Garrettsville – Village officials present at the village council meeting on August 12, were Village Solicitor Michele Stuck, Nancy Baldwin, Mayor Rick Patrick, and Councilpersons Tom Hardesty, John Chambers, Jeff Kaiser, Larry Beatty, Tom Collins and Chris Knop.
After the meeting was called to order at 2:11 PM, the minutes were reviewed and approved as presented. Council also looked over the village financial reports, and approved payment of the monthly bills. Knop asked for clarification on a payment of $350 to Bob Andrews. Baldwin explained that when cemetery plots are turned back in (meaning you no longer want them) the purchase price is returned to you.
Ordinance 2019-22 received its third and final reading at the afternoon’s meeting. This ordinance amends Chapter 351 of the Codified Ordinances of the Village of Garrettsville as it relates to parking in municipal lots. The ordinance adds section 351.19 which reads as follows:
351.19 maximum consecutive parking; junk and unlicensed vehicles on municipal parking lots.
(A) no person shall park any motor vehicle in any municipal lot for a period of time in excess of forty-eight consecutive hours.
(B) no person shall park a motor vehicle which is inoperable, has no license plates or has expired license plates in any municipal parking lot at any time.
The ordinance, which was approved and enacted at the meeting, also directs the Street Department to purchase and install the relevant signage in all municipal lots.
Ordinance 2019-26, which authorizes all actions necessary to accept NOPEC’s community grants, was approved and enacted. The village received a $1,500 community grant earlier in the year, and has now received another worth $8,800. Council was directed to start thinking about energy-saving projects that the money could go towards.
Ordinance 2019-27, which authorizes the Mayor and the Village of Garrettsville to enter into an agreement with the District Commissioners of the Portage County Solid Waste District (PCSWD) was discussed and approved. This is a five-year contact for the recycling service offered at the village maintenance garage.
Knop reported an ongoing problem with people dumping garbage, non-recyclable junk, and building/demolition materials at the recycling site. He asked whether the PCSWD could send someone to educate the people using the bins, or if cameras could be installed as it is not uncommon for metal poles (complete with concrete footers), fencing, and paint to be dumped.
Police Sergeant Keith Whan was asked by council whether a camera could be linked back to the station. Whan said that it was possible, but that it would make more sense to record the footage at the garage itself and just check the recordings as needed. Video surveillance would allow the Police Department to capture license plates, and cite the proper people for dumping their garbage. Whan recommended the council ask PCSWD if they have their own camera system that could be installed at their expense first.
Bea Brom, a resident of the Fox Hollow development, was present to request an ordinance specifying that construction sites in the village have their own dumpsters and port-a-pots. She has noticed a problem with one of the building companies (LDA in particular), stacking refuse in a way that results in debris and food waste scattering throughout the neighborhood and using the wood line as a toilet.
A motion was made for the Planning Committee to research the current ordinances, and come up with one that addresses the need for dumpsters and port-a-pots at construction sites.
Sergeant Whan shared that since Tim Christopher became the Police Chief, the two had been looking for a way to handle employee recognition. They have now established definitions of the awards and honors that can be issued to the officers in commendation for excelling at their jobs. Whan shared that their first recipient of such an award was Officer Emily Ahrens, the School Resource Officer for the Garfield Schools. Her Letter of Commendation stated as follows:
To all persons to whom these presents shall come, Greetings:
Be it known that during the 2018 – 2019 school year at James A. Garfield School the Garrettsville Police Department School Resource Officer program was implemented. School Resource Officer Emily Ahrens was selected for the position and was instrumental in the success of the first year of the program.
During this time, SRO Ahrens has developed close bonds with the students and school staff. She has implemented new safety procedures and has recently taken on added responsibilities of training the students and school staff in Emergency Procedures. SRO Ahrens attended A.L.I.C.E. training, obtaining an instructor’s certification to help her accomplish this task. In addition to training the students and school staff, SRO Ahrens attended a training class at F.L.E.T.C. in Glynco, Georgia, making her an instructor for Active Threat Response.
On July 27, 2019, SRO Ahrens hosted an eight-hour Active Threat Response Class for all of the Officers from the Garrettsville Police Department and several members of the neighboring Hiram Police Department. This class was the first time this material was taught to this extent and we believe that this has greatly increased the ability of the Garrettsville Police Department to respond and have the most positive outcome you can have if an emergency should occur of that magnitude.
Therefore, for outstanding performance of your duties to the citizens of the Village of Garrettsville, and the members of the Garrettsville Police Department, we hereby recognize your effort, and commend you for the professionalism and diligence that you displayed. Thank you for your service to the community.
Respectfully Acknowledged,
Timothy G. Christopher, Chief of Police
& Keith D. Whan, Sergeant
After presenting Officer Ahrens with her commendation, Whan provided council an update on Officer Jeremiah Poole. Poole has completed 26 8 hour days as a Reserve Officer, and Whan requested that council move him to Part-Time status. Council acknowledged and approved Whan’s request.
Whan also shared that eight of the ten Marks System radios have been received and charged. The department is waiting on the remainder of the order which included the necessary repeaters, antenna and base station. Once in they will be installed in the vehicles and in Mantua for the radio relay service.
Round Table Wrap-up
Knop shared that he, Hardesty, and Stevie Byrne had finished drafting the job description for the Fiscal Officer position. The goal is to have a candidate to approve at the next meeting. Approval was given to also run advertisements in the Villager, Akron Beacon Journal, Plain Dealer, and Record Courier. The ads will direct prospective applicants to a posting on the village website. Knop also said that the Planning Committee is continuing to work its way through the ten year plan for the village.
Hardesty provided an update on the new Police Station roof, noting that downspouts had been added where there had previously been none. He also shared that Brandon Paul Commercial Roofing donated the work done on the garage portion of the station.
Hardesty informed council that the paving projects on Liberty and Zupancic are underway and should be completed this week. Sidewalks have also been marked and will likely start work next week, with Center Street taking priority, and work on South Street finishing out the season.
Hardesty mentioned that the “grass ordinance” needs work as the ordinance is inadequate in defining attention areas.
Beatty shared that he thinks the commendation program at the Police department is a great idea.
Patrick informed council that a resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, is willing to donate up to $10,000 for a sound system and microphones for Village Hall. He also shared that the service truck is almost ready to sell. Council was also made aware of a potential project between the Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Police Department. The Chamber has an interest installing surveillance cameras along the boardwalk and in the Freedom Street municipal lot to curb vandalism and allow the police to keep an eye on an area that sees a lot of traffic during events. The project may also encompass cameras on Main Street. The Chamber is interested in splitting the cost of the project with the Village.
Baldwin shared that an anonymous donation of $5,000 for roofing the dugouts at the ball fields has been received.
Kaiser reported a sinkhole in the lower municipal lot on Maple Avenue. The hole measures about 8” in circumference and is about 2’ deep. He also mentioned that someone dumped a lot of sweet potatoes at the corner of the lot.
Collins shared that the Park Avenue playground equipment was installed, and thanked the maintenance crew for their help on the project. They also received kudos for the sidewalk installed to the gazebo next to the waterfall. Collins would like to see some of the NOPEC grant money go towards lighting in the park on Park Avenue.
Following the round table session the meeting went into executive session for purposes of discussing employee compensation. The meeting was adjourned afterward.
