Garrettsville – Village officials present at the village council meeting on November 13th were Village Solicitor Michele Stuck, Fiscal Officer Deb (Glass) Wordell, Mayor Rick Patrick, and Councilpersons Tom Hardesty, John Chambers, Jeff Kaiser, Larry Beatty and Tom Collins. Councilperson Chris Knop was absent.
Prior to the start of the regular meeting a special hearing was held for Ordinance 2019-33, an ordinance amending section 1139.02 of the Codified Ordinances of the Village of Garrettsville as it relates to standards for worksites. The changes add section 1139.02(f) which reads as follows:
(f) Each zoning certificate issued shall include a section where in the zoning inspector shall, at his/her discretion, and based on the type, size, anticipated project duration and anticipated waste material generated, specify whether the site of work performed must include portable toilet facilities (“porta potty“) and/or receptacle for trash and building refuse (“dumpster“). In addition to any other penalties provided for in this chapter, failure to provide such equipment when the requirement to do so is endorsed on the zoning certificate shall be cause for the issuance of a “stop work order” by the zoning inspector, revocation of the zoning certificate, and/or notification of the Portage County Building Department.
All other provisions of the Codified Ordinances of the Village of Garrettsville, including the remaining provisions of section 1139.02, shall remain in full force and effect.
Mayor Patrick opened the floor for conversation, of which there was none. After a minute or two of silence, the public hearing was closed, and the regular meeting began.
Following the pledge of allegiance, regular council meeting was called to order and the minutes of the October meeting were reviewed as presented. Also reviewed were the bills, revenue and expenditure reports, cash balance statements, and income tax report.
Mayor Patrick took an opportunity to recognize Deb (Glass) Wordell, village fiscal officer and former council member, for her “outstanding service to the Village of Garrettsville, and the community as a whole.” Resolution 2019-25 recognizes her time on council (January 2016-June 2019), her service on the Streets, Parks and Sidewalks committee, implementation of the new village website, and spearheading the annual volunteer clean-up day in the village.
The floor was then opened for attendees to adress council.
Up first were Joseph Chartier, a 9th grade student at Garfield High School, and Robert Koehler; the pair was at council to present a design for new equipment at the skate park. Chartier has been talking with the other people using the skate park on Park Avenue and worked with Koehler to develop a plan for a multi-use concrete obstacle based on the suggestions. The proposed equipment, including a concrete quarter-pipe, ramp, stairs, and manual ledge, would come with a $3,000–$5,000 price tag for the supplies needed.
At the moment Chartier and Koehler stated that they were looking for a grant towards the supply and construction costs, and support for any fundraisers that are planned for the project. Patrick informed the council that there was still $1,000 left in the fund for skate park equipment. He also recommended talking with the Rotary and Chamber of Commerce to inquire about grant opportunities there.
Kaiser said that “as it’s going to be more of a permanent fixture [he] would be more willing to put some money towards it”. Beatty suggested that council could match funds that are raised for the project instead of giving a set amount. He also commended Chartier for doing a great job as a project spokesperson.
Ultimately council requested that Koehler and Chartier come back with some firmer estimates for expenses and installation, and agreed to mull over different ways to help fund the project.
Up next Adam Wohlever, regional preserve manager for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, spoke to council about ODNR’s upcoming GO Native Initiative. Wohlever shared that the ODNR is embarking on a pilot project to incentivize communities, residents, and businesses to learn more about and to begin using native plants for landscaping. The program also teaches them to work towards controlling invasive plant species.
The GO Native initiative is a voluntary program, and not a regulatory program or obligatory in any way. Examples of areas where GO Native concepts could be implemented include:
- Existing village facilities such as village hall, the road department, water department and the police and fire departments.
- Planters along streets and businesses.
- Along the boardwalk, and near the gazebo.
- Use of native trees in future streetscaping projects. Wohlever shared that the dwarf pear trees chosen for the Buckeye Block street-scaping are actually incredibly invasive. In fact the state of Ohio passed legislation that will enact in 2023 that makes the propagation or sale of that species of tree illegal.
- Identification of areas where mowing could be reduced, and pollinator plant species planted.
- Modification of village ordinances regarding property maintenance to allow natural landscaping while maintaining a neat and orderly appearance.
Wohlever also provided a couple examples of projects already underway that could be considered part of this program. These included:
- The new JAG Prairie at the Garfield Schools.
- Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary’s garden at the Bike Path entrance.
- Removal of lesser celandine from the boardwalk fountain area, and the planting of native plants provided by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
Wohlever shared that the GO Native program is still being fine-tuned, but should be launching sometime in 2020. He would really like to see Garrettsville as one of the first communities participating.
Patrick suggested that Hardesty and Wohlever work together on planning landscaping work at Hardesty Park (Brosius Road Park).
Police Chief Tim Christopher was present at the meeting to request permission to promote part-time Officer Jeremiah Poole to full-time status. This would give the Police Department their sixth full-time Officer, which is what council had planned for them to work towards. Council approved full-time status, which will be effective January 1, 2020.
With no other topics from the floor, council moved on to the ordinances on the agenda.
Ordinance 2019–33, an ordinance amending section 1139.02 of the codified ordinances for the Village of Garrettsville relating to the standards for worksites, was discussed. Hardesty shared that he felt the issues brought to planning (number of porta potties/dumpsters needed for adjacent projects) had been addressed in the final version. The ordinance was passed and enacted at the meeting.
Ordinance 2019-34, an annual ordinance approving the contract with the county public defender, was passed and enacted.
Ordinance 2019-36, an ordinance amending the Village of Garrettsville employee handbook relating to pay periods and declaring an emergency, was passed and enacted. Stuck explained that the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund requested that the ordinance be amended to clarify that the policy council passed on September 16th in Ordinance 2019-30 (which changed pay periods for employees paid semi-monthly to bi-weekly) applies to both full and part-time employees.
Section 4.1.1 of Ordinance 2019-67 now reads:
Beginning October 13, 2019, pay periods for all full-time and part-time employees previously paid on a semi-monthly basis will be bi-weekly, beginning at 12:01am Sunday and ending at 12:00 midnight on Saturday fourteen days (three-hundred thirty-six hours) later. Paychecks will be direct-deposited by the Friday following the end of the pay period. Employees and officials paid monthly will continue to be paid on the last business day of the month.
Ordinance 2019-37, an ordinance amending ordinance 2019–11 entitled “annual appropriation ordinance“ to make appropriations for the current expenses and expenditures for the village of Garrettsville, State of Ohio during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019. This ordinance is necessary after increasing appropriations to the street department by $65,000 (for sidewalks). The ordinance was approved and enacted.
Stuck presented council with a draft copy of Ordinance 2019-38, an ordinance amending sections 301.12, 375.03(a), 505.11(a), 517.01(vv), 549.10(a), 549.11(a) and 949.01(a) of the Village of Garrettsville codified ordinances, and repealing sections 549.01, 549.02, 549.03, 549.04, 549.05, 549.06, 549.07, 549.08, 549.09, 549.12, 549.13, and 549.99 of the Village of Garrettsville codified ordinances related to the ownership, possession, purchase, other acquisition, transport, storage, carrying, sale, other transfer, manufacture, taxation, keeping, and reporting of loss or theft of firearms, their components, and their ammunition, and declaring an emergency.
Stuck explained that on December 28th, and amended version of ORC 9.68, entitled “Right to Bear Arms – Challenge to Law” will become effective. The amendment effectively precludes municipalities from enacting and enforcing any ordinance purporting to regulate firearms, because, in the words of 9.68, such ordinances “Interferes with the fundamental individual right described in this division and unduly inhibits – law-abiding people from protecting themselves, their families, and others from intruders and attackers and from other legitimate uses of constitutionally protected firearms, including hunting and sporting activities.”
The legislature has given no guidance as to how to reconcile local ordinances prohibiting firearms discharge and hunting within municipalities, and in light of the fact the statute specifically calls out hunting and sporting activities as protected legitimate uses of firearms, municipal attorneys across the state are interpreting this to mean that failure to repeal ordinances relating to discharging and hunting will expose the municipality to liability under the next section of the statute.
Council will review Stuck’s draft of Ordinance 2019-38 for discussion at the December council meeting.
Roundtable Wrap Up
Hardesty shared that he recently attended the Ohio Public Works meeting. There is a 90% guarantee the village will receive money for the South Street water main replacement project which is expected to run about $445,000. It’s possible that Ohio Public Works could award $300,000. Hardesty also reported that he intends to complete the sidewalks on Liberty Street, if the weather cooperates. If it becomes a possibility the sidewalks will be installed, but the driveway aprons will wait until spring for more favorable cement cure times.
Beatty thanked everyone on Council, and said that they are all upstanding and dedicated to improvements in the village.
Patrick reported that the NOPEC grant money has been put into escrow while the village comes up with potential projects that could qualify for use of the money. he also reported that the street sweeper that sold on eBay has been relisted after the original buyer did not come through with payment. Patrick also reminded council of two upcoming events, the first is the clock tower lighting on November 30 sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. Festivities start at the clock tower at 5 PM, with Santa arriving by firetruck at 6 PM. The second is a swearing in ceremony on December 7 hosted by Hiram village at Kortansky hall on the Hiram College campus.
Hardesty mentioned an article in the Record Courier about the Portage County Solid Waste District’s plan to charge for curbside recycling for all residents regardless of whether the municipality provides curbside service at all. He stated that this goes against the contract they just entered into with the village of Garrettsville. Council will keep an eye on this to see what happens.
Kaiser shared that community EMS voted to add a third person between 8 PM and 4 AM, their highest volume times. This will allow them to more quickly/efficiently send squads. He also mentioned that the AED cabinet at Hardesty Park was in need of replacement.
Collins requested a resolution congratulating the James A Garfield high school football team for hosting the first ever playoff game in school history. He also presented council with some ideas for use of the NOPEC money. These include:
- LED lighting at the gazebo
- Lighting the Garrettsville signs
- Relocating the photo-eye on the Windham Street bridge
- Purchasing a Power Wall battery for the Police or Fire Station
Wordell asked if programmable/smart thermostats Would qualify under NOPEC. She also provided council with a copy of cyber security information.
Police sergeant Keith Whan asked when the recycling center is supposed to be emptied. Hardesty believes it is to be serviced daily, however they did miss a day or two over the past week. Whan also shared that the rescue task force (Police, Fire, EMS) would be running active shooter training at Garfield Elementary over the weekend.
With no further topics for discussion, the meeting was adjourned.
