LORI CUNARD
February 3, 2023
Meeting Minutes (1-2-23)
The Council of the Village of Woodsfield
January 2, 2023
The Council of the Village of Woodsfield met in Regular Session on January 2, 2023.
I. Roll Call:
Present: Council Members; Dale English, Tom Kirkland, Leann Harper, Tiffany Ramsay, Matt Schaber; Mayor Carol Hehr, Fiscal Officer Lori Cunard, and Village Administrator Kevin Brooks.
Absent: Council member Anthony McDaniel.
II. Pending Meeting Minutes Approval:
Dale English made a motion to accept the December 19, 2022 meeting minutes with corrections. Matt Schaber second. Anthony McDaniel – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
III. Registered Visitors/Guest:
None
V. Old Business:
DORA – Nothing to report at this time but after the first of the year we hope to get going on this to have it finalized.
VI. Administrator Report:
Village Administrator Kevin Brooks stated that Cole Minder, Wastewater Department, passed his Class lll Wastewater test. Per the agreement with the Village and Mr. Minder, his wages are to be increased to $20.00/hr. after passing the test. Mr. Brooks is asking for a motion from Council to increase wages for Cole Minder to $20.00/hr. for passing the Class lll wastewater. Tom Kirkland made the motion. Dale English second. Anthony McDaniel – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
VII. Fiscal Officer Report:
Fiscal Officer, Lori Cunard asked if Hunter Thomas, Water Department, started work on December 27, 2022 as talked about at last meeting because he has not been in to complete his paperwork. Kevin Brooks said he did start on December 27th, he would call the Water Department tomorrow morning to see why he did not stop in the Fiscal Office to complete paperwork.
VIII. Committee Chair/Council Reports:
Dale English – Nothing to report
Tom Kirkland – Nothing to report
Anthony McDaniel – absent
Leann Harper – Nothing to report
Tiffany Ramsay – Nothing to report
Matt Schaber – Nothing to report but a few questions. Council member Matt Schaber asked who the building officer is for the Village. He said that in the Planning and Zoning Code it refers to a building officer. Kevin Brooks stated that the code he has is outdated and he should be looking at the updated Planning and Zoning Code which Mr. Brooks said he would get him a copy. Matt Schaber asked who issues building permits and Kevin Brooks stated that he does them and we average about 20 per year. Matt Schaber asked when a building permit needed to be issued. Kevin Brooks replied that new construction needs a building permit, we have been very liberal if you are replacing existing, but new construction needs a permit. Matt Schaber stated that at the Eberle property they have started to empty the inside of the house into the backyard. Kevin Brooks said if they are just remodeling the inside, they would not need a building permit, we have zero jurisdiction inside, but sounds as if it could be a trash problem and that should be referred to the Police Department. Matt Schaber also asked who
to contact if it is deemed to be unsafe due to bats living in the attic. Kevin Brooks said in that case to get in contact with the Southeast Ohio Building Authority, they also do all commercial permits, or you can also contact the Health Department. Kevin Brooks told Matt Schaber that a new Code was adopted about 2 years ago and he would make sure he gets a copy.
Village Administrator Kevin Brooks asked Leann Harper if the problem was taken care of regarding the catch basin and she replied there was no problem, it was taken care of.
IX: Solicitor’s Report:
None
X: Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion for the payment of bills. Tiffany Ramsay made the motion. Tom Kirkland second. Anthony McDaniel – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the Income Tax Report for December 2022. Tom Kirkland made the motion. Dale English second. Anthony McDaniel – absent. Motion passed 5-0. Leann Harper asked why the Income Tax Report is approved by Council. Kevin Brooks replied that prior to 2019 Council did not approve bills or income tax report. He stated that it was changed so Council could see the money that goes out and comes into the Village and Council approves it because they are acknowledging they see a main revenue source coming into the Village each month. Mr. Brooks also said it is even more important now that RITA is tax collecting, as an outside resource, so Council can see the value they are getting for the services RITA is doing for the Village.
Mayor Hehr stated that she put a copy of the 2023 Committees at each council member’s desk and in their packets. If they are not happy with the committee they are on please see her and they will work something out. Mayor Hehr created a new committee and is calling it the Square Renovation Committee with Tiffany Ramsay as the Chairperson. Kevin Brooks asked why she doesn’t call it the Downtown Revitalization Committee and Mayor Hehr said she thinks it is two different things. She is talking about things such as planting in the islands. Kevin Brooks feels there is going to be a lot of decisions to be made, particularly with the grant application, such as decorative lighting and possibly new sidewalks. Mr. Brooks said there will be a lot of decisions if we continue down the path of procuring funds for the downtown. Mayor Hehr agreed to change the name of the committee to Downtown Revitalization Committee.
Mayor Hehr said to Matt Schaber that the Property Maintenance Committee needs to have a meeting soon because there are several properties that need to be looked at. Kevin Brooks stated that he feels each committee should be meeting at least quarterly to discuss things in a smaller group rather than coming before the full Council. Tom Kirkland said there is a Finance Committee Meeting on January 23rd, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. They will be meeting with Nikke Lude to go over investments.
Dale English stated that each committee needs to have 3 council members. The Downtown Revitalization Committee and Records Commission only has 2. Mayor Hehr said she would add Anthony McDaniel to Downtown Revitalization and Matt Schaber to the Records Commission.
Mayor Hehr said she talked to someone from the oil and gas company regarding the walking trail and they told her it would be repaired and paved the first part of next week. Kevin Brooks said he is concerned that they are just going to chip and seal which is unacceptable, and it is not the time of year to be paving. Mayor Hehr asked Kevin Brooks to meet her at the walking trail tomorrow to see the repair that has been done.
Councilman Tom Kirkland reminded the mayor that they needed to elect someone as President of Council. Mayor asked for nominations for President of Council. Tom Kirkland made the motion to nominate Dale English as President of Council. Matt Schaber second. Anthony McDaniel – absent. Dale English – abstain. Dale English remains President of Council. Motion passed 4-0.
Tiffany Ramsay asked when the next Council meeting is. Kevin Brooks replied that the meeting will be held on the 16th of January, which is Martin Luther King Day. The building will be open on January 16th, the Village traded a couple of the winter holidays in January and February to have Good Friday off and an extra Personal Day for better weather conditions.
XI. Un-Registered Visitors:
None
XII. Adjourn:
The Mayor asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Leann Harper made the motion to adjourn. Tiffany Ramsay second. Anthony McDaniel – absent. Motion passed 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 6:05 p.m.
ATTEST:
___________________________ ____________________________
Carol Hehr, Mayor Lori Cunard, Fiscal Officer