Ashland City Council


MINUTES FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION OF COUNCIL
July 11, 2006




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

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

LEGISLATION

Ord. 67-06
Item (a) AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE TAX COMMISSION BUDGET OF THE CITY OF ASHLAND, OHIO, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2007, AND SUBMITTING THE SAME TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR; 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: Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart

Comments:
    Mayor Strine commented that this is a tax commission budget required by law for the City to file with the county auditor.  The actual City budget will change drastically with final appropriations.  
Valentine W1 asked why the general fund shows a negative balance, and the Mayor responded that for the tax budget, the general fund must show a negative balance in case there is a need to justify a request for additional real estate taxes.  For the filed tax commission budget a balanced budget is not required.
Valentine W1 asked about the financial support for Economic Development, and the Mayor told him that is paid on a contract basis from the general fund miscellaneous.  Stewart added that the City’s intent is to support that entity.  In 2006 the amount was $185,000; however, in 2007 that amount will be less than $125,000.
Finance Director Anna Tomasek fielded other questions from Valentine W1.  Included were questions concerning Street Department funds, the permissive tax, the general fund property tax decline, and longevity increases in certain departments.
Valentine W1 asked about a significant increase in the Engineering Department budget.  Cooper responded that with Lee Yetzer’s retirement, retirement benefits come out of the 2007 budget, in addition to which the department will have to replace Yetzer or rehire him on a part-time basis.  He also stated that the department is understaffed and must hire someone anyway.
Ruth Detrow noted a need for a line item appropriation for the Historical Preservation Commission, and Stewart explained that a work session to discuss that would be scheduled later.  
Other items for future discussion were mentioned briefly: 1) a designated fund and purpose for money received from industrial park land sales, and 2) resolving the health care insurance deficit.
    
Moved by Valentine W1 and seconded by Valentine W2 that the Ordinance be passed on the first reading.
Ayes:   Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart
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:   Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart
Moved by Wertz and seconded by Valentine W2 that the Ordinance be passed.
Ayes:   Valentine W1, Valentine W2, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart

    Motion carried.

(a) Executive session scheduled:  
    Stewart and Mayor Strine specifically told the media representatives present that an executive session has been scheduled for Thursday, July 13, 2006, at 11:45 a.m.  The purpose is imminent or pending litigation.  No announcements will be made nor action taken.

(b) Work session cancelled:
    The scheduled work session on Certified Local Government was cancelled since Law Director Rick Wolfe could not attend the meeting.

ADJOURNMENT

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

        Council adjourned the special session at 7:23 p.m.






                                        Submitted by
                                        Elaine C. Hootman
                                        Clerk of Council