Wellsville Council's Property, Equipment & Cemetery Committee

Friday - January 15: Wellsville's Property, Equipment & Cemetery Committee also met yesterday at Village Hall. Present were Committee Chairwoman Susan Haugh, Committee Member Rosie Goss, Mayor Joe Surace, Councilmen Joe Soldano & Tony Cataldo, Acting Administrator Rick Williams and Cemetery Caretaker Mike Lombardozzi. Committee member Randy Allmon sent word he could not attend yesterday's meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss cemetery issues.


Chairwoman Haugh stated she just recently learned that the Cemetery Board has been considered dissolved as of the first part of January. Haugh related she contacted a former member of the Board to ask for an introductory meeting only to be told the Board no longer exists. The former Board was made up with three Wellsville residents. Haugh stated she has learned that a letter of resignation needs to be submitted by each former member. The letter will be kept on file and the Mayor will not appoint new members. Then it will be considered dissolved.


The Mayor advised the former Board members did not realize what they were responsible for under Ohio Revised Code and decided it was too much. Surace went on to suggest a Cemetery Advisory Board be formed which will have no legal authority in the operation of the Cemetery but will be able to make suggestions on the up-keep and improvements. Councilman Cataldo said that the Village Administrator is responsible for the cemetery. Members of the Committee present stated they liked the idea and would seek the approval of full Council. Councilman Soldano stated that although he was not a member of the Committee he would support recommending that a Cemetery Advisory Board be formed.


Discussion then moved on to the Cemetery House. Up until this past summer it was the residence of the caretaker and his family. With the Village unable to make needed repairs the insurance carrier advised they would have to drop the coverage on the house. That forced the caretaker's family to move out and the house has been vacant since then. An office and bath room at the back of the house is the only part that is being used.

Haugh stated that she has been told the house is not being heated. Lombardozzi responded that the house has been winterized with water drained from the lines and anti-freeze put in the commodes. Currently the only part being heated is the back part. With no heat runs a hanging heater has been installed. Previously it was heated with kerosene floor heaters.

A furnace that was removed to make room for a privately owned wood burner is in the process of being restored as per an agreement made at the time. Lombardozzi added it will be put back in working order and reinstalled. Lombardozzi cautioned the Committee that the gas company advised him the monthly budget would be $780 before the wood burner was installed.

Mayor Surace inquired what is going to be done with that house. Haugh responded she would like to see it stay in Village hands and possibly be used for functions related to funerals. She further stated that she would hate to see it deteriorate back in to the condition it was in before the Lombardozzis refurbished much of the house. Lombardozzi stated doing that would bring them back to the insurance issue and Soldano stated he would only support it being repaired if it was to be used a caretaker residence.

With limited space left in the cemetery Lombardozzi advised the Committee that they are in the process of making additional grave space available by putting in a new road and clearing land behind the Memorial Section. That is located behind the chapel and is restricted to flat grave markers only. Stating that many families want upright grave memorials and plots of four or more graves sites the new area would allow for that. It would have to be surveyed but Lombardozzi is estimating the new area would provide enough space for 150 lots with 12 grave sites in each lot. Today's price is $500 per grave.

Lombardozzi advised the Committee that there are four pieces of equipment that are not being used that could be sold off. Hopefully there would be enough proceeds to pay for a new truck for the Village and the cemetery can get one of the ones the Street Dept. is currently using. On the list of equipment is a grader, a 1972 dump truck, a 1982 dump truck and a 1997 flatbed truck. Soldano suggested maybe the Village Administrator can look into selling it with Council's approval. Sealed bid would be tried first.

Haugh suggested the Mayor form a Christmas Decorating Committee stating she was disappointed plans fell through this past year. Her thinking is that an inventory can be made of what is on hand and then be ready for next Christmas. The Mayor responded that plans for this past Christmas was a little to late with not much help. He said some of the decorations were rewrapped already but time ran out. Stating that the Chamber-of-Commerce bought many of the decorations plans are being made to start in July to get them ready for the next Christmas Season. Haugh stated that the Village can be beautifully decorated and all that is needed is a group of dedicated people.

Haugh went on to discuss cleaning up the appearance of the town especially along Main. Surace said he would like to see that happening especially with the All-Class Reunion taking place this summer. Haugh responded she agreed but would also hope that it would possibly attract some new business. Surace remarked not much of that will happen until Baard gets started and Haugh countered saying we have to pretend Baard is not coming and move on from there. It's been done in other communities up and down the valley. Goss commented she would at least like to see the empty store fronts being used for storage to be covered in black & orange window coverings in time for the reunion. Soldano inquired about the proposed Town Hall meeting. Details are still being worked out for that. Haugh wrapped things up saying once some of these places get cleaned up, if the owners were interested in renting them, she would offer to take pictures of available spaces and advertise them for free on the Wellsville web site. She later remarked she would make the same offer to anyone who already keeps their storefronts clean & professional looking. In our opinion it's a win/win situation - free advertising hopefully attracting a new business to locate in the village. It certainly shows members of Council are willing to work with the owners.

Council meets next Tuesday at 6 P.M.

ole nib