Windham – The Windham Village Council met recently with all the members of council in attendance. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Scott Garrett. Council members are President Lawrence (Mac) Cunningham, Cheryl Belknap, Cindy Cale, Cheryl Taylor, Terrie Altiere and Sherri Pennington. The village administrator is Deborah Blewitt, zoning inspector Tom Brett and solicitor is Tom Reitz.
The fiscal officer Cheree Taylor presented the fiscal report. Income tax collected year to March 31,2021 is $101,020.06. The expenditures for the month March 2021 are $120,717.94 with all funds reconciled$1,784,014.67. Council approved the fiscal report and bank reconciliation as presented by Cheree Taylor.
In the Village President’s Report, Cunningham stated that he had a relative pass away and his aunt was very pleased at how well the fire district handled the situation and how respectful they were of the property as well as the person. Mac asked Cindy if she would relay that to the to the district. Blewitt and Mac were invited by Ted St. John to meet Ohio Senator Jerry Cirino. It was a nice quick meeting with some promise. Last week, several council members went out and did the blitz for the school levy. It was a great turn out. Cunningham also reported that the township/ village clean up went well. The village sold another piece of property on Grove Court and the houses they are planning to erect there will be aesthetically pleasing.
Cindy Cale presented the dispatchers, police, fire and rescue, which was accepted as presented.
In the Mayor’s Report, Mayor Scott Garrett reported that he was at the clean-up and it seemed like it went well. Mayor Garrett asked, if there were plans to repair salt bin “Tony is on top of it,” said Blewitt.
Terrie Altiere reported that they would like to ratify the Committee of the Whole’s recommendation to hire Tyler Morris as a full-time police officer effective April 18, 2021. A motion and a second was given, all voting yes.
Cheryl Belknap presented Resolution R-2021-7, is a resolution ratifying the actions of the village administrator accepting a grant from the Ohio EPA for two EV charging stations. Authorizing a grant agreement and declaring an emergency. After a suspension of the rules, council ratified the resolution.
Pennington, Cunningham and Blewitt are working on a grant for the park. The grant will be used to repair the basketball courts. The paperwork will be submitted tomorrow. In the solicitor’s report, Reitz apologized for being late a prior meeting ran late. He also reported that he has seen some progress on the water filter lawsuit.
Cheryl Belknap reported that she met recently with the owner of the plaza and he is going to repair the drive and parking lots there. Belknap said, she asked him, if he would allow food trucks in the plaza parking lot, she said, he would.
Garrett said, the village needs to be diligent on keeping up with those who fail to keep up with their mowing and other yard maintenance. Blewitt said, fencing is also an issue. Many are not being maintained.
Mac reported that he has seen more police presence in the neighborhoods and thought it was good. Chief Eric Breiding reported that they would be hiring three more part-time officers as soon as they are trained.
In economic development Mac, Sherri and Deborah Blewitt are working on a grant for a Kubota and received a few essays from kids at school. Will submit the information for the grant tomorrow. The basketball court is in bad shape and the kids still want to play there. Its run similar to the state farm grant where people vote on the finalist Sherri Pennington reported that she talked to Stephanie Miller at the school and the NHS will do some community service for the village. The group will need a list of ideas as to what needs to be done In the solicitor’s report Tom Reitz apologize for being late, his other meeting ran late. Second thing, although the suit has been filed we are closer to having some progress on the law suit on the water filter situation. Cheryl Belknap reported that she met with Nick who owns the plaza and Keith Bruggman who has interest in owning the plaza. The current owner says he will fix the parking lot and road there. Belknap asked if they could have food trucks come in the plaza and Nick replied by all means. Bruggman might know of one that would be willing to park there. Mac reported that he had been seeing more police presence in the neighborhoods and he hopes it continues. Chief Eric Breiding said, they have three more part-time officers in training now. A Council member asked if they would be getting help for summer maintenance and Blewitt said, “They were.”
Council has decided to resume in person meetings for Committee in the Whole on May 11, 2021 at the Community Center, with a planning commission meeting being held at 6:30 prior to the 7pm meeting. Masks and social distancing will be observed. The regular council meeting on May 25th will be there as well, it meets at 7pm. Also, the village offices will open to the public starting on May 3, 2021. Only two people will be allowed in to the office at a time, mask and social distance protocols will be in place. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.
In other village news, the old Windham Hardware Building has been sold and sources say it will be an indoor, heated storage facility. It has also been reported that the former Dollar General Store is going to be used the same way. It is unclear if there is any connection between the two.
