and when asked where she got that amount Farnsworth replied it "was off the top of her head". Goss also advised Farnsworth told her some bills were "paid by the state" and no insurance claims were filed. Farnsworth supplied copies of bills totalling $1,362 related to the broken foot and additional bills for $775 for cat scans on the abdomen and pelvis and related expenses dated 9/24/09.

Goss proposed the Committee recommend Council deny the claim at the next regular meeting. Member Joe Soldano agreed advising he's not saying she didn't fall but there were no witnesses listed on the claim. Haugh agreed stating the submitted bills didn't match up.

Susan Haugh announced that the Committee is going "to start pushing for the enforcement of ordinances regarding unkempt properties around the village, starting with the most serious of violations. The laws are on the books, we just need to encourage and support the Administrator in enforcing them". Haugh remarked that in all fairness many are not aware of the existing ordinances. To correct that she offered for Haugh Designs to publish a copy of the ordinances, free of charge, on their web site http://www.wellsvilleohio.net/. Developed a few years ago the site has no ties to Village government or any other organizations. It is an excellent reference source of just about everything Wellsville and the surrounding area, compliments of Haugh Designs. The Building Regulations are already on there. Just click on the words "Building Regulations" a couple of times and it will take you to the six pages of ordinances that are part of Wellsville's code.

Haugh went on to Village Ordinance 30.03 entitled Preference For Local Contractors For Village Contracts. It was approved by Council 9-21-2004 establishing a special preference for local contractors, provided no state or federal funds are involved. Haugh stated she understands not many local contractors bid on local projects and would like to invite them to take part in the bidding process for Village projects. Doing so would keep Wellsville money in the village or at the very least in the county. Haugh stated that would benefit everyone involved.

Summing up the meeting Haugh said she would like to see the Committee look into lowering the $25,000 maximum allowed to be spent by Village officials without Council approval. Haugh stated that with a Village the size of Wellsville with limited income it is a recipe for financial trouble. It is entirely too much and feels $3,000 to $5,000 is an ample amount to handle routine emergencies. If a higher amount is needed a Special Council Meeting can be called to deal with those situations.

Soldano agreed that $25,000 is too much but stated it is Ohio Revised Code and believes it can't be changed. Haugh responded that she believes the amount can be lowered but can not be increased by the local authority. Goss stated she likes the idea. That way Council will have a better idea of what is being spent before the funds are committed. Haugh will research the legalities with the Village Solicitor as the next step in the process.

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