Wellsville Council Looks Toward 2012

Tuesday – November 15: Wellsville's Village Council held their first post-election meeting this past Tuesday at Village Hall. All Council members were present except Joe Soldano and fellow members voted to excuse his absence. Also present was Mayor Joe Surace, Fiscal Officer Dale Davis, Village Administrator Jim Saracco and Zoning Administrator Rick Williams.

In the Public Speaking portion of the agenda Main Street resident Sherry Allen speaking on behalf of the Daw Middle School 7th & 8th Grade Girls Basketball Teams Boosters sought Council's permission to have an unscheduled tag day on Saturday, November 19. Allen explained the boosters have a joint account with the Volleyball boosters and they are broke. Any proceeds would go toward shoes and jerseys for the girls. A motion by Councilman Allmon was carried.

Riverside resident Jack Cataldo stated “I would like to publically congratulate you Sue on your win and I wish you the best of luck”. Cataldo was addressing Councilwoman Sue Haugh on her winning the Mayor's office in last week's General Election. Cataldo was one of the three opposing candidates for that office. Haugh thanked him and expressed that she hoped he'll be at the other end of the phone when she calls him.

In the Mayor's Report, Surace added his congratulations to “Madam Mayor” and Councilmen-elect John Morrow & Don Brown who were in attendance. He wished all three the best of luck.

Surace also reported that he received a call from Mike Pusateri of Pusateri Excavating who advised new conduit has been installed for the underground electrical line to the flood pumps at 2nd Street. He has been in contact with AEP and they will have the line repaired in the “next couple of weeks”. Surace was referring to an electrical line that was damaged this past spring while the contractor was digging to repair a sewage line.

For New Business Councilman Tony Cataldo advised there is a parcel of property at 1111 Center Street that failed to sell two different times at a Sheriff's Sale. Cataldo noted that the house is fixable and suggested that the Village take it and bid it out for the highest price. It was noted it would cost the village $108 for an auditor's deed and made a motion for the solicitor to petition the court for title to the property. The motion passed.

Cataldo reminded the Mayor that a Special Council meeting will be needed next week to award the bids for the pump station.

Cataldo got a motion passed that the Village apply for a Nature Works Grant for 2012 that is due in February for playground equipment, the baseball fields or tennis courts at Hammonds Park or whatever the Property Committee comes up with.

Cataldo also got a motion passed to apply for a federally funded ODOT grant for new sidewalks and lighting within three blocks of a school. It is unsure if it will be funded in 2012. Cataldo noted it's “an enhancement grant” and the Village does have to accept it if matching funds are not available.

Cataldo also advised that the Issue I project for streets and catch basins had to be cut back for 2012. Commerce Street from 9th to 15th is still being planned but Center Street had to be cut back to only include 10th to 13th. The reason for this is the number of catch basins included and Cataldo stated “the catch basins are more important”.

Cataldo finished with a reminder that it will be necessary to increase sewage rates if not this year then next. He stated the village is not taking in enough to pay the United Water contract. Sewage Committee Chairman Randy Allmon said he would set up a meeting.

Before closing Allmon reminded everyone that the Christmas Light Up Night will be 6 PM on Thursday, December 1. Also the annual Christmas parade will begin at 6 PM Saturday, December 3.

The meeting adjourned at 6:20 PM. The next regularly schedule meeting is Tuesday, December 6, at 6 PM at Village Hall.

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