Garrettsville, OH – The Garrettsville Village Council convened on July 12 for a regular meeting, presided over by Mayor Rick Patrick and attended by various village officials, including Councilpersons Chris Knop, Tom Hardesty, John Chambers, Sherri Johnson, Richard Beatty, Mark Brady, as well as Solicitor Michele Stuck and Fiscal Official Donna Love.
During the meeting, the council conducted a public hearing regarding the permanent budget for the upcoming 2024 fiscal year. The hearing concluded without any comments or objections from the attendees. Additionally, the minutes from the June meeting were reviewed and approved as presented.
Financial reports, including income tax receipts and delinquencies, were thoroughly examined during the meeting. The council noted that income tax delinquencies are starting to trickle in, and the bills to be paid were accepted as presented in the meeting packet.
Hunter Andel was recognized for his outstanding achievement as one of Garfield High School’s first-ever state wrestling champions. He was out of town for a wrestling tournament last month for the first reading of the resolution honoring both him and Keegan Sell.
Ordinance 2023-15 received its second reading. This ordinance would establish section 1139.06 of the village’s codified ordinances, specifically relating to construction and site plan inspections. If passed, it would allow the village to retain the services of an engineer/inspector to review site plans and works, such as detention basins, to ensure they are designed adequately and do not cause problems for neighboring properties. Furthermore, the council addressed the adoption of the permanent budget for the 2024 fiscal year with Ordinance 2023-16. The ordinance received its second reading and was subsequently approved and enacted during the meeting.
Another ordinance, 2023-17, was introduced to amend the appropriation ordinance (set last fiscal year) and update it for the current fiscal year. The change in the appropriations allows the village to allocate funds for ongoing work in the Village Parks.
Police Chief Tim Christopher provided an update during the meeting, regarding concerns raised by citizens at the June meeting with regard to speed and the Headwaters Trail crosswalk on South Street. The council explored the possibility of acquiring a speed trailer, and three quotes were obtained. The cost of purchasing a speed trailer ranged from $12,500 to $15,000. Chief Christopher mentioned that the Hiram Police Department currently utilizes a speed trailer in front of their Police Department. The quoted price included software capable of collecting speed data, dates, and times, along with a ghost mode that collects data without displaying speed. The software does not capture license plate information. The speed trailer could be powered by either batteries or solar panels.
Councilperson Hardesty expressed the desire to evaluate the impact of increased policing before investing in a speed trailer. Mayor Patrick suggested exploring the possibility of securing a grant to fund the acquisition. Councilperson Brady inquired about the effectiveness of such signs, to which Chief Christopher responded that their efficacy varies across departments. Councilperson Beatty inquired about the value of data collection, and Chief Christopher explained that the data collected could assist the Police Department in scheduling enforcement efforts during periods when excessive speeding is recorded. Given its mobility as a trailer-mounted device, the speed trailer could be relocated as needed within the village. Councilperson Knop asked about the frequency of issuing speeding violations, and Chief Christopher estimated that approximately 85% of speeding incidents result in a ticket or warning. Mayor Patrick asked Chief Christopher to choose the sign he deemed most suitable and obtain a quote for the next meeting. In the meantime, the street department was tasked with exploring additional signage options and addressing any line-of-sight obstructions caused by overgrown trees.
During the roundtable discussion, Councilperson Knop brought up the topic of vacation policies. It was discussed at the June safety meeting that vacation time should be available after the first six months of employment, rather than after completing one year. The proposed change aims to make the village more competitive in the hiring process. Solicitor Stuck was requested to prepare an update to the employee handbook reflecting this modification.
According to the new policy, employees would be eligible for one week of vacation after six months, two weeks after one year, and three weeks after five years. The change would be retroactively applied to all current employees.
Councilperson Hardesty addressed the need to hire another street department employee with a CDL license. He suggested implementing a training policy similar to that of the BPA (Board of Public Affairs), where the village would cover the expenses for CDL training under the condition that the employee successfully passes the examination and remains employed by the village for two years afterward. If the employee were to leave before completing the two-year term, reimbursement to the village would be required. Interviews for the position are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks. Councilperson Beatty proposed capping the training payment at $500 instead of covering the entire cost, in order to avoid potential complications if an employee were to depart after only 1.5 years. Hardesty disagreed, saying that his goal is to eliminate a hardship that may prevent otherwise qualified candidates from applying. In other news, the installation of poles and sleeves for pickleball has been ordered, and paving work is set to commence in a few weeks, with the topcoat expected to be applied around Labor Day. Road paving in the village is scheduled to begin by the end of July.
Councilperson Johnson addressed concerns raised by residents regarding the presence of four-wheelers in the village, some of which are driven by unlicensed children under 16 years old. This year has seen an increase in such incidents, with reports of four-wheelers even entering the cemetery. Councilperson Hardesty questioned whether the four-wheelers are required to display slow-moving vehicle signage. Knop mentioned the increasing number of mini-bike riders along Windham Street as well.
Mayor Patrick took the opportunity to express his appreciation to the police department for their efforts during Summerfest, as well as commending the street department for their efficient cleanup work. He also announced that Assistant Fiscal Officer Deb Wordell will be resigning, with her last day being July 21st. Wordell will, however, continue to be available to the village as an independent contractor if needed.
Fiscal Official Donna Love sought clarification regarding the CPR training that all employees are required to undergo. She also asked for clarification from Stuck about liability if an employee whose training had lapsed performed CPR on village property. Chief Christopher asked if that would fall under Ohio’s Good Samaritan law. Stuck said she would need to do some more research to come up with an answer.
Councilperson Brady informed the council that the Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary should not be considered an adversary. He shared the news of his recent installation as the President of the organization, emphasizing the positive relationship between Rotary and the village.
The meeting wa adjourned following the round table session.The next Village Council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 9th.
