EASTLAKE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 25, 2014
The Regular Meeting of the Eastlake City Council was held at Eastlake City Hall, 35150 Lakeshore Boulevard. The Meeting was called to order by Council President Mr. D’Ambrosio at approximately 7:00 p.m.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
ATTENDEES
Members of Council in attendance were Mr. Licht, Mrs. Quinn-Hopkins, Mr. Evers, Ms. DePledge, Mr. Hoefle, Ms. Vaughn and Council President Mr. D’Ambrosio. Also attending was Council Clerk Mrs. Cendroski.
Those attending from the Administration were Mayor Morley, Law Director Klammer, Finance Director Slocum and Acting Service Director Rubertino. Police Chief Reik, Fire Chief Whittington, City Engineer Gwydir and CBO McReynolds were absent and excused.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Regular Council Meeting – February 11, 2014
MOTION: Mr. Licht moved to approve the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of February 11, 2014. Ms. DePledge seconded.
ROLL CALL: Yeas: Mr. Licht, Ms. DePledge, Mrs. Quinn-Hopkins, Mr. Evers,
Ms. Vaughn, Mr. D’Ambrosio
Abstain: Mr. Hoefle
Motion carried. The minutes were approved.
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COUNCIL PRESIDENT’S REPORT – Mr. D’Ambrosio
Meetings Scheduled
Mr. D’Ambrosio: The next Council-as-a-Whole Committee Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 11, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. The Regular Council meeting will be convened immediately following the adjournment of the Council-as-a-Whole Committee meeting.
Last Friday, February 21st we had the Blvd. of 500 Flags fundraiser with approximately 250 tickets sold. It was held at the Patrician Party Center. Mr. Joe Strand who is the President of the Blvd. of 500 Flags Committee had a lot to do with the organization of the fund raiser and his daughters – Barb & Christine – got together 60 plus Chinese Auction baskets. It was a great function and was a good time. Mike Rydzinski, our Sergeant-at-Arms, is on the Committee and had his hands full that night. Everyone who showed up had a good time – a lot of people from Council were there. It was a good time and hopefully in the future we will continue to raise money. As you know the Blvd. of 500 Flags is run by donations. This is the biggest event we have.
COMMUNICATIONS & PETITIONS
A communication was received from the Administration regarding the Lease Agreement for the JFK Senior Center. This was referred to Finance Committee.
A communication was received from Finance Director Slocum regarding a Tax Incentive
Grant for Presrite Corporation. This was referred to Finance Committee.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Mr. D’Ambrosio: A Finance Committee meeting was held.
fINANCE cOMMITTEE – Ms. Vaughn, Chair
Ms. Vaughn: The next scheduled meeting will be March 4th and I would like all Directors and Department Heads to be present for that meeting. We met on February 18th for initial discussions on this year’s budget. Everyone was present from Council and the Mayor and Finance Director were in attendance. It was an hour and 15 minute meeting entirely devoted to the lack of funds we have for next year. After discussion several items we would like to see in the budget were eliminated – an economic development coordinator, a part-time inspector for the Building Department, a percentage or possibly all of our summer additional help and we are still looking at a deficit of about $165,000. We cannot have an unbalanced budget. Therefore, at the next meeting we will open it for discussion with the Department Heads to see what else they can come up with as far as reductions in their individual budgets.
This concludes my report and I am open for questions.
Legislative Recommendation
Legislation No. 02-25-(01)
MOTION: Ms. Vaughn moved to add Legislation No. 02-25-(01) to the evening’s agenda
authorizing and directing the Mayor and Director of Finance to purchase through the State of Ohio Purchasing Program, one Marathon Trailer Mounted Hot Mix Transporter Asphalt Hot Box for an amount not to exceed Thirty Three Thousand Sixty Dollars ($33,060.00) from D.J.L. Material & Supply, Inc. for the City of Eastlake Service Department. Ms. DePledge seconded.
ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.
Motion carried. Legislation No. 02-25-(01) is added to the evening’s agenda.
ORDINANCE COMMITTEE – Mr. Hoefle, Chair
Legislative Recommendation
Legislation No. 02-25-(02)
Mr. Hoefle moved to add Legislation No. 02-25-(02) to the evening’s agenda adopting an Ordinance to revise the Codified Ordinances by adopting current replacement pages.
Mr. Evers seconded.
ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.
Motion carried. Legislation No. 02-25-(02) is added to the evening’s agenda.
RECOGNITION OF THE PUBLIC
Mr. D’Ambrosio recognized the public input at this time; he reminded the speakers that there is a 3-minute limit for their comments; all comments are to be directed to the Chair and not include any personalities or individuals.
Bill Alford, 59 River Drive, Eastlake, OH
Mr. Alford: I live down in the harbor and this year with all the snow we have had some issues with people parking on the street during times of high snow. The streets are very narrow down there and even on a summer day if two people are coming down one has to pull over to let the other guy through. There are some folks who park on the street and it has been very difficult to get down some of those streets for my little truck and if an ambulance or fire truck needed to get down those streets it would be impossible. We talked a little before the meeting that there is a snow ban but is there a way we could add some signs in the neighborhoods so people will stay off the roads and not park on the streets when it gets bad? At least if we have signs people will know what the law is and they can be towed. The second comment I had is about the snow storm and what a great job the Service Department did keeping the streets clean during some awful weather this year. Kudos to the Service Department – I have been working with Mr. Rubertino for about 7 years now and his sign says Acting Service Director but in my opinion he has been acting as a Service Director as long as I have known him.
Mr. D’Ambrosio: There is a snow ban. I believe it is 2 inches. Once the snow stops it is usually lifted. I do know you have a unique situation down there because the roads are narrow. Mayor?
Mayor Morley: If you give me the street names Chief Reik and I can look into it and possibly install no parking signs. I just want to make sure we are within our rights. That is why I will look at this with Chief Reik.
Mr. D’Ambrosio: Maybe there is a way to extend the snow ban in that area.
Mayor Morley: I will talk with the Chief. Perhaps the Clerk can get the ordinance for me.
Ted Beres, 36706 Lakehurst Drive, Eastlake, OH
Mr. Beres: The other day I was talking to a fellow resident and I said it was like the past nine years have been a bad dream. She said “No, more like a nightmare.” We do have a new Mayor and we have an acting soon to be permanent Service Director and they are facing a great challenge with this weather. And they have been up to the challenge. The thing I personally appreciate is that I know if I have a concern I can go to the Mayor or Mr. Rubertino and I will not be given a run around. Communication is very important – so is trust. It looks like things are changing for the good. It is as if someone has opened a window and let fresh air in.
There was no one else who wished to speak.
LEGISLATION PROPOSED – First number will be 2014-004
RESOLUTION NO.: 02-25-(01)
Requested by: Administration A Resolution authorizing and directing the Sponsored by: Council Mayor and Director of Finance to purchase through the State of Ohio Purchasing Program, one Marathon Trailer Mounted Hot Mix Transporter Asphalt Hot Box for an amount not to exceed Thirty Three Thousand Sixty Dollars ($33,060.00) from D.J.L. Material & Supply, Inc. for the City of Eastlake Service Department, and declaring an emergency.
MOTION: Ms. Vaughn moved to suspend the rules requiring separate readings and
reading in full. Ms. DePledge seconded.
ROLL CALL: Yeas: Ms. Vaughn, Ms. DePledge, Mr. Licht, Mr. Evers, Mr. Hoefle,
Mr. D’Ambrosio
Nay: Mrs. Quinn-Hopkins
MOTION: Ms. Vaughn moved to adopt. Ms. DePledge seconded.
ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.
Motion carried. Legislation is adopted as Resolution No. 2014-004.
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ORDINANCE NO.: 02-25-(02)________
Requested by: Clerk of Council An Ordinance to revise the Codified
Sponsored by: Council Ordinances by adopting current
replacement pages, and declaring an
emergency.
MOTION: Mr. Hoefle moved to suspend the rules requiring separate readings and
reading in full. Mr. Evers seconded.
ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.
MOTION: Mr. Hoefle moved to adopt. Mr. Evers seconded.
ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.
Motion carried. Legislation is adopted as Ordinance No. 2014-005.
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LEGISLATION PENDING
There was no Legislation Pending.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
There was no Unfinished Business.
NEW BUSINESS
There was no New Business.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS:
MAYOR/SAFETY DIRECTOR – Dennis Morley
Mayor Morley: To add onto what Mr. D’Ambrosio said about the Blvd. of 500 Flags. It was a long time coming but Joe Strand, the organizer of the fund raiser, was given a Key to the City. Mr. Strand has worked hard along with the Committee to maintain the Blvd. of 500 Flags. We are also going to meet with EZ Pole, Sidley Concrete and H & M Concrete to go over the next phase of repairing a lot of poles. Everyone is on board with doing this as a community service and having the services for free. The budget is now down to a negative $113,000. I met with Mr. Slocum this morning who has been sick all day and finally could not do anymore and went home. I met with the staff yesterday and asked them to also look into anything else. I could make the cuts but I told them that I do not want to cut something I am not aware that is needed. I am working with the Clerk on the ordinances on streets and snow cleaning. We will try to put something together and work with the Chief and Council to move ahead on the situation on Vine Street caused by the snow. This concludes my report and I am open for questions.
Mrs. Quinn-Hopkins: Does the ordinance you are talking about refer to sidewalk snow clearing?
Mayor Morley: Yes – especially on Vine Street.
There were no further questions of Mayor Morley.
LAW DIRECTOR – Randy Klammer
Mr. Klammer: I just met with the ECDC and am trying to work through some things with them. I have been helping the Mayor with his stuff and a couple of grievance issues recently. I am open for questions.
There were no questions of Mr. Klammer.
FINANCE DIRECTOR – Mike Slocum
Mr. Slocum was absent and excused.
CITY ENGINEER – Tom Gwydir
Mr. Gwydir was absent and excused.
ACTING SERVICE DIRECTOR – Nick Rubertino
Mr. Rubertino: I have nothing new on the agenda and am open for questions.
There were no questions of Mr. Rubertino.
CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL – James S. McReynolds
Mr. McReynolds was absent and excused.
POLICE CHIEF – Larry Reik
Chief Reik was absent and excused.
FIRE CHIEF – Ted Whittington
Chief Whittington was absent and excused.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:31 p.m.
______________________________________
JOE D’AMBROSIO, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
APPROVED: __________________________
ATTEST: _____________________________
DEBORAH A. CENDROSKI,
CLERK OF COUNCIL