Meeting Minutes (9-7-21)

The Council of the Village of Woodsfield

September 7, 2021

The Council of the Village of Woodsfield met in Regular Session on September 7, 2021.

I. Roll Call:

Present: Council Members; Dale English, Tom Kirkland, Anthony McDaniel, Jamie Hill, Carol Hehr, D. Ray Hughes; Mayor Mike Ricer, Village Administrator Kevin Brooks, Fiscal Officer Lori Cunard.

II. Pending Meeting Minutes Approval:

Councilman Anthony McDaniel asked for a correction on the August 16th, 2021 meeting minutes. The motion made to eliminate Asst. Superintendents and the shift differential that goes along with it was passed 5-1 rather than 5-0. Also, Mayor Ricer asked for a date to be added regarding the pre-construction meeting concerning the fire hydrants via video in the Village Administrators report. The meeting was August 24^th. Councilman Anthony McDaniel made a motion to accept the August 16, 2021 meeting minutes with corrections. Ray Hughes second. Motion passed 6-0.

III. Registered Visitors/Guest:

Chief Corey Jones and Officer Zane Love attended the Council meeting to present a Police Department activity report from January through current for Council’s review. Chief Jones said he would also prepare another one at the end of the year for Council’s review. The report includes criminal investigations in which a high percentage of them did result in criminal charges filed with the Prosecutor’s office, total amount of Mayor’s Court citations that have been issued, and also motor vehicle accidents that the Police Department has worked. What is not included on the report is the total number of calls to service. Chief Jones said it would take significant time and work to include that in the report because of the volume of calls received. Chief Jones also reported that there is progress being made on property maintenance, especially one property in particular in the Village that has been worked for a long time. Councilwoman Carol Hehr spoke up to commend Chief Jones and the Mayor on the clean-up progress of this property.

Officer Zane Love updated Council regarding the training that he has recently done. Officer Love informed Council that he learned while at Firearms Instructor School in July, State and Federal mandates are going to require an instructor for Police departments or for departments to retain an instructor. The school that Officer Love would like to attend is Instructor Skills School. It would allow Officer Love to teach any of the skills curriculum to Officers. It would in turn save the Village from having to send Officers to Washington or Zane State for state or federally mandated training. Basically, Officer Love feels it would be a cost saving measure to have a certified instructor to teach anything that is required by state or federal mandates. The School is 2 weeks in October in Stark County. Having proper training for the Police Department can prevent civil liability for the Village and the Police Department. Councilman Ray Hughes asked about curriculum that Officer Love would be training from. Officer Love replied that he would receive the curriculum from the State whenever any training is mandated. He in turn would train Officer’s from this Curriculum. Councilman Dale English asked if he would be able to train in other Village Police Departments and Officer Love replied that yes he would be able train in other Village Police Departments, and cadets.

Chief Corey Jones asked for a motion from Council for Officer Zane Love to attend Instructor Skills School in Stark County for 2 weeks at a cost of $1,000.00 for the training. Dale English made the motion. Tom Kirkland second. Motion passed 6-0.

Ray Dalrymple attended Council meeting regarding the vacating of the alleys in the Village. Mr. Dalrymple is a resident and some of the alleys being vacated involves his property. Mr. Dalrymple would like to know how or when the vacating would be happening. Village Administrator Kevin Brooks spoke up to inform Mr. Dalrymple that we no longer have legal counsel, until we have legal counsel and discuss what the Village plan is there will be no action. But there is a priority list of alleys that, once we have legal counsel, we would like to move on quickly. When a plan is completed there will be an open public hearing.

IV. Old Business:

Councilman Ray Hughes asked if there was any more progress on D.O.R.A. and Village Administrator Kevin Brooks reported that until we have legal counsel nothing will be moving forward with D.O.R.A.

V. Administrator Report:

Village Administrator Kevin Brooks stated that he spoke with Kayla Rubel regarding Halloween. She said that it usually takes place on the Saturday closest to October 31^st which happens to be the 30^th.

They have events planned in the Village square and trick or treating in the Village. Mr. Brooks asked Council if they wanted to allow for this event and set a time for trick or treating. Kevin Brooks said that Kayla Rubel will be sending him a flyer with date, times and activities planned and wanted to know if Council would approve the event pending receipt of the flyer. Councilman Ray Hughes made the motion to go ahead with the Halloween event on October 30, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. with trick or treating from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Jamie Hill second. Motion passed 6-0.

Village Administrator Kevin Brooks reminded Council that because of a malfunction with the equipment/software of the meter reading units, there was 17 extra days on the September billing for utilities. Residents saw a spike in their bills due to the cycle being 47 days rather than 31 days. A memo was posted this morning stating that all late fees will be waived and shut-offs/disconnects will be waived for the September billing cycle and residents can pay what they choose to keep their account active. In October the billing cycle will be 17 days less and late fees and shut-off notifications/disconnects will be re-implemented.

Kevin Brooks stated that talks are continuing with AMP for the AMI metering. There have been some issues with funding due to the Village’s American Rescue Plan funds being cut from $498,000.00 to $232,000.00. Also, the funding will be in 2 installments, $116,000.00 in 2021 and $116,000.00 in 2022.

Administrator Brooks requested Executive Session at the end of the meeting regarding Personnel/Employment on job postings and pending litigation.

VI. Fiscal Officer Report:

Fiscal Officer Lori Cunard asked if there were any questions on bills paid. Administrator Brooks informed Council that the Purchase Order Method has been implemented. He talked to and trained all Department heads to explain the procedure of completing purchase order requests and having them approved prior to any purchases made. He also stated that after reviewing financial reports and budget numbers that the Village is in a good place for the last quarter of 2021.

Lori Cunard stated that the Fiscal Office will be closed on October 9, 2021 due to training in Cambridge. Also, Lori Cunard and Brenda Mauck will be attending training with the Ohio Municipal League in Columbus on October 6, 7, and 8, 2021.

Lori Cunard asked for approval for a bill payment to Good Fellers for tree removal. Some discussion followed regarding the cost of the tree removals and if we should get estimates from other companies. Administrator Brooks replied that last year a lot of the tree removal was done in-house but this situation was beyond our scope of ability and an emergency situation. The amount of the total bills are $13,147.00. Anthony McDaniel made the motion to approve the payment of $13,147.00 to Good Fellers for tree removal. Ray Hughes second. Motion passed 6-0.

VII. Committee Chair/Council Reports:

Dale English – Nothing to report

Tom Kirkland – Nothing to report

Anthony McDaniel – Nothing to report

Jamie Hill – Nothing to report

Carol Hehr – Councilwoman Hehr would like to see that un-registered visitors will be permitted to speak at Council meetings. They will be given 5 minutes each at the end of the Council meeting. This will be added to Council agenda’s for future Council meetings.

Ray Hughes – Nothing to report

Village Administrator Kevin Brooks also wanted Council to know that 3 Council members did attend the pre-plan release meeting with ODOT and TRC regarding the downtown project. They did get a glimpse of the project plans. Administrator Brooks asked about the speakers on some of the poles downtown, TRC asked if they would need re-attached to the new poles. Council stated that they did not think they would be in good working condition. Mr. Brooks asked Council to make a decision on this later and let him know if the speakers should be salvaged or disposed of. Councilman Jamie Hill

asked if a decision was made regarding the parking, reverse angle or pull-in. Brooks stated that the reverse angle parking is being designed for the project.

VIII. Solicitor’s Report:

Mayor Mike Ricer presented the Solicitors report. The Mayor asked for a motion to approve Ordinance #1299-2021, To Amend and Revise Specific Line-Items in the Appropriations and Expenditures for the Municipality of Woodsfield for the Calendar Year 2021 (as an Emergency). Jamie Hill made the motion. Carol Hehr second. Motion passed 6-0. The Mayor then asked for a motion to suspend the rules and pass Ordinance 1299-2021 by its second reading (as an Emergency). Tom

Kirkland made the motion. Anthony McDaniel second. Motion passed 6-0. The Mayor asked for a motion to suspend the rules and pass Ordinance #1299-2021 by its third reading (as an Emergency) and adopt. Dale English made the motion. Ray Hughes second. Motion passed 6-0. Ordinance #1299-2021 adopted.

IX. Mayor’s Report:

The Mayor asked for a motion to approve the payment of bills. Tom Kirkland made the motion. Anthony McDaniel second. Motion passed 6-0.

The Mayor asked for a motion to approve Mayor’s Court Report. Dale English made the motion. Jamie Hill second. Motion passed 6-0.

The Mayor asked for a motion to approve the Income Tax Report, August, 2021. Carol Hehr made the motion. Anthony McDaniel second. Motion passed 6-0.

Administrator Brooks then asked for Executive Session regarding Personnel/Employment of a Public Employee and Pending Litigation no action to be taken. Jamie Hill made the motion. Carol Hehr second. Motion passed 6-0. Executive Session entered at 6:27 p.m.

The Mayor asked for motion to return to Regular Session. Ray Hughes made the motion. Anthony McDaniel second. Motion passed 6-0. Returned to Regular Session at 7:22 p.m.

Village Administrator asked for a motion from Council to apply the rebate check received from Anthem to next year’s premiums. Ray Hughes made the motion. Tom Kirkland second. Motion passed 6-0.

X. Adjourn:

Councilman Jamie Hill made the motion to Adjourn from Session. Ray Hughes second the motion. Motion passed 6-0. Meeting adjourned at 7:24 p.m.

ATTEST:

____________________________ ____________________________

Michael E. Ricer, Mayor Lori Cunard, Fiscal Officer