Fm11-07-2006

Ashland City Council

MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR SESSION OF COUNCIL
November 7, 2006

Council President Glen Stewart called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

ROLL CALL

Ward 1:   Robert L. Valentine   Present
Ward 2:   Robert M. Valentine   Present
Ward 3:   Ruth Detrow       Present
Ward 4:   Paul Wertz       Present
At-large:     Glen Stewart       Present

Note: Throughout the minutes, Robert L. Valentine and Robert M. Valentine are designated as to their ward representation, W1 and W2.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

PRESENTATION OF MINUTES

October 17, 2006 Regular session
October 31, 2006 Special session
Moved by Wertz and seconded by Valentine W1 to accept the minutes as received.
Ayes:   Wertz, Stewart, Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow

COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE

(a) Traffic speed on Garmon Street, Norm Fierbaugh, 740 Garmon Street:
   Fierbaugh emphasized the vehicle speed problem on his street, and he asked about the installation of speed bumps to slow it down. Mayor Strine responded that they would address this at the next Traffic Committee meeting, and he invited Fierbaugh to his office to discuss this further.

LEGISLATION

Ord. 84-06
Item (a) AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 911.02 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF ASHLAND, OHIO, RELATIVE TO INSTALLATION OF CURBING; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

Moved by Wertz and seconded by Valentine W1 to invoke Section 113.01 of the Codified Ordinances as the distribution of this Ordinance has satisfied the requirements of said Section and that a further reading be dispensed with at this time.
Ayes:   Wertz, Stewart, Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow

Comments:
City Engineer Jim Cooper explained that this is an update on the curb and curb/gutter ordinance to make it more realistic as to charges by contractors. It is an incentive to help residents who need to replace curbing or curb and gutter. Contractors’ charges are from $15.00 to $20.00 per lineal foot. In that case, for a stand-alone curb the City would reimburse the residents $10.00 of that; the City won’t pay it all but would try to help by doing that.
   It pertains to sidewalks when the combination of sidewalk and curb are done together; then they will get $6.00 per lineal foot toward the replacement of the curb portion.
   Stewart added that updating these reimbursement areas was talked about at the last Council meeting.

Moved by Valentine W2 and seconded by Detrow that the Ordinance be passed on the first reading.
Ayes:   Wertz, Stewart, Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow
Moved by Wertz and seconded by Stewart that the rules requiring the reading on three separate days be suspended and that the Ordinance be passed on the second and third readings.
Ayes:   Wertz, Stewart, Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow
Moved by Valentine W1 and seconded by Valentine W2 that the Ordinance be passed.
Ayes:   Wertz, Stewart, Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow

   Motion carried.

Ord. 85-06
Item (b) AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE, TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL REPLACEMENTS FOR THE FOLLOWING INTERSECTIONS: CLAREMONT/COTTAGE/MAIN INTERSECTION, CLAREMONT/WALNUT, WALNUT/CENTER AND CENTER/WASHINGTON IN THE CITY OF ASHLAND, OHIO; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

Moved by Wertz and seconded by Detrow to invoke Section 113.01 of the Codified Ordinances as the distribution of this Ordinance has satisfied the requirements of said Section and that a further reading be dispensed with at this time.
Ayes:   Wertz, Stewart, Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow

Comments:
   Cooper told Council this is a CDBG project (Community Development Block Grant). The City is trying to upgrade traffic signals, in this case the replacement of four Claremont Avenue intersections, while the next ordinance addresses Mifflin and Claremont Avenues signal. Then these traffic signals will be current. This total is $186,000, of which $83,000 to $84,000 will be CDBG money. Lee Yetzer did the design in-house which probably saved the City $30,000.
   Detrow asked what the new ones will do that the old ones don’t? Cooper said they would use LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), which will cut the electricity used by about 70%. Also they will update the hardware, the controllers and, in the case of the Claremont/Main Street intersection, there will be cameras also. It is an update of what is there now. A lot of these have been in place at least 30 to 40 years.
   Stewart asked what the purpose of the camera is, and Cooper told him it replaces the loop detectors. With the camera, it will show traffic problems and then can allow modifications of timing for heavy traffic areas.
   Police Chief Miracle added that ODOT has the same kind of camera/light system installed out at the Wal-Mart intersection on U.S. Rt. 250.

Moved by Detrow and seconded by Wertz that the Ordinance be passed on the first reading.
Ayes:   Wertz, Stewart, Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow
Moved by Wertz and seconded by Detrow that the rules requiring the reading on three separate days be suspended and that the Ordinance be passed on the second and third readings.
Ayes:   Wertz, Stewart, Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow
Moved by Valentine W1 and seconded by Stewart that the Ordinance be passed.
Ayes:   Wertz, Stewart, Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow

   Motion carried.

Ord. 86-06
Item (a) AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE, TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR A TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR THE CLAREMONT AVENUE/MIFFLIN AVENUE INTERSECTION IN THE CITY OF ASHLAND, OHIO; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

Moved by Wertz and seconded by Detrow to invoke Section 113.01 of the Codified Ordinances as the distribution of this Ordinance has satisfied the requirements of said Section and that a further reading be dispensed with at this time.
Ayes:   Wertz, Stewart, Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow

Comments:
Cooper explained that this is similar to the previous ordinance and is for the Mifflin/Claremont Avenue intersection. Again, this signal is outdated, and this will upgrade that and will have a left turn going south.

Moved by Valentine W1 and seconded by Valentine W2 that the Ordinance be passed on the first reading.
Ayes:   Wertz, Stewart, Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow
Moved by Wertz and seconded by Stewart that the rules requiring the reading on three separate days be suspended and that the Ordinance be passed on the second and third readings.
Ayes:   Wertz, Stewart, Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow
Moved by Detrow and seconded by Valentine W1 that the Ordinance be passed.
Ayes:   Wertz, Stewart, Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow

   Motion carried.

WARD REPORTS

Ward 1: Bob Valentine
   (a) Mifflin Avenue and West Liberty:
   Valentine W1 noted a couple calls about Mifflin Avenue; he referred that and it’s being taken care of.   There was the stop sign up on West Liberty by the post office also, and Street Department Director Jerry Mack has taken care of that.
   Valentine W1 expressed his appreciation to the directors for how they react to these things. He thanked them.

Ward 2: Bob Valentine
   (a) Leaf pick up:
   Valentine W2 received calls from residents asking for an update on leaf pick up, specifically another round for Westlake, and Mack responded that as long as the weather holds, they will probably be around a couple more times, as there are still a lot of leaves hanging.

Ward 3: Ruth Detrow
   (a) Downtown music:
   Detrow reported a complaint about the music that is downtown for the Christmas holidays: it was on because of that weekend special and that’s a little early. Detrow followed up with Ellie Grubb and learned that she is the one to complain to. If it really bothers someone that the music is too loud and that it maybe could be turned down and still be effective, they can call Mrs. Grubb in the Mayor’s office.

Ward 4: Paul Wertz
   (a) Golf course trash:
   Wertz reported a couple of calls about Brookside Golf Course. He had talked to Law Director Rick Wolfe earlier this year about trash being dumped in Town Creek at 1099 Sandusky Street. With the leaves off the trees now, this junk and trash is visible from the 18th green on the golf course. There’s a cream colored building, and there are six houses in this section that aren’t in the corporation limits.
   The two callers felt that if the City wants to clean up Town Creek, they should clean up this part too. Wertz called the City/County Health Department and talked to Pat Donaldson, who will be calling Wolfe. Wertz noted that he wanted him to be aware of it.

OLD BUSINESS

(a) Fund 405, Capital Improvement, questions:
   Valentine W1 asked why the Fund 405, Capital Improvement, went up so much this month, and Finance Director Anna Tomasek responded that it is due to an increase in interest revenue.
   Valentine V1 had a second question: Fund 623 Replace and improve? She told him it is the Sewer Improvement Fund.

(b) Yard waste collection:
   Stewart noted he wanted to emphasize that the yard waste collection is a real asset to the community, and he applauds it. It is a great way to make sure grass and hedge clippings and that sort of thing do not find their way into the storm system or some other area.
He asked that for next year consideration be given to extending that into the latter part of October or even the first week of November. It is when that first killing frost comes that people go out and pull up all the annuals, do the cleaning up, and those things should not be raked up and mixed into the leaves.
   That is his request. It is a great job and provides a great service for the community.
   Detrow agreed with Stewart and added the hope that it would not put too great a burden on the City services to do that. She hoped something could be worked out. Mayor Strine stated he’s made note of it.

NEW BUSINESS

(a) Retirement of Council Clerk:
   Stewart announced the retirement of the Council Clerk effective January 31, 2007. The time frame gives Council time to make a smooth transition.

Moved by Detrow and seconded by Wertz to accept the request for retirement with many thanks for excellent service.
Ayes:   Wertz, Stewart, Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow

   Motion carried.

MAYOR’S COMMENTS

(a) Work session reminder:
Mayor Strine reminded everyone of the work session to be held next Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. downstairs in the Mayor’s Conference Room. Topics will be: 1. Corridor improvement, and 2. Sidewalk specifications.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

   Stewart requested a motion to move into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel matters pertaining to wages and benefits for public employees. No action will be taken nor announcements made following the executive session.

Moved by Valentine W1 and seconded by Valentine W2 to move to executive session for the purpose of personnel matters pertaining to wages and benefits for public employees.
Ayes:   Wertz, Stewart, Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow

   Council moved to executive session at 7:23 p.m. and returned to regular session at 8:20 p.m.

Moved by Detrow and seconded by Valentine W1 to return to regular session.
Ayes:   Wertz, Stewart, Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow

ADJOURNMENT

Moved by Valentine W2 and seconded by Wertz to adjourn.
Ayes: Detrow, Stewart, Valentine W1, Valentine W2

       Council adjourned the regular session at 8:22 p.m.

                                       Submitted by
                                       Elaine C. Hootman
                                       Clerk of Council