RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

Minutes of MADISON VILLAGE Meeting Held October 1, 2001

REGULAR MEETING          October 1, 2001

Mayor Reed called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and invited those in attendance to join in the pledge of allegiance.  Council members Mr. Britton, Mr. Evangelista, Mr. Smith. Mr. Burgard and Mr. Loparo were present.  Also in attendance were Clerk-Treasurer Ross, Solicitor Collins, Eric Haibach, Chief Matty, and Administrator Sample.  Mrs. Kopczak was not present.

Mr. Evangelista motioned to approve the minutes of the September 17, 2001 Regular Meeting.  Mr. Britton seconded.  Mr. Britton, Mr. Evangelista and Mr. Smith voted yes; however, Mr. Loparo and Mr. Burgard abstained.  Accordingly, the September 17, 2001 Regular Meeting minutes were not approved.

Mr. Burgard motioned to approve the minutes of the August 30, 2001 Special Meeting.  Mr. Smith seconded.  All present were in favor.  The August 30, 2001 Special Meeting Minutes were approved.

Clerk-Treasurer Ross presented Pay Order No. 2008 totaling $74,632.10.  Mr. Burgard motioned for approval.  Mr. Loparo seconded.  All present were in favor.  Pay Order No. 2008 was approved.

VISITORS

Jack Lading, 603 W. Main Street, Madison, Ohio.  Mr. Lading wanted to know how long Adelphia was going to be working in the area.  It was unknown.  Mr. Lading was concerned about trash that Adelphia contractors were leaving on tree lawns.  Mr. Sample said he got in touch with Mr. Ed Williams, who apologized and said he would contact the contractors in order to have them pick up their strappings, etc.  Mr. Lading also said his Adelphia Cable service has been interrupted and that he called them and they made an adjustment on his bill.  He wanted other Village residents to know they could also call Adelphia to get an adjustment on their bill if they experienced the same interruption in their cable service.  

Councilwoman Mrs. Kopczak arrived at the meeting and apologized for being late.  Mr. Loparo asked if we could recall the motion on the approval of the September 17, 2001 Regular Meeting minutes, since with the arrival of Mrs. Kopczak we would be able to approve them.  Mayor Reed said we would recall that motion sometime later in the meeting.

OLD BUSINESS:

ORDINANCE #57-2001 was read by Solicitor Collins for the second time.  AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR AND CLERK-TREASURER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE MORTON SALT COMPANY TO PURCHASE ROAD SALT FOR WINTER MAINTENANCE OF THE STREETS IN MADISON VILLAGE.   Mr. Britton made a motion to suspend.  Mr. Evangelista seconded.  All present were in favor.  Mr. Loparo moved for passage.  Mr. Britton seconded.  All present were in favor.

ORDINANCE #58-2001 was read by Solicitor Collins for the second time.  AN ORDINANCE TRANSFERRING FUNDS FROM THE SAFETY FUND TO THE POLICE PENSION FUND AND FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE SENIOR CENTER FUND, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.  Mr. Loparo moved to suspend.  Mrs. Kopczak seconded.  All present were in favor.  Mr. Evangelista moved for passage.  Mr. Smith seconded.  All present were in favor. 

ORDINANCE #59-2001 was read by Solicitor Collins for the second time.  AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS TO VARIOUS LINE ITEMS FOR THE CURRENT EXPENSES AND FOR OTHER EXPENDITURES OF THE VILLAGE OF MADISON, OHIO, FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2001 TO AND INCLUDING DECEMBER 31, 2001, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.  Mr. Britton moved to suspend.  Mr. Smith seconded.

Discussion:

Mrs. Kopczak asked again what this Ordinance was for.  Mr. Sample said we were appropriating additional funds to various line items.  The Water Fund would have an additional $5,000, the General Fund, under Dues and Miscellaneous, an additional $3,000, under Contractors, $17,000, under tools and equipment, an additional $2,500.  On the tree removal program, we went over by $2,705.  On the junk pick up we were over by $2,057.  For all of our computer services, we were over by 3,338.60.  Council had authorized $3,000 over what was originally budged for the paving of the commons with the churches.  We spend $1,000 additional on cleaning a creek near Appaloosa.  We had additional curb work after the water/sewer line on Eagle/Union Street of $1,305.00.  We had some additional paving in the area of Hyder Drive as well as some curb work for $2,400, and $1,800 for additional paving on the southeast corner of South Lake and East Main.  Mrs. Kopczak asked if these additional appropriations were going to get us through the next 3 months, and Mr. Sample said hopefully they would.

A vote was then taken to suspend.  All present were in favor.  Mr. Britton motioned for approval.  Mr. Loparo seconded.  All present were in favor.

RESOLUTION #24-2001 was read by Solicitor Collins for the second time.  A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE AMOUNTS AND RATES AS DETERMINED BY THE BUDGET COMMISSION AND AUTHORIZING THE NECESSARY TAX LEVIES AND CERTIFYING THEM TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR.  Mr. Loparo moved for suspension.  Mr. Britton seconded.  All present were in favor.  Mr. Evangelista moved for passage.  Mr. Loparo seconded.  All present were in favor.

NEW BUSINESS:

ORDINANCE #60-2001 was read by Solicitor Collins for the first time.  AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF $186,000 NOTES, IN ANTICIPATION OF THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS, FOR THE PURCHASE OF PAYING A PORTION OF THE COST OF IMPROVING BATES ROAD BETWEEN CERTAIN TERMINI BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF A WATERLINE TOGETHER WITH ALL NECESSARY APPURTENANCES THERETO AND IMPROVING WEST MAIN STREET BETWEEN CERTAIN TERMINI BY CONSTRUCTING A WATERLINE, HYDRANTS, VALVES AND SERVICE CONNECTIONS, TOGETHER WITH ALL NECESSARY APPURTENANCES THERETO, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.  Mr. Loparo moved to suspend.  Mr. Evangelista seconded.  All present were in favor.  Mr. Loparo moved for passage.  Mr. Burgard seconded.  All present were in favor.

ORDINANCE #61-2001 was read by Solicitor Collins for the first time.  AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF $64,000 NOTES, IN ANTICIPATION OF THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPROVING THE WATERWORKS SYSTEM OF THE VILLAGE BY INSTALLING AND REPLACING WATERLINES, HYDRANTS AND VALVES, TOGETHER WITH ALL NECESSARY APPURTENANCES THERETO, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.  Mr. Burgard motioned to suspend.  Mr. Loparo seconded.  All present were in favor.  Mrs. Kopczak moved for passage.  Mr. Smith seconded.  All present were in favor.   

ORDINANCE #62-2001 was read by Solicitor Collins for the first time.  AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS TO VARIOUS LINE ITEMS FOR THE CURRENT EXPENSES AND FOR OTHER EXPENDITURES OF THE VILLAGE OF MADISON, OHIO, FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2001, TO AND INCLUDING DECEMBER 31, 2001, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.  Mr. Smith motioned to suspend.  Mr. Evangelista seconded.  All present were in favor.  Mr. Smith motioned for approval.  Mr. Loparo seconded.  All present were in favor.

ORDINANCE #63-2001 was read by Solicitor Collins for the first time.  AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR TO APPLY TO THE OHIO PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION FOR ISSUE 2 FUNDING FOR A CERTAIN INFRASTRUACTURE PROJECT AND EXPRESSING AN INTENT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COST OF SAME. 

Discussion:

Mr. Sample stated that we are in line to receive $250,000 towards the replacement of the pump station at Parkway and West Main.  The Village’s share would be approximately $250,00 - $300,000 and construction would begin a year from now.  This will be providing service and relief to West Main Street where we have had some problems in the past and will allow for continued residential growth in the Rt. 84, West Main Street/River Street quadrant of the Village for Village Glen, Mr. Sidley’s development across from the cemetery, and also potentially the Ritola farm.  We plan on increasing the sewer tap-in fee as we did for the Eagle St. sewer project.  We will probably charge any new construction that enters into the new sanitary system around $3900 or $4000 to help us recoup our expenses for this project.

Mr. Smith moved to suspend.  Mr. Evangelista seconded.  All present were in favor.  Mr. Smith moved for passage.  Mr. Evangelista seconded.  All present were in favor.

RESOLUTION #27-2001 was read by Solicitor Collins for the first time.  A RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 23, 2001, THROUGH OCTOBER 31, 2001, AS “RED RIBBON WEEK” TO COMMUNICATE A COMMITMENT TO A DRUG-FREE AMERICA.   Mr. Loparo moved for passage.  Mr. Burgard seconded.  All present were in favor.  

REPORTS:

Mr. Britton said the committee for Old Fashioned Days met and went over the budget.  He presented council with a check made out to the Village of Madison for $500.00 towards the stamped concrete in the Park and another check for $529.00 made out to the Madison Village Police Department for the purchase of a bicycle to be used next year during Old Fashioned Days. 

Mayor Reed once again presented the minutes of the September 17, 2001 Regular Meeting for approval.  Mr. Britton motioned for approval.  Mr. Evangelista seconded.  Mrs. Kopczak noted that under “Promotions” Mr. Svagerko’s name was misspelled.  Under Mr. Smith’s report, he was talking about “Hyder Drive”.  Mr. Evangelista moved to amend the Sept. 17, 2001 Regular Meeting minutes.  Mr. Britton seconded.  All present were in favor except Mr. Burgard and Mr. Loparo who abstained.  The minutes passed with the necessary four votes for approval.

ENGINEER’S REPORT:

Eric Haibach noted that there were currently three active jobs in the Village.  In the Village Glen subdivision, Tri-Mor paving has been contracted to do the paving work and that is scheduled to start soon, possibly this week.  In the Water Tower Drive subdivision, the site work is progressing for the Lake Tran Park & Ride lot.  On the Route 84 and S.R. 528 intersection improvements, the overhead utilities are currently being relocated in preparation for the widening work, and Burton Scott’s sub-contractor, Miller Cable, is scheduled to begin construction of the pole foundations at the West Main and River (Routes 84 and 528) at the end of the week and the project will progress on from there.

SAFETY REPORT:

Chief Matty said last Thursday there was a special meeting at Lake County Central Communications involving the records management system and leads up-grades that Central’s proposing.  They are proposing to do away with the dump terminals and the printers that they now provide and make them the responsibility of the agencies.  With that, they would be going to a PC Windows based type operation at all the offices.  Expense wise for us, we are ahead of the game.  All of our terminals are PC – we eliminated our dump terminals several years ago.  The only thing I will have to procure is a laser printer that is a network computer where all the dump terminals can contact the one printer to print a report.  So our expense for the upgrade will be very minimal.

Again this year, October 9, 10, and 11, is the Attorney General’s conference in Columbus.  Chief Matty would like to attend the conference and have Sgt. Shannon attend as well as she has not had much outside training.  There are some excellent mid-management leadership courses being offered this year that would greatly benefit Sgt. Shannon.  Chief estimated the cost would be approximately $250 for the room and about $20 - $25 for meals per day.  The registration fee was $50 each.  Chief Matty said he would be driving his car to the conference.  Mr. Britton motioned for approval.  Mr. Smith seconded.  All present were in favor.

Chief Matty said he would also like to approach council for authorization to hire an additional 5 part-time police officers.  It has become quite burdensome to fill the time-off slots during the workweek.  He suggested posting the positions on the Lakeland College job board and also draw from the basic Police Academy of Lakeland.  Chief Matty said the new part-time officers would be required to work a minimum of 16 hours per month, with a maximum of 24 hours per month.  Chief Matty said he needs about 40 hours per week of additional coverage.  He stated he has lost some manpower because of the events of September 11, 2001 and the necessary added security at the Power Plant. 

Mrs. Kopczak said if we need an additional 40 hours per week, why don’t we hire another full-time police officer?  She would be inclined to vote for another full-time officer rather than 5 part-time officers.  Chief Matty said he is falling short on coverage during the week because he has a full-time officer on duty now on the weekends, instead of just part-time officers.  Mr. Sample also mentioned that the cost of benefits for another full-time officer would cost the Village approximately another $5,000 to $10,000 a year.  Chief Matty said he has two applicants who have prior experience that will cut down on the training time necessary.  Also, the part-time hours were budgeted in for 2001.  Mr. Britton motioned to authorize Chief Matty to interview and hire 5 part-time police officers.  Mr. Smith seconded.  All present were in favor with the exception of Mrs. Kopczak who voted no.

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT:    

Mr. Sample said he received a check this evening from Michael Loparo, owner of the Tea Room, in the amount of $200 towards a donation for a Christmas tree at the train station and other Christmas decoration in the Village.  Also, the road crews continue today and probably the next two days with the brush pick-up.  Leaf pick-up will start this coming Monday and will continue as necessary until the snow falls.  Mr. Sample then brought Council’s attention to a stack of photographs he had of old grave markers at the cemetery.  He said the cemetery crew is busy putting the gravestones back together wherever possible.  He is requesting a $1500.00 appropriation out of the Cemetery Capital Improvement Fund of which there is approximately $10,000, in order to purchase 15 bronze plaques to place in front of necessary deteriorated grave sites.  Mr. Loparo motioned to approve.  Mr. Britton seconded.  All present were in favor.

Mr. Sample also said he talked with Ned Foley on Friday.  Mr. Foley said he met with Mr. Sidley and they will begin clearing and grubbing the area behind McDonald’s for the road extension across from Water Tower Drive so we will see a lot of activity this week as they get a lot of that cleared off.  Also, we talked with the owner’s of McDonalds about expanding some of their parking lot working with elimination of some of their access points to S.R. 528 and getting people exiting onto the new streets when they come in.

MAYOR’S REPORT:

Mayor Reed called Chief Matty’s attention to the AAA Pedestrian Safety Awards Presentation.  Chief Matty said it was going to held on October 9 and that it is an annual award representing our 23^rd or 24^th consecutive year without a pedestrian fatality.  Chief Matty said he was going to ask Sgt. Verdi to attend in his place because he would be at the seminar in Columbus.

Mayor Reed once again wanted to confirm that Halloween night would be observed in the Village from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 31.

Solicitor Collins requested that a motion be made for adjournment to Executive Session to consider the discipline and dismissal of a public employee, including investigation of charges or complaints against that public employee.  Mr. Britton motioned to go into Executive Session.  Mr. Evangelista seconded.  All present were in favor.

Solicitor Collins then stated that he could not predict how long the Executive Session would last, however, there would be action taken at the conclusion of the Executive Session in public.

Regular Meeting was adjourned into Executive Session at 8:00 p.m.

RETURN FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION:

At 11:25 p.m., Mr. Evangelista made a motion to reconvene from Executive Session.  Mr. Smith seconded.  All present were in favor.

The doors were then unlocked and the meeting was then back in public session.  Those present were Mr.Britton, Mr. Burgard, Mr. Evangelista, Mrs. Kopczak, Mr. Loparo, and Mr. Smith.  Also in attendance were Clerk-Treasurer Ross, Mayor Reed, Administrator Sample and Solicitor Collins.

Solicitor Collins told Council they had before them the Appeal that was filed by Patrolman Blackstock from the Mayor’s decision to terminate and remove her from her employment.  I indicate to you again that you do have options available to you under Ohio Revised Code Section 737.19.  Those options are: (1) to dismiss the charges and to reinstate Patrolman Blackstock; (2) to uphold the Mayor’s judgement to remove and terminate Patrolman Blackstock; (3) you can modify the Mayor’s judgment and impose a suspension for up to 60 days; or (4) by statute, you can reduce her in rank.  These are the four options available to you.  It will take 4 affirmative votes in favor of any of those actions.

Mr. Britton motioned to uphold the Mayor’s judgement to remove Patrolman Blackstock from employment.  Mr. Smith seconded.  All present were in favor with the exception of Mrs. Kopczak who voted no.

Mr. Smith motioned for adjournment.  Mr. Britton seconded.  All present were in favor. 

Meeting was adjourned at 11:30 p.m.