MINUTES FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION OF COUNCIL
December 31, 2004
Council President Greg Gorrell called the meeting to order at noon.
ROLL CALL
Ward 1: Bob Valentine Present
Ward 2: Greg Gorrell Present
Ward 3: Ruth Detrow Present
Ward 4: Paul Wertz Present
At-large: Glen Stewart Present
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
LEGISLATION
Item (a) AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING LIMITS FOR WAGES AND DETERMINING OTHER PROVISIONS RELATIVE TO POSITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT OF SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL FOR AREAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANOTHER WAGE OR SALARY ORDINANCE IN THE CITY OF ASHLAND, OHIO; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
Moved by Wertz and seconded by Stewart 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: Gorrell, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart, Valentine
Comments:
Gorrell explained that the first three items of legislation were previously on Council agenda but were tabled for a couple of corrections. These are dealing with wages for various categories of personnel that are not otherwise approved on any other form of legislation requiring approval in order for funds to be let. All have to do with FLSA restatement of how the compensation is presented. They are representing no increases but just the ability to pay.
Moved by Gorrell and seconded by Valentine that the Ordinance be passed on the first reading.
Ayes: Gorrell, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart, Valentine
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: Gorrell, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart, Valentine
Moved by Stewart and seconded by Valentine that the Ordinance be passed.
Ayes: Gorrell, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart, Valentine
Motion carried.
Item (b) AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING LIMITS FOR WAGES AND DETERMINING OTHER PROVISIONS RELATIVE TO POSITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT OF FIDUCIARY PERSONNEL TO DIVISION DIRECTORS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS 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: Gorrell, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart, Valentine
Moved by Stewart and seconded by Gorrell that the Ordinance be passed on the first reading.
Ayes: Gorrell, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart, Valentine
Moved by Wertz and seconded by Valentine 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: Gorrell, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart, Valentine
Moved by Detrow and seconded by Valentine that the Ordinance be passed.
Ayes: Gorrell, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart, Valentine
Motion carried.
Item (c) AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING 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 Wertz and seconded by Gorrell 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: Gorrell, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart, Valentine
Moved by Detrow and seconded by Valentine that the Ordinance be passed on the first reading.
Ayes: Gorrell, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart, Valentine
Moved by Gorrell and seconded by Wertz 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: Gorrell, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart, Valentine
Moved by Wertz and seconded by Valentine that the Ordinance be passed.
Ayes: Gorrell, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart, Valentine
Motion carried.
Item (d) AN ORDINANCE TO APPROPRIATE AND TRANSFER THE FOLLOWING HEREINAFTER NAMED SUMS OF MONEY IN 2004 AND DECLARING THIS TO BE AN EMERGENCY MEASURE NECESSARY TO MEET THE IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL NEEDS OF THE CITY OF ASHLAND, OHIO.
Moved by Gorrell and seconded by Stewart for reading the ordinance in full.
Ayes: Gorrell, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart, Valentine
Finance Director Nancy Boyd read the Ordinance.
Comments:
Gorrell explained that, as a matter of clarification, the reason this takes place so late in the year is that the account balances will have a zero or a plus balance, so there is no red ink. These numbers were finalized just this morning and put the City where it needs to be for year end, with everything in balance.
Boyd added that the City is not allowed to end the year with any fund in the red; they should be zero or a plus. This year the ending balance for the general fund is $361,519.41.
Mayor Strine stated that all the discussion about having to make cuts was based originally on having a balance at the end of 2005 of $800,000; that was lowered to a goal of $450,000; now it is not enough to end up with any balance at the end of 2005. Right now the goal is to make cuts that bring the City down to a zero balance rather than having any balance at all. The picture is worse than anticipated; there is a lot of work cut out for the City.
Gorrell added that the City would be evaluating above and beyond what materializes from continuing discussions; there will be quarterly or even more frequent evaluations as the year unfolds of receipts as well as cuts. There may be other mid-course corrections. Mayor Strine emphasized that there will definitely be mid-course corrections.
Moved by Gorrell and seconded by Detrow that the Ordinance be passed on the first reading.
Ayes: Gorrell, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart, Valentine
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: Gorrell, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart, Valentine
Moved by Detrow and seconded by Valentine that the Ordinance be passed.
Ayes: Gorrell, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart, Valentine
Motion carried.
Item (e) AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY, TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO, FOR FIRE PROTECTION, RESCUE AND AMBULANCE EMERGENCY SERVICE AND NON-EMERGENCY AMBULANCE TRANSPORTATION; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
Moved by Wertz and seconded by Stewart 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: Gorrell, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart, Valentine
Comments:
Gorrell noted that this is an Ordinance that is for three years regarding fire protection and the fees associated with that. The next ordinance is the same thing but for a different township.
Moved by Stewart and seconded by Wertz that the Ordinance be passed on the first reading.
Ayes: Gorrell, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart, Valentine
Moved by Wertz and seconded by Gorrell 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: Gorrell, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart, Valentine
Moved by Detrow and seconded by Valentine that the Ordinance be passed.
Ayes: Gorrell, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart, Valentine
Motion carried.
Item (f) AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY, TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH ORANGE TOWNSHIP, ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO, FOR RESCUE AND AMBULANCE EMERGENCY SERVICE AND NON-EMERGENCY AMBULANCE TRANSPORTATION; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
Moved by Wertz and seconded by Valentine 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: Gorrell, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart, Valentine
Moved by Wertz and seconded by Stewart that the Ordinance be passed on the first reading.
Ayes: Gorrell, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart, Valentine
Moved by Valentine and seconded by Wertz 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: Gorrell, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart, Valentine
Moved by Detrow and seconded by Valentine that the Ordinance be passed.
Ayes: Gorrell, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart, Valentine
Motion carried.
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Wertz and seconded by Detrow to adjourn.
Ayes: Gorrell, Detrow, Wertz, Stewart, Valentine
Council adjourned the special session at 12:20 p.m.
Submitted by
Elaine C. Bucklew
Clerk of Council