Village of Boston Heights: Council Meeting July-2006

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This is a publication of Boston Heights Overlook.
Not an official public document by, of or for
the Village of Boston Heights OH.

VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS

45 E. Boston Mills Road
Hudson, OH 44236

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING - July 12, 2006 - 8:00 P.M.

AGENDA

[and Editor's Notes on Council Meeting.
Please note that these are not official minutes of the Council meeting.
Contact the Village Hall to obtain a copy of the official minutes.]

[Note: Unless otherwise indicated, Council generally votes to "suspend the rules" and dispense with the three readings of each ordinance otherwise required by ORC 731.17. Recently Council began "suspending the rules" for resolutions as well.]

ROLL CALL

Council members present: Bill Goncy (President Pro Tempore), Mike Cheung, Teri Slane, Janet Miller, and Paul Palumbo. Jim Hudson was absent.
Also present: Mayor Ray McFall (presiding), Clerk-Treasurer Carol Zeman, Solicitor Russell "Russ" Pry, and Engineer Steve Schreiber.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

MINUTES PRESENTED FOR CHANGE, CORRECTION OR ADOPTION

Minutes of the May 2006 meeting and the June 2006 meeting were corrected and adopted.

CORRESPONDENCE

Mayor Ray McFall announced that Summit County Health has issued information on emergency preparedness; these flyers are available at the Village Hall. They cover such topics as flood insurance, safe drinking water, sanitation and post-disaster cleanup.
The Mayor also noted that he and Councilor Bill Goncy had personally installed the new park benches at the Village Park playground. The benches are cemented in place, in hopes that they stay in the park where they belong.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

William Hinkle, of Boston Mills Road, asked whether the upcoming replacement Road Levy (see Res. LL-2006, below) was intended to pay for creation of the engineering plans needed to pursue State Issue 2 funding for rebuilding the Akron-Cleveland Road Bridge. (This bridge, over the Metro Parks Bike & Hike Trail, is overdue for major refurbishment). Solicitor Russ Pry stated that, to his recollection, the Council's Road Committee only discussed using the upcoming Road Levy for traditional road repairs and maintenance, not this project.

Donna Levak of Parkside Court in Wooded View, asked about rumors that an abandoned house in her neighborhood was "full of black mold" and might be burned (apparently: as a training exercise by the fire department). Mayor Ray McFall replied that the house in question had in fact been heavily damaged by internal flooding over the winter; last he heard it was still vacant and owned by a bank. He did not expect the house to be burned, but he promised to ask the Chief of Police about its current status. Solicitor Russ Pry added that, if the house were to be burned (or, presumably, otherwise demolished) any black mold would have to be remediated first to prevent dispersal. Councilor Teri Slane mentioned that the house had been secured against unauthorized entry. (Village representatives had had to enter it some months ago to stem the flooding, which was due to a burst plumbing fixture.)

Kevin Lightner, of Hines Hill Road at Wooded View, pointed out that other flooding was continuing in his neighborhood, due to improper drainage through the area. He pointed out that he and his neighbors had been after the Village to correct this problem for some years now, to no avail. Engineer Steve Schreiber replied that he had looked into this previously, but the Village had no jurisdiction over this drainage through private property, and no applicable easements. He also was not able to work with the Homeowners' Association because Wooded View had not yet formed one. A discussion of the details of this problem, and its possible consequences, ensued. Eventually, Mayor Ray McFall asked the Village Engineer to "go take a look at it".

LEGISLATION

ORDINANCE P-2006

[Adopted as Ordinance 16-2006]

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 9-2006 "COMPENSATION FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS" AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

This ordinance repeals section 4(G) of the named ordinance, and replaces it with a new table that adds additional pay grades for lifeguards at the Village's Municipal Swimming Pool; these rates are made retroactive to 10 April 2006:

First Year Lifeguard (Class 1) = $ 8.00 / hour

2nd and 3rd Year Lifeguard (Class 2) = $ 8.50 / hour

4th Year and greater Lifeguard (Class 3) = $ 9.00 / hour

Senior Lifeguards (Class 4) = $ 9.50 / hour

Pool Manager (Class 5) = $12.00 / hour

RESOLUTION JJ-2006

[Adopted as Resolution 36-2006]

A RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE APPOINTMENT OF JAY SKOLNIK, AS A FIREFIGHTER, TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS.

It was mentioned last month that Fire Chief Jim Robinson had recommended this appointment, which Mayor McFall had subsequently made. This is Council's confirmation. Mr. Skolnik was in the audience, and received the Council members' congratulations.

RESOLUTION KK-2006

[Adopted as Resolution 37-2006]

A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE, 2006

No one on Council made any specific remark about their review of these statements.

RESOLUTION LL-2006

[Adopted as Resolution 38-2006]

A RESOLUTION ON A PROPOSED REPLACEMENT AND DECREASE TAX LEVY EXCEEDING THE TEN (10) MILL LIMITATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF GENERAL CONSTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION, RESURFACING AND REPAIR OF STREETS, ROADS, AND BRIDGES (O.R.C. 5705.19 (G)).

This levy will appear on the November 2006 ballot, and is intended to replace the Village's existing Road Levy, which has been in effect continuously since the mid-1980's. While nominally a decrease from 3.00 to 2.75 mills, the replacement levy will actually cost property owners slightly more than the expiring levy, and also will raise more money for the Village's roads. This is because the new levy would be charged against current (increased) property values. See last month's Res. 31-2006 for further discussion.

RESOLUTION MM-2006

[Adopted as Resolution 39-2006]

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OF THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS TO SEND A LETTER TO THE OHIO DIVISION OF LIQUOR CONTROL ENDORSING GUPTA ENTERPRISES, INC. DBA BOB'S BP AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

This measure allows the transfer of the take-out liquor license at the former John's BP station to the new owner of what is now called Bob's BP at Route 303 and Olde Eight Road. At a recent Finance Committee meeting, Solicitor Pry explained that the scheme used to issue the original license entailed classifying the business as an "economic development project". This allowed the license to be issued beyond the number usually available in the Village under state regulations. Therefore the Village needs to re-affirm the special nature of this business, in order for the license to be transferred.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Councilor Mike Cheung reported on the Planning Commission & Board of Zoning Appeals meeting of 5 July 2006 -- nothing much happened because none of the applicants showed up. The next PC/BZA meeting will be Wednesday, 2 August 2006, 7PM at the Village Hall.
N.B. PC/BZA meetings may soon be rescheduled from 1st Wednesday to a different night of the month; stay tuned for further info.

Council President (Pro Tempore) Bill Goncy reported that he had reviewed the May and June 2006 Mayor's Court reconciliations.
He noted that the County Engineer's staff had completed their survey of the Village's storm water outfall locations; that information would be added to the County's GIS mapping system and be made available to developers, homeowners, etc. It will also contribute to the Village's compliance with its Stormwater Management Program. He added that the County expected to create a model ordinance on illicit stormwater discharge and so the Village's efforts on this front could be deferred.

Councilor Janet Miller reported that she, among others, had met with the trustees of Boston Township, who were prepared to deed Fairview Cemetery to the Village. (To some surprise, it was found that the Village's cemetery, next to the Village Hall, still belonged to the old Township -- since before the Village's formation in 1924 or so.)
Mrs. Miller also announced that the first meeting of Council's new Economic Development Committee would be held at the Village Hall next Wednesday, 19 July 2006, 7PM. (Please note that this is a public meeting, open to all.)

Mayor Ray McFall remarked that he had seen traffic counter cables along Olde Eight Road, and so supposed that AMATS had conducted the traffic count it had promised the Village. Mr. Goncy confirmed this. The Mayor added that the detour around Riverview Road should not have compromised the study, since the suggested route was via Route 303.

Village Engineer Steve Schreiber reported that his attempt to get special funding for engineering on the Akron-Cleveland Road Bridge, from Congressman Steven LaTourette, had come to nothing. He had been advised to keep asking a couple of times each year.
He also reported that the low-bid contractor for the Village septic system project had finally come up with satisfactory Workers' Compensation information; he would therefore begin coordinating that project.
Councilor Janet Miller asked Mr. Schreiber whether any progress had been made on the redesign of the proposed Fire Station addition. (Bids on the original design came in too high and were rejected.) Clerk-Treasurer Carol Zeman reported that Fire Chief Jim Robinson had instructed her to advertise next week for new bids on a revised design, which bids to be due 3 August. Various members of Council expressed surprise that the redesign was going to bid without any overview by Council's Safety 2 Committee. Mrs. Zeman pointed out that Council had pre-emptively authorized this with last month's Res. 32-2006. She added that she had been told the redesign should shave about $70K from the construction costs.
After some discussion, it was decided that the committee would meet to examine the revised plans on Monday, 17 July 2006, 7PM at the Village Fire Station. (Please note that this is a public meeting, open to all.)

OLD BUSINESS

NEW BUSINESS

ADJOURN

Some documents are Public Domain Information from the Village of Boston Heights OH or other public entities.
Other materials Copyright 2001-2006 W.J.Hinkle and Boston Heights Overlook
Boston Heights Overlook and BostonHeights.Org are not affiliated with the Village of Boston Heights OH.

ORDINANCE P-2006 [Adopted as Ordinance 16-2006]	AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 9-2006 "COMPENSATION FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS" AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. This ordinance repeals section 4(G) of the named ordinance, and replaces it with a new table that adds additional pay grades for lifeguards at the Village's Municipal Swimming Pool; these rates are made retroactive to 10 April 2006: First Year Lifeguard (Class 1) = $ 8.00 / hour 2nd and 3rd Year Lifeguard (Class 2) = $ 8.50 / hour 4th Year and greater Lifeguard (Class 3) = $ 9.00 / hour Senior Lifeguards (Class 4) = $ 9.50 / hour Pool Manager (Class 5) = $12.00 / hour
RESOLUTION JJ-2006 [Adopted as Resolution 36-2006]	A RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THE APPOINTMENT OF JAY SKOLNIK, AS A FIREFIGHTER, TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS. It was mentioned last month that Fire Chief Jim Robinson had recommended this appointment, which Mayor McFall had subsequently made. This is Council's confirmation. Mr. Skolnik was in the audience, and received the Council members' congratulations.
RESOLUTION KK-2006 [Adopted as Resolution 37-2006]	A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE, 2006 No one on Council made any specific remark about their review of these statements.
RESOLUTION LL-2006 [Adopted as Resolution 38-2006]	A RESOLUTION ON A PROPOSED REPLACEMENT AND DECREASE TAX LEVY EXCEEDING THE TEN (10) MILL LIMITATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF GENERAL CONSTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION, RESURFACING AND REPAIR OF STREETS, ROADS, AND BRIDGES (O.R.C. 5705.19 (G)). This levy will appear on the November 2006 ballot, and is intended to replace the Village's existing Road Levy, which has been in effect continuously since the mid-1980's. While nominally a decrease from 3.00 to 2.75 mills, the replacement levy will actually cost property owners slightly more than the expiring levy, and also will raise more money for the Village's roads. This is because the new levy would be charged against current (increased) property values. See last month's Res. 31-2006 for further discussion.
RESOLUTION MM-2006 [Adopted as Resolution 39-2006]	A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OF THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS TO SEND A LETTER TO THE OHIO DIVISION OF LIQUOR CONTROL ENDORSING GUPTA ENTERPRISES, INC. DBA BOB'S BP AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT. This measure allows the transfer of the take-out liquor license at the former John's BP station to the new owner of what is now called Bob's BP at Route 303 and Olde Eight Road. At a recent Finance Committee meeting, Solicitor Pry explained that the scheme used to issue the original license entailed classifying the business as an "economic development project". This allowed the license to be issued beyond the number usually available in the Village under state regulations. Therefore the Village needs to re-affirm the special nature of this business, in order for the license to be transferred.