Garrettsville – Village officials present at the village council meeting on May 10, were Village Solicitor Michele Stuck, Nancy Baldwin, Mayor Rick Patrick, and Councilpersons Tom Hardesty, John Chambers, Chris Knop, Jeff Kaiser, and Tom Collins, and Deb (Glass) Wordell.
After approving the minutes of the previous meeting, the bills and financial reports were reviewed by council. Kaiser questioned a list of invoices from PBCS in varying amounts all dated for the same day. Baldwin informed council that the company’s accountant had submitted invoices for work that had not been previously billed, Baldwin used the date they were submitted for the report. Wordell asked Baldwin about the status of the boardwalk fund transfer. Stuck and Baldwin talked briefly about the next step for transferring money from that fund to the general fund. Baldwin will need to submit documentation to the state department of taxation for approval.
Resolution 2019-15, a resolution authorizing the village to solicit bids for the repaving of Zupancic Drive and a portion of Liberty Street, was approved and enacted. Hardesty mentioned that some money could be saved on the Zupancic project by not redoing the apron paving (already done during the paving of State Route 88). The money saved could be used to extend the reach of the work on Liberty further toward Center Street.
American Tower, despite being turned down at the last council meeting, submitted another lease extension proposal that was also rejected. Baldwin was instructed by Patrick to “just tell them no” if they continue to call and email about it.
Ordinance 2019-16, which amends section 351.99 of the codified ordinances as it relates to penalties for parking violations, was approved and enacted. The section now reads as follows:
351.99 Penalty
(a) Waiver Fine. Whoever violates any provision of chapter 351, may within forty-eight hours after receipt of such notice report to the Police Department, and pay a penalty of $10 in full satisfaction of such a violation; after 48 hours but before the expiration of 30 days, such person may report and pay a penalty of $20 in full satisfaction. Any subsequent ticket with the remaining unpaid shall automatically become $20 even though the subsequent ticket may have been issued within the 48 hour period. Such payment as provided in the subsection shall be deemed a plea of guilty, waiver of court appearance and acknowledgment of conviction of the alleged offense. Failure of a person to make a payment as provided for in the subsection and within the time and manner aforesaid shall render such person subject to citation filed in the Portage County Municipal Court and liable for the penalty provided in section 303.99(a)(1).
(b) Fire Lanes. Whoever violates section 351.18 is guilty of a minor misdemeanor on a first offense, on a second offense within one year after the first offense such person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(c) Handicap Parking Zones. Whoever violates section 351.04(e) and (f) may within 48 hours after receipt of a traffic citation report to the police department and pay a penalty of $50 in full satisfaction of such a violation; after 48 hours but before the expiration of 30 days, such person may report and pay a penalty of $100 in full satisfaction of such violation. A subsequent citation with the first citation remaining unpaid shall automatically become $100 even though the subsequent citation may have been issued within the 48 hour period. Such payment shall be deemed a plea of guilty, waiver of court appearance and acknowledgment of conviction of the alleged offense. The failure of such person to make such payment within the time aforesaid shall render the person subject a citation filed in the Portage County Municipal Court and liable to the imposition of penalties provided in section 303.99(a)(1).
(d) no owner of premises whereon a fire lane has been designated pursuant to this section shall fail to provide, erect, install and maintain the signs and markers as required herein 30 days after receipt of notice to do so from the fire chief.
(e) In the event that a car has two or more outstanding tickets that have not been paid within 48 hours, the village has the authority to impound and immobilize the vehicle until such fines and costs have been paid in full.
Resolution 2019-17, a yearly resolution authorizing the council to dispose of equipment that is obsolete or unfit for use through internet auction was approved. A companion resolution, number 2019-18, was also approved. This resolution authorizes the 1982 Elgin Street Sweeper to be listed on eBay for ten days with a minimum bid of $1,000.
Round Table Wrap-up
Hardesty informed the rest of council that Planning Commission would be getting together the following day at the site of the proposed Taco Bell. They want to get a better idea of how the proposed plan will fit on the lots. He also shared that the punch list on the Fox Hollow projects is getting shorter. Once the road in the development is paved and has sat for at least a year, the Village can start to talk about taking ownership of it.
Wordell mentioned that it was great seeing the Water Department guys (Jeff Sheehan, Jeff Turk, and Mike Veon) get recognition for their combined 97-years of service to the Village at the BPA meeting. She also shared that the community cleanup was very successful. This time the event had 11 volunteers ranging in age from 9 to “70+”. She plans to arrange another cleanup day before the Memorial Day ceremonies at the end of the month. The group of volunteers would like to pursue mulching the flowerbeds around the boardwalk fountain, and doing landscaping by the gazebo. Wordell asked if anyone on council remembered what the top of the fountain looked like as she wants to find something to put on top to dress it up a bit. Patrick mentioned that there had been something when it was first installed, but the freeze/thaw cycle had damaged it. Wordell also shared a preview of the new village website.
Patrick shared that the new street department truck should be in or built by May 28th. He also shared that the new street sweeper is in, and that the street department has been trying it out.
Discussion was had about overnight parking in the municipal lots. Patrick shared that there are some people treating the lots as indefinite parking for their extra vehicles. The problem has become more pronounced since the ban on street parking has been enforced. Now there is a person calling from Hiram Township asking if he can park his “winter cars” in the municipal lots all summer long. Police Chief Tim Christopher asked that when council sends the issue to Planning, they allow for a minimum of 24 hours parking, as they’d rather people enjoying the bars find a ride home instead of risking driving home drunk. Knop mentioned that he was okay with the idea of a day or two of parking, but does not see it being the village’s role to subsidize parking for people with too many cars.
Patrick shared that the street department would like to replace their “antiquated” striper. He also mentioned that there are plans to get a price on chip & sealing of High Street. The price for that project would be compared with the price to have the existing lines blacked out, and repainted for one-way traffic. Council voted to approve spending up to $3,300 for the striper.
Kaiser shared that Squad 29-12 at Community EMS has left for its remount on a new chassis. The vehicle should be back in July. He also suggested looking at adding 10-12 more maple trees to Park Cemetery as the older damaged or dying trees are removed.
Collins informed council that the new playground equipment had been ordered and will hopefully be installed in June. He added that the company can also remove the existing equipment for a small fee. Collins was asked to get a scope of the work behind the removal project as it would expedite the installation.
The meeting then entered into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing personnel compensation.
