The Garrettsville Village Council convened on November 8, 2023. Present at the meeting were Councilpersons Tom Hardesty, Chris Knop, John Chambers, Sheri Johnson, Mark Brady, Richard Beatty, Village Solicitor Michele Stuck, Village Fiscal Officer Donna Love, and Mayor Rick Patrick.
The meeting began with the review and approval of minutes from the October 11 meeting. In addition, the village fiscal reports and income tax receipts were scrutinized, with Councilperson Tom Hardesty noting the goal of increasing tax revenue by $100,000 over the previous year to offset rising insurance costs for village employees.
A presentation was delivered via Zoom by Apptegy, an Arkansas-based edu-technology company. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because Apptegy is the provider of the technology platform for the JAG Local School District and Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce websites and mobile applications. The Apptegy platform, named Thrillshare, would enable the village and its various departments to effortlessly share content on social media, mobile apps, and the official website with a single click. The platform also supports SMS and phone alerts, an example use case being a tornado alert or water main break, if the village were to build out a notification database.
Councilperson Chris Knop inquired about the need for policies and procedures governing the use of the Thrillshare platform. Stuck agreed that language should be put in place, separate from the employee handbook, for deparment users to sign. Following deliberation, the council approved entering into an agreement with Apptegy to develop their new website and app.
Ordinance 2023-31, which amends sections of the codified zoning ordinances regarding public hearing notices, was discussed during its second reading. It was decided that the ordinance would require a public hearing prior to the third reading scheduled for December.
Ordinance 2023-32, modifying the village employee handbook regarding vacation time eligibility, was also presented for its second reading. After a motion to suspend the rules and a vote, the ordinance was approved.
The first reading of Ordinance 2023-35, addressing changes to the municipal income tax code, was discussed. The state legislature recently introduced several amendments to municipal tax codes, necessitating a reconciliation of the village’s code with the state’s. The council approved the suspension of rules and enacted the ordinance.
Resolution 2023-36, which authorizes a contract with the Portage County Public Defender for the defense of indigent persons charged with offenses under village ordinances, was discussed during its first reading. The council approved the renewal of this annual contract.
During the public participation section, Paul Bass, representing the JAG Historical Society, announced plans to open their time capsule next year. The society intends to construct a new time capsule for the upcoming centennial celebration. Mayor Rick Patrick informed Bass that the Historical Society would need to apply for a permit to close High Street for their event.
Councilperson Chris Knop conveyed a resident’s concern about street lines not being repainted following repaving work. The issue was discussed, and it was noted that side streets are historically not striped. Some side streets with existing “ghost lines” may be considered for repainting. Liberty Street’s section was not painted, as it shares territory with Windham Township.
Councilperson Tom Hardesty expressed concerns about anticipated insurance cost increases in 2024 and suggested initiating discussions in December regarding pay raises effective January 2024. The village’s Fiscal Officer, Donna Love, has prepared a spreadsheet outlining various raise options. These raises would be more modest compared to the 2023 increase but are necessary to remain competitive with other communities. Solicitor Michele Stuck requested specific numbers from Hardesty to facilitate the preparation of legislation for the December meeting.
Councilperson Sheri Johnson addressed a resident’s complaint about the condition of Davis Street and inquired about when the road might be paved. It was acknowledged that Davis Street is in need of repair, and Councilperson Hardesty agreed to assess the road’s condition.
Mayor Rick Patrick shared his, and the school district’s, appreciation for the Garrettsville Police Department’s work during a recent incident. He also announced that the annual tree lighting event would take place on Small Business Saturday (November 25) at 5:30 PM, with Santa’s arrival by fire truck scheduled for 6:00 PM.
Fiscal Officer Donna Love sought approval to eliminate the use of forms to record employee sick time and vacation time, as these forms are no longer used during payroll processing. This change would require an update to the employee handbook. Additionally, Love requested permission to consolidate the final payroll of the month with the monthly payroll for council members and BPA trustees.
Councilperson Richard Beatty reported that residents on Garfield Drive were pleased with the Halloween turnout and appreciated the extended trick-or-treat hours.
Lastly, Councilperson Mark Brady proposed considering an employee recognition bonus, a suggestion for further discussion at a later date.
