RS02-17-2009

Ashland City Council

MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR SESSION OF COUNCIL
Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Council President Paul Wertz 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/President    Paul Wertz       Present
At-Large            Stephen L. Stuart   Present

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

PRESENTATION OF MINUTES

(a) Regular Session 2/3/09

Moved Ruth Detrow and seconded by Robert L. Valentine W1 to approve the minutes as received.
     Ayes: Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen L. Stuart.

   Minutes approved, no corrections.

LEGISLATION

     Ordinances:

Ord. No. # 9-09
Item   (a) AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO ADVERTISE FOR
                BIDS AND ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR AMBULANCE BILLING SERVICES FOR THE
                CITY OF ASHLAND, OHIO; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

Moved by Ruth Detrow for non-reading in full and seconded by Robert L. 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: Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart

Mayor Stewart: This is a different Ordinance than what was tabled. It has different wording in it and at the risk of; Anna? She and I discussed this; she is okay with it and I am okay with it. Is that correct?

Anna Tomasek: Yes.

Questions or comments?

Moved by Ruth Detrow and seconded by Robert L. Valentine W1 that the Ordinance be passed on the first reading.
    Ayes: Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart.

Move to suspend the rules, 3 separate meetings, 3 separate nights, by Paul Wertz, seconded by Stephen L. Stuart 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: Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart

Moved by Stephen Stuart and seconded by Robert L. Valentine W1 that the Ordinance be passed.
     Ayes: Robert L. Valentine, Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart.

   Motion carried.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Paul, before we go on to the next Ordinances, just for the benefit maybe for us and benefit of the people in the audience; would you clarify the difference between Fiduciary, Classified and unclassified?

Cherie Helterbridle: Well, with this change in the meanings we had in the Ordinance at this time. In the past, we had Fiduciary Ordinance and that tended to mean those people who worked in a Fiduciary relationship to a Division Director.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Fiduciary means?

Cherie Helterbridle: Confidential.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Not fiscal though?

Richard P. Wolfe II: Position of trust.

Cherie Helterbridle: And then, this time we re-arranged the Ordinance so that we have UNCLASSIFIED SUPPORT STAFF, ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT STAFF, and for the most part that is administrative people, those same assistants to the Administrators, for the most part that is Fiduciary, but there are people who are unclassified which means that that according to Civil Service do not have an appeal right to the Civil Service, or to the Union or any other appeal right. They are pretty much AT-WILL employees and then you have CLASSIFIED SUPERVISORY EMPLOYEES, those certainly are people who work directly for a Division Director and in most cases for a Division Director and they are classified which means that they do have appeal rights to the Civil Service.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Thank you. That’s all.

Ord. No. # 10-09
Item (b)   AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING NEW LIMITS FOR WAGES AND DETERMINING OTHER
                PROVISIONS RELATIVE TO POSITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT OF ALL OTHER PERSONNEL
                FOR AREAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANOTHER WAGE OR SALARY ORDINANCE IN THE CITY
                OF ASHLAND, OHIO; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

Moved by Ruth Detrow for non-reading in full and seconded by Robert L. 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: Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, and Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart

Comments:

Mayor Stewart: This Ordinance is presented in a manner that cleans up some of the language that was in some of the previous Ordinances. You guys still have the colored copy, is that correct? Marked up copy? What you will be passing tonight is a black copy that does not include all of this mark up in here. This is for clarity for you to understand what is being changed, what has been left out, what has been added in. There are a lot of changes that for instance; an Ordinance establishing limits; New is crossed out because there are no more limits in this Ordinance. It is as is. Where Council desires to make new provisions, there are no new provisions. That is the kind of thing we are cleaning up in here. There are some areas on the wage area where we were not in compliance with the minimum wage. We had to change those to $7.30 per hour. There were areas that were taken completely out. For instance, on one of your pages 5 of 14 have been marked up. That Stipend in there, paramedics Stipend has been taken out. It does not apply anymore.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Otherwise though, is it saying that people that we have employed are grandfathered and those who are coming in now and taking new jobs according to this; they will face different conditions?

Mayor Stewart: Yes, for the most part. That is accurate. It is the beginning of a two-tier process, but please note also that we have identified some minor changes in the language in full-time sick leave. Identified immediate family has been re-defined. Are we going to say that there are other areas that not in this particular Ordinance but there are areas that identify uniform allowances that will change in the future? The Stipends that I have initially talked about are back in.

Stephen Stuart: Is that immediate family definition similar to wording in negotiated contracts?

Cherie Helterbridle: Yes.

Mayor Stewart: Yes, that is the answer. I don’t know, you guys have had these for quite some time. I don’t know if you have any other questions. I can share with you that this morning, we went over all four of these Ordinances, almost line by line with the Division Directors because I did not want them to come in here this evening and not be reasonably aware of what I was asking this Council to pass. It is the beginning of a two-tier system. It does address buy-back, for instance of vacation time and sick leave time if you will have an excessive given amount. We will not be buying back fives days of each at the end of the year under those covered by these Ordinances. Cherie I would ask you, have I missed stating anything?

Cherie Helterbridle: In regard to this one Ordinance, I would just clarify that this particular Ordinance address probationary Fire people, so they are on probation and as soon as they are off of probation and they fall under their union contract. It also addresses full time people in Municipal Court. And other than that, this particular one you are looking at right now is good with the seasonal and part time people you hire during summer months of the year for the most part. So this particular Ordinance you are considering at this time, many of the changes have not been made other than to say that it is an Ordinance, it is a bit different than the others because we have many part time people and probationary people and Municipal Court people.   Not many changes have been made to that one.

Robert L. Valentine W1: I appreciate getting that in advance. You have given us a copy to look over. It seems like a lot to look through.

Mayor Stewart:   It is a little more extensive this year.

Robert L. Valentine W1: But I appreciate the advance because we had plenty of time to go through it.

Comments or questions?

Moved by Robert L. Valentine W1 and seconded by Stephen Stuart that the Ordinance be passed on the first reading.
    Ayes: Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart.

Move to suspend the rules, 3 separate meetings, 3 separate nights, by Ruth Detrow, seconded by Robert L. 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: Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart.

Moved by Paul Wertz and seconded by Robert L. Valentine W1 that the Ordinance be passed.
     Ayes: Robert L. Valentine, Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart.

         Motion carried.

Ord. No.   11-09
Item (c)    AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING NEW LIMITS FOR WAGES AND DETERMINING OTHER
                 PROVISIONS RELATIVE TO POSITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT OF FIDUCIARY PERSONNEL
                 UNCLASSIFIED ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT STAFF TO DIVISION DIRECTORS AND
                 ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE CITY OF ASHLAND, OHIO, AND DECLARING AN EMER-
                 GENCY.

Moved by Ruth Detrow for non-reading in full and seconded by Stephen Stuart 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: Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, and Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart

Mayor Stewart: This Ordinance has a typo in it. If you would go to your page 10.

Cherie Helterbridle: Page 6.

Mayor Stewart: Page 10 on the marked up copy, in the middle of the page, paragraph starts with payment pursuant to; it should be article VI, not article VII. It says VII, it should be article VI.   Cherie has corrected that and has a new one; and we replace the one that Rick has for signatures. She has 6 copies with the typo corrected if that is satisfactory for you and for the Director of Law. The error is in Staff Stipends and on page 6 of yours. It should say VI, Roman numeral VI.

Paul Wertz: Is that the only change?

Mayor Stewart: The only change from you guys have, yes.    And again you have had all four of these for some period of time.

Questions or Comments?

Moved by Ruth Detrow and seconded by Stephen Stuart that the Ordinance be passed on the first reading.
    Ayes: Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart.

Move to suspend the rules, 3 separate meetings, 3 separate nights, by Paul Wertz, seconded by Robert L. 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: Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart.

Moved by Stephen Stuart and seconded by Ruth Detrow that the Ordinance be passed.
     Ayes: Robert L. Valentine, Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart.

               Motion carried

Ord. No.   12-09
Item (d)   AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING WAGES AND OTHER COMPENSATIONS FOR ADMINI-
                STRATIVE EMPLOYEES, EXEMPTED FROM THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT, OF
                THE CITY OF ASHLAND, OHIO; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

Moved by Ruth Detrow for non-reading in full and seconded by Robert L. 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: Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, and Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart

Mayor Stewart:   This Ordinance has no changes in it from what you have received. I would like to make a comment. A question was given to me this morning and I know I have had at least a couple of Councilman talk to me, but Education Stipends, I feel very strongly about Education and as I have explained to the staff this morning; it is not that I don’t support Education; we don’t have the bucks to support additional education in this budge year. When, and not if, but when the financial situation is turned around; I would expect that this might be something we would re-consider putting back in future pay Ordinances. It is not written in here, that I am going to, or that you are going to, but I think it is something that we might want to look at in the future. I just share that with you. It has no bearing on this at all. It is just a comment.

Stephen Stuart: But again, the existing personnel are not negatively impacted.

Mayor Stewart: Yes they are. For education, yes.   I will turn back here, am I saying that wrong?

Cherie Helterbridle: That is correct. I think there are and as you go through the Ordinance there is in all of them even current employees are impacted because things that have been in there over the years have been reduced. Funeral Leave is two days off and under the right circumstances, so there are things that are impacting current employees in addition to the fact that the wage remains the same but if those changes, the biggest changes are those to the people that we hire from here forward.

Stephen Stuart: I guess I am confused on this. When we talk about an educational stipend, are we talking about pay for a degree?

Mayor Stewart: For a degree, yes.   Wait, Stipends are back in but the pay for educational reimbursement is what is not available.

Stephen Stuart: For attending classes.

Mayor Stewart: Yes. For attending classes. Stipends are in but the reimbursement is out.

Ruth Detrow: Page 5.    It is a shame and I certainly will be urging passage of this when we have the money.

Glen Stewart: And I don’t know anyone that would fight it, it is the right thing to do. But under today’s cloudy economic situation, it is something.

Questions or comments?

Moved by Ruth Detrow and seconded by Robert L. Valentine W1 that the Ordinance be passed on the first reading.
    Ayes: Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart.

Move to suspend the rules, 3 separate meetings, 3 separate nights, by Paul Wertz, seconded by Stephen Stuart 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: Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart.

Moved by Stephen Stuart and seconded by Ruth Detrow that the Ordinance be passed.
     Ayes: Robert L. Valentine, Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart.

    Motion carried.

Ord. No. Withdrawn until 2/23/09
Item (e) AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING NEW LIMITS FOR WAGES AND DETERMINING OTHER
               PROVISIONS RELATIVE TO POSITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT OF CLASSIFIED SUPERVI-
               SORY PERSONNEL FOR AREAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANOTHER WAGE OR SALARY OR-
               DINANCE IN THE CITY OF ASHLAND, OHIO; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

Moved by Ruth Detrow for non-reading in full and seconded by Robert L. 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: Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, and Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart

Mayor Stewart: This particular Ordinance has a change on your page 12. There are tables of organization for Police and Fire Division. Those tables are included for Fire, they are included under Ordinance 62-07 and for the Police, under Ordinance 31-08 and should not be in this. That has been stricken out. Cherie is that correct? If you would like, there are new copies with that taken out for signature tonight. I want to leave it up to this Council whether you think it is too significant of a change and you want to table it and bring it back.

Cherie Helterbridle: What it reads now, instead of the table there, it says, tables of organizations for Police and Fire are established for Ordinance number 31-08 Police and Ordinance number 62-07 Fire so it references in that place at number 18. It references the two existing Ordinances that are different than this table was traditionally and it has been in here but there are existing Ordinances now that are different.

Paul Wertz: But the table in here is the right table? Does it have different numbers on it?

Richard P. Wolfe II: This just isn’t a typo. I think you should have the correct page to put in here before you vote on it so you know exactly what it is.

Mayor Stewart: We have the complete document if we want that.

Richard P. Wolfe II: If you have replacement pages that Council can have then that would be better.

William Miracle: May I ask a question Rick? Since those Ordinances numbers are listed in this Ordinance, referring to prioritance numbers; if we would change the table of organization this year, would we have to change this Ordinance to reflect the new Ordinance number or would this override everything?

Richard P. Wolfe II: It would just be a matter of following a trail.

Cherie Helterbridle: The completed Ordinances, you will see the change on page 11 of 13 and those new Ordinances that are corrected; it is page 11 of 13.

Ruth Detrow: Are you suggesting Mr. Wolfe that we table it? Or not?

Richard P. Wolfe II: Well not necessarily.   Well, actually I am because I think in order to address the Chief’s concern, it will be cleaner if we said; “or as maybe hereafter”. Amended. So we are talking about changes, it would be better to get the corrected pages and entertain it at your next meeting. You have the Special meeting coming up. You could add this to the agenda.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Now it is my understanding when you Table something, if we bring up another Ordinance, the person who tabled it has to make the motion?

Robert M. Valentine W2: Not if the motion has changed, right Rick?

Richard P. Wolfe II: Are you asking about this or something else?

Robert L. Valentine W1:   Well, I am just using the word, when you table something in general.

Richard P. Wolfe II: Well, I guess it depends. If you are tabling this, then you are going to have to move to bring it back from the table, but then it will be with corrected pages and you can go ahead and entertain it.

Paul Wertz: Can we request it to be on February 23?

Richard P. Wolfe II:   Yes. Sure. Of course you can. You are actually deferring it to a time certainly so it is a little technically, it is different than tabling.

Robert L. Valentine W1: What you said is that if it is tabled then you have to bring it off the table. Okay.

Stephen Stuart:   Would it be appropriate to have the other two Ordinances attached to this as an exhibit so that you could really see what it was?

Richard P. Wolfe II: There is no harm to it. It is not necessary.

Mayor Stewart: We can do that.

Ruth Detrow: So I should use another term. I should withdraw my table and use a different term.

Richard P. Wolfe II: What you are doing, or what you are wanting to do is withdraw this from the agenda and have it placed on the agenda for the 23rd. You just make a motion to that affect and that will be fine.

Move to withdraw the Ordinance by Ruth Detrow, seconded by Robert L. Valentine W1.
    Ayes: Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, and Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart

Ord. No. 13-09
Item (f) AN ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO EXPENDITURES BY THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND
              DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

Moved by Ruth Detrow for non-reading in full and seconded by Robert L. 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: Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, and Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart

Comments:

Anna Tomasek: After much research, it is my opinion that this proposed Ordinance violates the implied and the expressed duties of the Elected Finance Director who administers the finances of the city per Section 1 and 37 in the Charter for the City of Ashland, Ohio. It would be abuse of corporate powers if this legislation is passed. In my opinion, it is illegal. This City Council is forcing this issue, and may result in litigation, which will be a complete waste of taxpayer’s dollars.

Ruth Detrow: Would you read the last sentence, I could not understand it? Would you re-read the last sentence?

Anna Tomasek: The last sentence is that basically that this may result in litigation, which would be a complete waste of taxpayer’s money.

Steve Stuart: What is the interest in that? May result in litigation?

Anna Tomasek: That is exactly what it means. Either by a citizen or myself.

Paul Wertz: You mean to tell me that you want to go to your own personal lawyer instead of using a lawyer that is free to us? That is what you are trying to tell us, right?

Anna Tomasek: I am just saying that this legislation is inappropriate.

Ruth Detrow: Mr. Wolfe, is it inappropriate in any way that you are aware of?

Richard P. Wolfe II: No, I do not think so.   Council is the contracting authority. Council has authority over the expenditures of the city. If there has been an acquiescence to certain things in the past or if there has been even delegation of Council’s authority; you still certainly have the right to exercise your authority and I think there is nothing improper about this.

Ruth Detrow: Thank you.

Paul Wertz: Any more discussion?

Comments?

Moved by Ruth Detrow and seconded by Robert L. Valentine W1 that the Ordinance be passed on the first reading.
    Ayes: Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart.

Move to suspend the rules, 3 separate meetings, 3 separate nights, by Robert L. Valentine W1, seconded by Stephen Stuart 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: Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart.

Moved by Stephen Stuart and seconded by Robert L. Valentine W1 that the Ordinance be passed.
     Ayes: Robert L. Valentine, Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart

       Motion carried.

Ord. No.   Removed
Item (g) AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC
               SERVICE TO ADVERTISE FOR PROPOSALS AND TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR
               THE OPERATION OF A TRANSIT SERVICE PROVIDER IN THE CITY OF ASHLAND, OHIO;
               AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

Moved by Robert M. Valentine W2 for non-reading in full and seconded by Stephen Stuart 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: Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, and Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart

Mayor Stewart: Council, I propose that we remove this from action this evening after discussion this afternoon; we found that this Ordinance is not necessary that there are two years left on our current Ordinance and this would not be necessary. The current contract is renewable and the last renewal date would end in 2010.

Move that we remove this Ordinance by Paul Wertz, seconded by Stephen Stuart.
     Ayes Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, and Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart

Robert L. Valentine W1: What financial responsibility do we have?

Mayor Stewart: For the year 2009, $107,000 dollars. That number is dictated by formula by the State based on our usage. But it is a formula we challenged and lost.

Ellie Grubb: They increased their amount to us. That amount increases to $267 this year. $ 235,000. Everybody’s has gone up and so did our portion.

        Resolutions: None

WARD REPORTS:

At-Large:       Stephen Stuart
                   No report.

Ward 1:        Robert L. Valentine:
                   No report.

Ward 2:        Robert M. Valentine
                   No report.

Ward 3:        Ruth Detrow
   No report

Ward 4/President: Paul Wertz
                 (a) I had one for the alley and I gave it to Jerry and he is going to check it out for me.

OLD BUSINESS: None.

NEW BUSINESS: None

MAYOR’S COMMENTS:

I need to ask a single question. I was notified this afternoon that some documents have been overnighted to your office. Did you get those Anna?

Anna Tomasek: Yes I have them right here.

Mayor Stewart: They have to be in Squire, Sanders office tomorrow 2/18/09 so, during Business hours.

Anna Tomasek: Yes.

COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE: (Items not appearing on the Agenda)

Aubrey Combs, concerned citizens coalition & Rex Snyder assisting Aubrey: (handed out folder to all council members, law director, mayor.)

(Aubrey) If you look at the first page it explains why we are here. The United States Postal Service has launched an area mail processing study called (AMP Study). If it is approved, it would shift all the cancellation and some of the mail processing from Mansfield Ohio to Akron Ohio and we are against this happening. If you look at the second page, it is Mansfield’s responsibility area. These are all the communities that Mansfield serves in circulation. These areas would all be affected including Ashland Ohio.   The next page is a review of the mileage that is unnecessarily will be taken to go to Akron on a daily basis, which is not occurring now but is occurring on Saturday mail. The page after that, at the very bottom if you look it shows the total mileage. If you look at the difference between the two. It is quite extensive. United States Postal Service, every time gasoline prices go up by one penny, spends 8 million dollars nationwide daily and we are against that obviously. And then there is also an example letter from the city of Norwalk Ohio.
(Rex) Well this is a sample Resolution by the Norwalk City Council, and that is our only goal here tonight, is to explain to you why we need your support in this effort. One of the things I would like to bring up to you is that they have taken our 3rd class mail that we use to process in Mansfield Ohio. It now goes all to Akron. I happen to be in a position where I am the one who transports that mail when it comes back from Akron inside to be worked. It is color coded by what day it is supposed to be delivered. Almost on a daily basis, we have late mail coming back. Because they cannot do it in time.   So this is 3rd class. Now if you throw into the 1st class mail, it is going to do the same thing, it is going to change the standards of the qualifications of the mail. If you mail a letter in Ashland on Monday to Columbus. Our standard in Mansfield is that is supposed to be in Columbus on Tuesday. Akron’s same letter, their standard is to be in Columbus on Wednesday; they have a 2 day. Same way with Lima Ohio. They have a two-day window; we have a one-day. So when we take our mail from Ashland over to Mansfield up to Akron, you are no longer going to get the one-day standard. It is going to fall into the two day standard. And we believe that is a direct violation of the new reformation act for Post Office. It is because they said they are not supposed to change any standard when they consolidate.   We understand from a Business point, consolidation makes sense to a point. You have Youngstown, Akron, Cleveland; all in a very short distance. 70 some miles away sets Mansfield from them. We serve 60 communities, most of them small, some are the size of Ashland, Norwalk, Tiffin, Fostoria. And that will all go back and that will affect the stamps.
(Aubrey) And the standards that he was referring to would be mail collection times; right now if you look at your collection boxes in Ashland, over by the post office; I believe they are a little after 5:00 pm. I am an employee of Ashland Post Office for the last 5 years and we go out there after 5:00 pm and we are able to accommodate anybody who comes to us at the back dock, pick up the mail and get it on the truck. A lot of our businesses locally drop off their mail rather late and meet us at the back door. That will no longer be available if this happens. Because the trucks will have to leave earlier to make it to Akron for the processing times to be made. So it is critical including the overnight service that we currently provide; a lot of payroll checks go through the mail. That will be a BIG issue for those who send payroll checks in the mail which are weekly in Ashland. We do have many businesses who still currently do it the old fashioned way. As well as they have been removing Blue Boxes and they will continually remove Blue Boxes if this happens. We do not want to see that.
(Rex) There is 10 points. So we don’t have to go over every one, we just went over several of them. We are desperate for your help. We know the economy is bad; we heard you mention it several times here that you had to change. Well when those jobs go, the jobs are going to go. They are not going to be here for the next generation. They won’t be here anymore. They are good paying jobs with benefits. We cannot lose that many more in this area. And there is the trickle down effect all the way through. They just took another route in Mansfield. They are looking at all of the routes. They want to cut down the routes. They want to eliminate carriers.
(Aubrey) Which they have done in Ashland already. They have done away with 2 or 3 routes in the last 5 years that I have been there alone which that is 2 or 3 positions, obviously we have to consolidate just like any other business. However, this particular AMP study, we believe is not appropriate for citizens. Meaning maybe they are not fully aware of what is going on. 2-3 day delays on a piece of mail can mean a bill that when you receive it; you normally get 10 days to pay it. Now you might get 5 – 7 days including a weekend to pay it. And there are people who do not use the Internet. You know there are people under these economic situations that they are using the mail because they have to. So we understand that; a delay of an extra day or 2 days would be critical to anyone using the service for any type of business needs. Essentially they will change everything in a trickle down effect which would directly affect the smaller communities that branch out from Mansfield’s processing and that is what we are proposing that, on the first page if you look, the addresses: Sherrod Brown, Jim Jordan, Robert Latta, they all stand behind us.
(Rex) Included in your packet there is a letter just from January from Sherrod Brown where he is asking them, well we are asking for you, if you will make a Resolution, is to require a GAO investigation for review. The AMP study is a postal study done by postal employees to serve the post office. We would like an independent survey of that. Because they are not going to tell you the truth in our opinion.

Robert L. Valentine W1:   A couple of questions. I read an article in the Mansfield paper or the Ashland paper, and I don’t know who’s comment it was but it was something to the effect that it wasn’t going to save any money.

(Aubrey) If the employees, would lose their jobs completely, it would save money but they are not. They are going to be transferred. They will be leaving our communities. There are a lot of Mansfield employees who currently reside in Ashland. I know that because I sorted mail in Ashland Post Office and I can tell you all of the pay stubs I sort out at a time in the Ashland community for Mansfield employees. My husband works with some of those employees in Mansfield. It will directly affect them.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Well another thing that is going to happen too is there is going to be; if this takes a couple of days instead of the one day because of the service, direct deposit is going to increase so that means you are going to get less people using and buying stamps.

(Aubrey) Well they still know packages due to e bay. That is a very large part of the 1st Class system as well as 3rd Class mail, your bulk mailings, advertisements come in that way; that is how companies are able to mail mass quantity on a cheaper level and get to everyone and not that junk mail in everyone’s eyes is a beautiful thing, however it is our bread and butter in many ways and just like if you cross reference to a GM employee, there are many little companies that support them. Our bulk mailers are the same. They may eventually have to drive to Akron, which would be no justice for them.
(Rex) We have been taken away from what they call a point of entry where you used to be able to bring your 3rd Class mail to Mansfield, what was a 448, 449; we pulled it out, we worked it, got it over to you. We are no longer a point of entry. Akron is our point of entry. So all that 3rd class is shifted to Akron and we are at their mercy when they send it to us.
(Aubrey) If the weather gets foul, this is another very large concern that has been brought to the attention. Trucks coming to and from Akron, it will just be incredibly late during foul weather. Whether because of their processing times. Mansfield is able to process it and get it done by what time in the morning? 6-7 a.m. in the morning? All of our 1st class letters and get it to Ashland in time for us and our carriers to make it out on the street at a reasonable time for our businesses to get their mail. Especially our businesses, our downtown area. Which we believe that that would be immensely affected. In your reference to the economic efficiency of the operation of not just; the employees will not be leaving, so there will be no savings. They will just be moving to other areas to do their jobs because they are Civil Service federal jobs.
(Rex) We are just letting you know this. This is up to us. We are just informing you people because it will not affect us, it is going to affect you people, the public.
(Aubrey) The second reason is transportation costs. It would cost more for us to transport this mail.

Robert L. Valentine W1:   The reason that you left off George Voinovich and Boccieri?

(Aubrey) Boccieri, I think he is listed on the first page.
(Rex) The answer is no, he is not on there. I didn’t even notice that. Any congressman, we are in contact with. We are trying our best to talk to them. The main thing is; we believe that there is going to be a service change and it is not for the better. This whole community. We represent about a 60 area communities and this is going to change some of those standards. And by their own definition, they are not supposed to do that. Consolidation is not supposed to change any standard.   Well it is going to, it is going to change it for the worse and that is what we are here to tell you. We ask that Council recognize the fact it will affect all of us, not just Mansfield, but it is going to affect everybody in the 448, 449 areas. If we can get you to make a Resolution, supporting us, asking for a GAO study instead the Post Office we would be most appreciative. Anything you can do; contact these people. If you feel the way we do, please do. We found out the last time they tried to do it, we found out the Council carries weight when we get a bunch of these Resolutions and we can forward them and you will be forwarding them to them. That is what we are hoping for is that you will support us.

Robert L. Valentine W1: So what you said, no one will lose their jobs?

(Rex & Aubrey) Not necessarily in Mansfield. They have to be absorbed.   We have different steps of people that were casuals, PTF’s, Regulars. But the temporary people would be gone. You people in the public will be affected is why we are speaking out. Because they are not telling you that. They are having Council Meetings. In this package too, it is a process how this study is supposed to be done, how and who they are supposed to contact how it is supposed to be done. Now, it says impacted people. It states the hearing processing process. On mine it is highlighted right after they decide to try the study, it says stakeholders are supposed to be notified. Has anybody here been notified? You all are stakeholders.   It falls down here for public input. We need your help. I don’t know how else to say it. If you believe what we are telling you. None of us are going to be affected. Contractually, in full time, regular employee of the Post Office cannot lose their job over this. We wont have it in Mansfield. That job will be gone. We will be working in Akron. That job though will no longer be in Mansfield. When I retire next year, there is not going to be a job for somebody you hire off the street for.
(Aubrey) And the people we are currently hiring, in the postal service are veterans. We have a handful in Mansfield that are current young men just back from the war. These jobs were designed for this. We have lots of veterans. Vietnam Veterans. Current veterans. To me that is very pivotal in what we do. These service members that will be coming back will be needing to be absorbed back into our system when they are done serving and our jobs are the jobs that were designed for veterans in mind. A veteran can walk into the post office; request a test, a Civil Service exam. My brother is a good example, he came out of the military, requested the exam within two weeks he was passed and he had a job. He was able to feed his family straight coming out of the service. You can from driving a tank, what do you do in the real world. What job is there for you? Civil Service jobs will be incredibly important jobs for these members that are coming back and will be coming back.

Robert L. Valentine W1: What affect does that have on our Ashland Post Office.

(Aubrey) Well first of all, the collection boxes will affect all of the business people who drop off later in the day after they have closed. And if it is delayed by that day plus the timing that Akron will take in the delay of processing the mail. That will directly affect anyone who depends still on the mail service to get anything out. If you get a payment book or you expect a credit card; that comes in the mail. When people are in crisis and they have to order something like a credit card to get them through their unemployment stage to take care of all the emergencies, that comes in the mail. Payment books come in the mail. Check books come in the mail. Drug prescription drugs come in the mail. These things are very good examples of things that people depend and rely upon daily and we get calls continually, “Where are my drugs?” “I need them today, I have run out”. Delaying these types of items would do nothing but cause complete chaos for those who depend, who cannot drive. Who cannot defend for themselves that type of way who might be disabled older citizens. That would definitely affect them. And as far as the jobs go. We believe it would affect a trickle down on the clerks which in Ashland, we have already seen a huge number in decreasing clerks. Paul Wertz, I am sure you totally understand what I am talking about when you worked there. And carriers as well. It is diminishing. If service standards go down, value goes down because no one is satisfied, no one is happy. Then employees go down. We use to be the world’s largest employer; Wal-Mart since took over obviously, Sam’s club and such. Because of the type of agency that we are and veterans are a part of that agency; we can’t afford to diminish that. We can’t afford to punish people who are on fixed incomes who do not have Internet service to do online bill pay. There are lots of people in this particular community. I can tell you from working the window who depend on that who come and only buy one and two stamps at a time because that is all they can afford. But if they are getting a bill that is due in 10 days but say it has to go to Akron, it is going to be 2 days late coming back around. Now they have a week to get that bill turned back around and every day when you are on a fixed income is critical and that is what I hear when I do my job. So it is not; I am more concerned about the community and the members of the community if we don’t see and fully comprehend how this is really going to affect them.
(Rex) The Post Office has already had 2 town hall meetings; did anyone hear about this?
(Aubrey) We, as employees are citizens so that was their way of notifying the public.
(Rex) The actual consolidation of Youngstown to Akron cost 23 jobs, they are about the size we are. They took 23 of their jobs, in what we call excess; they have to go someplace else. So we are looking at somewhere in the same neighborhood over in Mansfield. And it is going to hurt you and your Post Office personnel, your carriers. As time goes by they are going to condense the routes. What is going to count is your area of mail is not going to get processed the same way. If Ashland’s mail comes to Mansfield at 5:30 p.m. in the evening, and that truck has to leave at 6:00 p.m. to go to Akron, but Bucyrus’s mail doesn’t get there until 6:20; you are going to have to hold that truck going to Akron. So that means now that Ashland, even though your mail was there on time, is going to be late. Because they have to hold that last truck. And we all know the weather, just what we had the other day. Two days ago they had 480 and 90 and some other roads closed due to the weather up there. Akron is the first stop because starting last Saturday; we are not taking Saturday mail to Akron now. We are taking it straight to Cleveland. It is even putting more distance on it.
(Aubrey) They have to have their performance numbers first because they have to prove their worth first and then additional offices are last and we would be all of the additional offices. We understand that it is a current 200-mile radium to find a job, so.
(Rex) We are not worried about us having a job like some people working in the private sector have to worry about. If they close their plant, they’re out of a job. If they take my job away, they have to find me another place to go to.
(Aubrey) They are not saving money; they are costing money by transportation.

Paul Wertz: How does all of Council feel about this? Do you want a Resolution?

Ruth Detrow: Not until we think about.

Paul Wertz: We will need time to think about it to see what to do. We will talk to the Law Director. Thank you.

Rex Snyder and Aubrey Combs: We thank you for your time.

Jeremy Younce, 1006 Cottage Street: My name is Jeremy Younce; I am the owner of Ashland Septic System, a small business on Cottage Street in Ashland. Roger, your zoning guy, I guess me and him have a disagreement on something I would like to do and I would like to tell you all about it and maybe you as Council can do something about it. About 2-3 years ago I found out that where I live across the tracks there it is Industrial Zoning and anything I do as in building a garage or build on has to go through you guys anyway. It starts with him, but you as Council have the final say so on it. Now I would like to build a garage for my Septic Trucks. Most of you probably even know where I live right there by Ohio Street and he told me back in October, he said draw up a plan, measurements like where it would be, how far away it would be from the road, the railroad tracks and the house. So I took the time and did all of that. Went to Home Depot and they gave me the paper work where the trusses and all that would be, so I got all that laid out and turned that into Roger and now he wants me to get a land survey which I totally don’t understand why his thinking behind that when all of my stakes on my property are all marked out visibly, you can see them. You have diagrams of my existing garage and my house and the only thing over there on that side of my lot; there are two lots there, the only thing over there is the railroad tracks and cottage street that it would affect so it isn’t like it there is somebody else’s property line or anything like that. So I guess what I am getting at is to me, I think Roger could just go out there and take the map and the diagram that I gave him, if he has any questions, he can measure it off himself and if he would like it to be moved over 2 feet or 3 feet, that is fine, I have no problem with that, just work with me on it though so he can get that paper work turned into you guys so you can vote on it. I have paperwork here so I can show you guys if you would like to look at it.

Mayor Stewart: What is your name again please?

Jeremy Younce: Jeremy Younce, I am the owner Ashland Septic System Cleaning, a small business here in Ashland. 1006 Cottage Street, Ashland Ohio 44805

Mayor Stewart: Before it ever gets to Council, we have to work with Roger. I will work with the Acting Director of Engineering. Roger works for the Acting Director. We will get into some detail on it to see where we are. It will not come to Council until after it goes to Planning Commission, if it has to go to Planning Commission Jeremy. I can save you some time. I am not going to tell you what the outcome will be. I will tell you that we will go through it from this end and will get back in touch with you and see what the hang-ups are from our end and we will try and work with you on it.

Jeremy Younce: And that is all I ask. Getting a land survey and spending $300 dollars, you know, when he can easily go out there himself.

Mayor Stewart: What is a good number to reach you?

·   See sign-in sheet for Jeremy’s phone number.

Jeremy Younce: Like I said, Roger has all of the paper work you need if you want to look at. Being a small business, I would think you would want to help me out. Roger does not seem to be too good with that if you ask me.

Mayor Stewart: We will work through this. I am not going to tell you we are going to resolve it to your pleasure but we will look at it.

Comments or questions?

Motion to move into Work Session by Paul Wertz, moved by Robert M. Valentine W2, seconded by Robert L. Valentine W1.
   Ayes: Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, and Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart

Regular Session ended at 8:01 p.m.

Work Session begins at 8:05 p.m.

         Purpose: Priorities 2009

Paul Wertz, President of Council called Work Session to order at 8:05 p.m.

Paul Wertz: We are looking at priorities for 2009; do you want to look back at 2008 priorities?

Stephen Stuart: I will just express my opinion, as I look at 2008, and there quite a few things accomplished from the 2008 priorities. And I think where we are in February 2009 is a lot different than the thought process when we went into 2008. I would think what we are looking at now is dramatically different from the left overs from 2008.

Paul Wertz: I agree.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Why don’t we eliminate the priorities of what we have already accomplished. We evaluated the sidewalk program and that is done.

Mayor Stewart: We have $ 75,000 dollars in whatever account for what we asked. Plus there is $25,000 set aside for city owned sidewalks. The $75,000 is for reimbursement for those who decide to put it on their taxes.

Robert M. Valentine W2: And the top one priority states: election of replacement Councilperson. That is done, we got a guy. He gets the bad chair.

Mayor Stewart: You get to move up after the next election, maybe.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Number 1 was Corporate Boundaries/annexation. Do you want to go from the top and come down?

Paul Wertz: I think that still should be on there.   I have only 14.

Robert L. Valentine W1: We have 14, it is the 2008 list.

Ruth Detrow: Combine City/County Health Dept. We haven’t done it. (1)

Mayor Stewart: You set a list of priorities then you went down and evaluated and then come back with totals.

Robert L. Valentine W1: First you have election replacement councilpersons. Combine City/County Health Dept.    I have been pushing for that one.

Paul Wertz: The last time we had Al Sanders over here, and he said it really didn’t make that much difference.

Robert L. Valentine W1: That wasn’t the impression I got.

Robert M. Valentine W2:   He said you have two Boards.

Paul Wertz: Do you want to put it back on the list?

Mayor Stewart: All you have to do is go over and set through a couple of City/County Health Board meetings and there is so much redundancy, the City has vote on something and then the county has to vote on something.

Ruth Detrow: So we should try it again? We really have gotten nowhere.

Robert L. Valentine W1: There is a problem with financing too. Because you have a levy or something for the county and nothing for the city. The city has to be worked out too.

Mayor Stewart: It is not as simple as saying yes we are going to do it.

Robert L. Valentine W1: But I still think it is something we ought to look at.

Paul Wertz: We can put that on the list.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Continue current level of City services – try to maintain. (2)

Stephen Stuart: I think that should be under a different umbrella. And the umbrella is doing everything that we can to cut cost and maintain services.

Robert L. Valentine W1: So you want to keep it then?

Stephen Stuart: Yes.

Ruth Detrow: You can’t say current level because well for one thing, we are eliminating one day of trash pick-up and there are some other things that may happen.

Stephen Stuart: I think our biggest challenge is to balance the budget in 2009 and 2010.

Robert M. Valentine W2: But you know something about the garbage; think about it, if you put out one bag on a Monday and one bag on Thursday, and then they go to Wednesday, you are still going to put out two bags. So they are still going to take the same amount of trash for you house and I don’t think that is cutting anything. Sure it is going to cut you a day but look at the other communities, they are down to one day. It hasn’t hurt them any.

Ruth Detrow: I am not saying it will hurt. But I am saying it at least fears to be a cut in service.

Mayor Stewart: The frequency of service.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Monitor Route 250 East Congestion/traffic problems. (3)

Ruth Detrow: We have to keep that on the front burner.

Stephen Stuart: And throw that 42 intersection in the mix too.

Mayor Stewart: And you know the newspaper did a nice traffic study for us a week ago, and a high accident area. It is the highest accident area in the city.

Robert M. Valentine W2: It is as about as crowded, as you will ever get on it. Any night around 4:30 p.m. or 5:00 p.m.

Robert L. Valentine W1: But that is a plus too.

Robert M. Valentine W2: We can change some of the wording.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Continue communication between County and City. (4)

Paul Wertz: Make sure to keep that.

Robert L. Valentine W1: The next one is community corridors Special Fund. Do we have that?

Mayor Stewart: Not unless we get some grant money or something like that.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Well according to what you hear in the paper. They are talking about money coming from the Federal Government for State, County and Local.

Mayor Stewart:   You know what I have to do? I have to hire some extra cops to keep those Brinks trucks from getting into a traffic jam all of the money in Ashland.

Robert M. Valentine W2. I received a phone call today that said something about there was money for reservoirs for alternate water and I am going to talk to somebody Thursday. So I will get you some information. If it is worth it, if we can get any kind of help money wise.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Pay now or pay later. That is what scares me.

Stephen Stuart: That speaks to what we ought to have as a goal and that is to be positioned to take advantage of any of the Federal Stimulus money that might be available.

Mayor Stewart: Well I think there are 5 that have been submitted.

Stephen Stuart: I think that ought to be a priority.

Mayor Stewart: Is it 5 or 6 now?

Robert M. Valentine W2: Is the Reservoir one?

Paul Wertz: No.

Larry Paxton:    A million gallon water tank was.

Paul Wertz: Industrial Park.

Stephen Stuart: That was? Good.

Larry Paxton: It will help them because it will put a million gallons of water a year.

Robert L. Valentine W1: You are talking about out there on Faultless Drive? When the company made their presentation here, didn’t they say something about they needed a certain amount of water?

Robert M. Valentine W2: 10,000 gallons of water a day.

Mayor Stewart: No they need 10,000 gallons twice a day.

Robert L. Valentine W1: We couldn’t do it without that.

Mayor Stewart: We are serving that area with a 16-inch line and as of today they talked about a four and possibly a two. A four for the process and two for fire or vice versa. That is available. But it all runs off of pump pressure out there now. No static high pressure.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Then we have established already the priorities for money that is coming in?

Paul Wertz: The projects have to be ready. You can’t establish them now. They have to be ready.

Robert M. Valentine W2: We have already had all the plans done for the Reservoir.

Mayor Stewart: They are not plans, they are sites.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Well how far along do you have to be then?

Mayor Stewart: After we get specifications, it would take a couple of months I presume to write specifications and then you got to go through a bid process where you have to advertise it and bid it.   For the life of me, I don’t understand how many cities have projects in a pigeonhole that are engineered and ready to go, if they are, they have spent a lot of money at risk.   That is my position on that.

Paul Wertz: But these 5 projects we turned in already and they are ready to go right?

Larry Paxton: We have planned on them for several years in our Capital Improvements program or plan that we have laid out. A couple of them are close to being ready, yes. I mean the Stimulus asks you how far out, how many days out you are?   180 and more is what it says.

Mayor Stewart: For instance, guys and gals. A water tower, there are thousands and thousands of towers already designed so you go to an Engineering firm and you want 1 million gallon and they buy it out of a catalogue but they have to pay the royalty to use that design. So you still pay for design. But it is not like it has to be done a plate at a time.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Well does that have to be, should that be a priority we have since you have already done it?

Mayor Stewart: I think it should be figured in there.

Paul Wertz: Infrastructure for the Industrial Park. It would be a part of that I would think. (5)

Mayor Stewart: Infrastructure for the Industrial Park would cover the road that we might put in. Which is an extension of Wells Road, the sewer and water that would go in there. The water tank that would go in there. The Infrastructure, that would be an all encompasser.

Robert L. Valentine W1:   That is the next one. As a matter of fact that was our second priority this last year. So number two we are leaving in, right? The verbage is okay?

Robert L. Valentine W1: The next one is Zoning Qualifications (all parts of town) (6)

Paul Wertz: Yes, we haven’t done anything with that, but there are some old sections of town that I think need to be rezoned but.

Mayor Stewart: That gentleman that was here tonight, that is possibly part of the problems of zoning.

Paul Wertz: I think we need to leave that in there because there are some sections of town that really, have outgrown their use, basically.

Robert L. Valentine W1: The next one was the top priority, Corporate Boundaries/Annexation. (7)

Robert M. Valentine W2: We always were looking at that but we did accomplish quite a bit this year.

Mayor Stewart: The next one will not be nearly as significant; we already serve all the way out 250 with sewer and water, that are already in.

Robert L. Valentine W1: All the way out to the old Truck Stop 250?

Mayor Stewart: That is what I am told.

Larry Paxton: There is a lift station across from Days Inn Motel at the end of the line.

Mayor Stewart: That is the end of it? So Goasis is not in it?

Larry Paxton: It goes down and Goasis is a part of it, it comes down to the Montgomery School and Goasis picks up and then it heads back to town.

Mayor Stewart: It might not stand a lot of development without some additional infrastructure.

Robert M. Valentine W2: Well we see in data, putting in all these up across from that Wal-Mart entrance.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Well we saw that on the report.

Mayor Stewart: They are in better shape up to that point. That is where the WIL lift station will help.

Robert L. Valentine W1: So corporate boundaries annexation, that is on?

Paul Wertz: Yes, keep it on. House Code and Maintenance, that is what you have next?

Ruth Detrow: We made some changes.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Well do you think it should stay on Ruth?

Robert M. Valentine W2: No. We kind of dumped it because of the Economic times.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Now there is the Industrial Park Infrastructure; now we are down to Industrial Park Infrastructure – Sewer and Water Lines.

Mayor Stewart: I would leave it all on one.

Robert M. Valentine W2: Up here where it says land only, put land, sewer and water. Put everything into one.

Paul Wertz: Industrial Park interstructure, basically.   (Combine with number (5) Industrial Park Infrastructure: Land, Sewer and Water).

Robert L. Valentine W1: So number 9 is out. 6 and 9 are out. Re-evaluate sidewalk program? That is out.   Transit system coordinate funds.

Robert M. Valentine W2: We have 2 years left.

Mayor Stewart: The coordination of funds is gone. That was a position that was funded by the State and we ended up funding it last year and that person is gone. Ellie handles it.

Ruth Detrow: So cross out 13.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Water Development/Reservoir.    (8)

Paul Wertz: Cross that out too, right?

Robert M. Valentine W2: I would leave that on there. That gives us 8.

Paul Wertz: Anything else?

Stephen Stuart: I would like to make some suggestions. I think we need to address the Brookside Golf Course Issue, as a priority.   (9)

Mayor Stewart: I personally think the Brookside Golf Course issue needs to be addressed before we open this spring. And we are trying to get; Steve and Bob, aren’t you two Golf Course committee?

Stephen Stuart: Yes.

Robert M. Valentine W2: They called me, but I had too much going on.

Mayor Stewart: I understand. And Steve won’t be back until what; next Tuesday or Wednesday?

Stephen Stuart: On Monday late.

Mayor Stewart: After the Council meeting. You get off at 3:30 or 4:00 p.m.? I think we need to hit that next week as early as we can.

Paul Wertz: I gave Bob some information.

Robert M. Valentine W2: I have some info that Paul gave me.

Paul Wertz:   They need to set down and take some hard looks at things. Steve has some points also.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Well didn’t they cut their budget some?

Mayor Stewart: Yes.

Robert L. Valentine W1:   I want to know where we are going?

Mayor Stewart: I don’t think we want to talk about it.

Stephen Stuart: I think it deserves to be a priority for us doesn’t it?

Mayor Stewart: Absolutely. From my perspective.

Stephen Stuart: It is to be considered. You know we are not trying to solve problems here.

Robert M. Valentine W2: Just making a list.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Otherwise this group, you two are on that today?

Stephen Stuart: Yes.

Robert L. Valentine W1: So you two and the people out there are going to meet?

Robert M. Valentine W2: Well Tim and Terry and me and Steve; I think that was it.

Paul Wertz: Steve anything else you want to put on it?

Stephen Stuart:   We will have a look at the 911 issue again.    (10)

Mayor Stewart: Dispatch issue?

Stephen Stuart: Yes.

Mayor Stewart: The contract comes up this fall.

Stephen Stuart: Just asking the question now as far as the former Abbott, Hospira property; what should be our role in commercial industrial development of that?

Mayor Stewart: The Abbott, Hospira property will ultimately be deeded to CIC upon the satisfactory completion of all the environmental tests, etc. The buildings are gone with the exception of the Miller Building on the corner, which has been bought by a private individual. The stone has been graveled and it is grated. It is okay; it is good for industrial and commercial use. It is not good for housing. It is not good for playgrounds. It has been remediated to a commercial industrial level. And the CIC will end up with the deed for that property once all the criteria has been met and it is close.

Stephen Stuart: I think we ought to also consider looking at presenting (2 Tax Issues), one for Parks and Recreation, and one for Police and Fire.    (11)

Mayor Stewart: There are funds 236 and 238 for Police and Fire, so do we increase those?

Stephen Stuart: Yes. And Parks and Recreation also.

Ruth Detrow: What kind of tax? Property tax, Income tax?

Robert M. Valentine W2: That will probably be part of your discussion.

Stephen Stuart: I think we ought to look at acquiring property for the future for a 2nd Fire Station. (12)

Mayor Stewart: There are lots and lots of parameters that go with that and probably more politics than you want in a lifetime.

Paul Wertz: They did a study, 5-10 years ago. The last one was 5 or 10 years ago where they thought the fire department should be. We have a report filed.   We can look at it.

Ruth Detrow: I think we ought be carefully monitoring what AU is doing with their Building program. That stadium is going to be up and running in the fall and there are going to be horrendous traffic and parking problems, which will impact the city.

Mayor Stewart: I concur with that. I am really not aware how that site went through the process without additional parking. I can’t fathom that. When we, with that Barbasol outfit, we prescribed how many parking spaces they have.

Robert M. Valentine W2: We went through that. I had a lot of people up there who live on the boundary, Moss Hill and Berry Ave.   And I have been up there 2 or 3 times walking with them and up until about not too long ago, well Mr. Cooper had a meeting with AU and talking; at least there was dialogue.

Mayor Stewart: The dialogue can continue. They are changing some of the people we dealt with; they are retiring.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Who is taking Lawrence’s place? Is March, when he is supposed to step down?

Mayor Stewart: Officially, the end of June but I think he has some time built up that maybe the end of this month (February).

Robert M. Valentine W2: But the people I talked to; after they had the meeting with AU, they were a little more at ease because they were told some stuff that kind of; you hear rumors. They were hearing everything.

Stephen Stuart:   I am not sure the traffic is going to be any different there than it is at Community Stadium. I think the parking is going to be a major issue.

Mayor Stewart: Well if they put 5,000 people in that stadium, it is going to be different.

Stephen Stuart: The current capacity of Community Stadium is probably similar, but it is not filled.

Ruth Detrow: I think one of their goals is to have such a State of the Art facility that they will draw a great many more people. I just think we need to be sure that we are all on the same page with this. We certainly wish them well.

Mayor Stewart: I hope it is packed every time they open the gate.

Robert M. Valentine W2: Brings in money to the city.

Ruth Detrow: But we don’t want some big surprises either.

Robert L. Valentine W1: How do you want to word that?

Paul Wertz: Look at AU’s future expansion?

Stephen Stuart: I think that is too broad.

Robert L. Valentine W1: You are taking these down, are you not Valarie?

Valarie Bishoff, Clerk: Yes Sir.

Paul Wertz: I think that will mean a slow down for a while on expansion after this.

Ruth Detrow; I think we need to look at the city’s role in AU’s expansion.

Robert L. Valentine W1: I put down AU Building Project – Broad Street. (13)

Robert M. Valentine W2:   I would say we have to work with Economic Development like what we did with Barbasol and some of the other companies to make sure that we keep giving attractive packages to bring in more businesses, whenever possible.

Mayor Stewart: I have a 2007 list here, would you like to hear some of them from that list?

Stephen Stuart:   Are there any on the 2007 that excite you Glen?

Mayor Stewart: Well one; Ward Boundaries. We talked about that in 2007 and I am not sure which Councilman brought it up, but it was pretty adamant on investigating the Ward Boundaries.   They haven’t been adjusted for many years. Signage procedures have been addressed by Planning Commission. Town Run improvement. I don’t know where that comes from.

Paul Wertz: Cleaning the creek out.

Robert M. Valentine W2: They have done a little bit.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Jim and I were working with that and we were going to move ahead but I think all the money was spent this year. Wasn’t it $28,000?   We had talked about some things we wanted to do out here. Steve came, and I guess he had worked before with Bill Strine.

Mayor Stewart: He did an artist rendering of what it could look like. That is exactly right. In 2007 we had the Building permit process was on here and I know for a fact that Cooper and myself worked through that and worked on that. I am not sure if that deserves to be on here again. But that was one of the things on there. Zoning Review, We had zoning qualifications all parts of town.   Curbs, deteriorated curbs was on in 2007.

Robert M. Valentine W2: We addressed that with the sidewalks because we were going to pay them so much to replace the curb, right? To help them out?

Mayor Stewart: If they have an integrated sidewalk, we do.   If it is not integrated it doesn’t qualify.    I would like to see some thought given to the overall organizational structure of the city.   Are there areas that could be or should be combined that are individual operations today?

Robert L. Valentine W1: Well you combined some already.

Mayor Stewart: I combined the Sanitation Dept which went to the Street Department and Water Billing and meter reading and line maintenance went to the Utilities area. It eliminated one position. I don’t know if I am too close to the picture to see the detail. I thought about this a lot. I want to throw out something wild. Maybe engineering and parks ought to be together or maybe streets and parks out to be together or maybe streets and; maybe fire and police ought to be one operation, with one Chief. I am not saying they should be, I am saying I would like to think outside of the box to gain some efficiencies if there is some efficiency and the service can be maintained. Maybe we are where we ought to be.

Stephen Stuart: I think that is kind of over the umbrella of how do we reduce costs and maintain services, the many services that we have.

Mayor Stewart: That is true. It is already kind of in there if you think of it with that expansiveness.

Stephen Stuart: That is worthy to keep thinking about all the time. How we can be more efficient.

Mayor Stewart: Something that comes up frequently is the Cable Franchise. We probably get as many calls on that in a year as we get on any one thing. And we have nothing to do with it.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Now that the State took control.

Robert M. Valentine W2:   We did try mentioning to get a cheaper package. There was some consideration, but since that law passed.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Valarie looked into that and Time Warner and I forget who else. They are not going to come in here.

Paul Wertz: Armstrong said that they would look at a package for seniors. But they never came back.

Robert M. Valentine W2: Since that law came out, they didn’t call back. My reason behind that was; having a $20.00 dollar package, at least you would get that. Because they have every house in the city wired and they only have 40-50% of it. 20 bucks a month is better than no bucks a month.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Steve, did you say how do we reduce costs to maintain services, is that one that you wanted in?

Paul Wertz: That is still in, that is number 3.

Mayor Stewart: How many do you have to consider now?

Robert M. Valentine W2: I think we have enough right now. If we get too many, it will get watered down.

Robert L. Valentine W1: Probably about 12.

Paul Wertz: I have 14.

Robert L. Valentine W1: How many do you have Valarie?

Valarie Bishoff, Clerk of Council: 14, because I had 9 and then you added Ward Boundaries- adjustments; you didn’t want Cable franchise, so 13.

Mayor Stewart: For several years we had 20. And then each Councilperson put a priority on them and we would come up with an average.

Stephen Stuart: Is there anything we can do as a city to further encourage development of the downtown? What is being done with the empty buildings?

Mayor Stewart: No I don’t know what is being done Steve. I met with a very small downtown committee last summer and last fall and there were 3 or 4 very enthusiastic individuals. And those individuals are still very enthusiastic but polling, it appears that there is not a large enough group to really impact the downtown as a whole. I would love to see it.   Our downtown is not unlike some, but it is not as well preserved as many.

Robert L. Valentine W1: This thing as far as Ashland County Partnership; does that involve the city or just the county?

Mayor Stewart: I don’t know what you are looking at? Oh that from Tom Seddon? That is the seeds of a strategic and futuristic plan for the county.

Robert L. Valentine W1: That includes the city?

Mayor Stewart: Absolutely.

Robert L. Valentine W1: I was on that committee when we did the city the last time.

Mayor Stewart: Let me share a little bit with you. That group started with basically city and some county input and we felt that it was totally wrong to put together any kind of strategic or futuristic plan that didn’t encompass the county.   Because it can’t stand-alone anymore and develop an island whether it is Loudonville, or Ashland or Jeromesville or anything else. And in my opinion from what I see; United Way is a great example. The communication between the North and the South county is so superior to what it was just a few years ago and that is why I think this and Loudonville specifically is very well represented on this group. However it is basically at a status quo because it is hard to get funds. It is not dead beyond any strength of imagination.

Robert L. Valentine W1: I was thinking maybe that.

Mayor Stewart: I think there will be a lot of things come out. If you look at one of the plans that were done 15 or 20 years ago or so, the foundation was something that came out of that.   If you go back and look at one further back, which I got and borrowed from a friend, it identifies the east corridor in the late ‘60’s. But we went south and no we are going east.

Robert M. Valentine W2: We thought it was going to go south.

Mayor Stewart: You know something you might want as Council, maybe that re-development of some of these semi-abandoned big box areas.

Stephen Stuart: Good point. I think that is excellent.

Robert L. Valentine W1: That makes sense. That is a good one. Do you have that?

Valarie Bishoff: Re-development of some of the abandoned box areas to take a look at?

Community Corridors – Special Fund- re-development of big box areas. (14)

Valarie Bishoff: May I say something? I keep thinking, I don’t know why but you know down here where we have the Fun Fridays; why couldn’t there be a wooden sign there, maybe donated wood have a big wooden sign made and put all the high points of Ashland there. We have Barbasol coming in, which comes to mind, we have the Ohio Electric and we also have Downtown Perk coffee shop and gifts; now Buehlers has their own coffee shop now, just the high points so people from out of town coming into Ashland so there is a lot of visibility what we have to offer. Myself knowing what is here, some times not remembering the businesses or where they are located; maybe put headings on it INFRASTUCTURE, Industrial Park, this is what is listed, or coffee shops and list them. It wouldn’t have to cost a lot of money if somebody could donate the wood and their time.

Mayor Stewart: This isn’t a topic but the Barbasol people, one of them, they stop out here at Goasis, they have for years, but they had no idea what Ashland was because they stop, got what they wanted and got back on the right-a-way.

Robert L. Valentine W1: They got the reasonable gas.

Robert M. Valentine W2: Cheap gas, they got a cup of coffee, they got a hunk of pizza, lots of chicken and they were gone.

Mayor Stewart: Valarie has a good point; we need to suck them in to town further.

Valarie Bishoff:   Yes, also like at the beginning of the corporation limits even, welcome to Ashland, home of Historical landmarks, Industrial Park.

Paul Wertz: Good point.

Larry Paxton: May I suggest when you are talking about the fire station, and you may include all the city facilities, for example the Mayor has been talking about the consolidation in this building from other facilities; you have a street department, a water distribution department, sewer distribution department. Each of those have at least one backhoe and I believe the Street Department has two backhoes. You might look at that as some way to consolidate you building the fire department, or Fire Building, very easily all three of those departments do similar work, they dig in the ground, or they fix the street or things like that; it wouldn’t hurt to just look at the different facilities the city has, take a day trip.

Stephen Stuart: To tag on to your point for what it is worth. I think the Fire, looking at land for a future Fire Station is a location kind of thing that wouldn’t necessarily be the right location for other facilities for the kind of things that you are talking about, but the fact that we do now have combined heads of some departments should lend itself to combining that equipment using it as you said, we have a different building for water distribution than we do for sewage lines and that kind of things. And that equipment I would think over time and may be pretty quick should be combined.

Mayor Stewart: They are working closer together than they were even just a year ago.

Paul Wertz: Anything else you want to add to this list Council?

Robert L. Valentine W1: We are up to 14.

Paul Wertz: Is that all you want to add to it?

Robert M. Valentine W2: If you think of anything else, you can always call Val.

Valarie Bishoff: So you would like this list made up basically like last years?

Paul Wertz: Yes.

Valarie Bishoff: Then you can put in order from most important to least important.

Robert M. Valentine W2: We list them in our order, then you take it back to figure out the highest average.

Valarie Bishoff: Okay, to make sure I have them all correct, I will do it tomorrow, call Paul and let him take a look at it.

Motion to return to Regular Session by Paul Wertz, moved by Robert M. Valentine W2, seconded by Robert L. Valentine W1.
    Ayes: Robert L. Valentine W1, Robert M. Valentine W2, Ruth Detrow, Paul Wertz, Stephen Stuart.

Meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.                       Submitted by
                                       Valarie Bishoff                                                   Clerk of Council