Tuesday – January 25: Wellsville Village Council held a Special Meeting at 2 PM this past Tuesday to act on two agenda items. Present at the meeting was Mayor Joe Surace, Council Members Susan Haugh, Rosie Goss, Joe Soldano, Randy Allmon, John McMahon and Tony Cataldo. Also attending the meeting was Fiscal Officer Dale Davis, Zoning Administrator Jim Saracco and Zoning Administrator Rick Williams.
The first item on the agenda was to approve the Mayor's recommendation to appoint Commerce Street resident Jason Moore as a Call-Paid Firefighter. Moore is a journeyman pipe fitter, a paramedic and a Captain with the Liverpool Township Volunteer Fire Dept. Mr. Moore has all his Fire Fighter training and was first recommended for hire to the Mayor by WFD Chief Bill Smith. At the last regular Council meeting Smith advised the Mayor that Moore would be available to work day light hours helping to fill a void he has had for that particular shift. With a motion by Soldano and a second by Haugh the recommendation was unanimously approved.
The second item on the agenda was two resolutions ordered at the last meeting regarding the information gathering for a 1-mill or possibly a 1.5-mill levy for the Police Dept. Fiscal Officer Davis explained that the legislation is to “certify to the County we would like them to to tell us how much each of these mills would bring in if we so choose to proceed”. Council is considering a Police levy be put on the ballot for the May Primary elections.
Cataldo then read Section 1 of both resolutions which says “The purpose of the tax is: Providing and maintaining motor vehicles, communications, other equipment, buildings and sites for such buildings used directly in the operation of the Wellsville Police Department, and the payment of salaries of permanent police personnel, including the payment of the police officer employer's contribution required under R.C. 742.33”. Davis went on to explain that R.C. 742.33 pertains to the requirement for the pensions.
Allmon then inquired about the actual cost that each amount would be. Davis replied when the County certifies how much each amount will bring in they will also provide a cost list based on property values. If a resident's property is valued at “X” amount their taxes will increase this much with the levy approval and so on. Prior to the meeting Cataldo was estimating that a 1-mill levy would only increase the resident's tax by approximately $15 to $17 per year. Both resolutions were passed under suspension of rules. Cataldo noted that a new levy would not have any effect on the two permanent levies Wellsville residents have been paying that goes toward police salaries and pensions.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:37. The next regular meeting is schedule for 6 PM on Tuesday, February 1, at Village Hall.
ole nib
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
I don't understand councils' thinking process at all! The American people are tired of being taxed! Property owners, business owners, and your average "Joe the Plumber" are barely surviving now in this economy. People are losing jobs and homes, but they have to learn to live within their budget. As elected officials, shouldn't they be doing the same? Maybe they should go back and look from the last time they went into fiscal emergency and see what steps were taken to come out of it. More cuts can be made, but they have to work hard to look for them and stop asking us for more money!
They want more money for the police department. How about the money that was spent on suspending Lt. Wilson, hiring attorneys, and the "Cartier" police manual. Not to mention, the money paid to the gentleman who "supposedly" prepared the manual and negotiated with the union (only for council to do what they should have done in the beginning, putting them under ordinance).
Just for kicks and giggles, go to the Columbiana County Auditor's website and look at what property your council members own and what they pay in taxes. You will be amused!
Like everyone else we really do not relish paying anymore on taxes but on this issue there is one item that has us concerened. It appears the Baard project is going to proceed, possibly breaking ground as early as this coming spring. When that happens we feel our peaceful village is going to transform into a "gold rush" town with a large influx of people. Even though the ORCF plant is going to be located outside of the Village limits that influx of people are mostly going to be coming to the ville. Our PD is stretched to the max now with personnel & funding. We feel they do an excellent job with their resources at hand but what's going to happen when the "gold rush" hits? In our humble opinion it is something that should be seriously considered by all our residents. Are we going to be damned if we do or damned if we don't? Think about it...
nib
I have given a lot of thought about what you said. I still don't see the need. We have an influx of people during the All-Class Reunion and that's one giant party on the street. I don't think these folks will be partying on the street. I really don't see how the numbers will be any greater than when Wellsville was a city. Back in the day, we had twice as many people and bars and half the amount of police. So, the possibility of Baard is not a good enough reason. And if it does come, and if it does bring many, and if it does get built, what then? After they all move on, do we lay-off?
Without question there's arguments both pro & con.
nib
Post a Comment