EASTLAKE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 14, 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 7:08 p.m.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
ATTENDEES
Members of Council in attendance were Ms. DePledge, Mr. Licht, Mrs. Quinn-Hopkins, Mr. Evers, Ms. DePledge, Ms. Vaughn and Council President Mr. D’Ambrosio. Mr. Hoefle was absent and excused. Also attending was Council Clerk Mrs. Cendroski.
Those attending from the Administration were Mayor Morley, Law Director Klammer, Finance Director Slocum, CBO Menn, City Engineer Gwydir and Police Chief Reik. Service Director Rubertino and Fire Chief Whittington were absent and excused.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Regular Council Meeting – September 23, 2014
MOTION: Ms. Vaughn moved to approve the minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of September 23, 2014. Ms. DePledge seconded.
ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.
Motion carried. The minutes were approved.
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COUNCIL PRESIDENT’S REPORT – Mr. D’Ambrosio
Meetings Scheduled
Mr. D’Ambrosio: As many of you know – some of you attended – we are having Town Hall meetings in regards to the income tax increase we are asking for. I thought the meeting went well – about nine residents attended. I have seen it on Face Book and I know it has been advertised. We are hoping more people will come out. The next meeting with be tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. I ask the Council members who are available to attend if you can. I know a lot of the Directors attended and I hope they can again so if there are questions specific to a department they can be answered. We are trying to educate people as best we can.
Mr. Slocum: I do have on the desk in the lobby the handout we are distributing. It will be available tomorrow but if people want they can pick it up tonight.
Mr. D’Ambrosio: The next Council-as-a-Whole Committee Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 14, 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.
COMMUNICATIONS & PETITIONS
A communication was received from The Walter Drane Company regarding the September, 2014 Codified Ordinance replacement pages and an invoice for services rendered.
Mr. D’Ambrosio: This is a housekeeping matter and appears on the evening’s agenda as Legislation No. 10-14-(02).
A Conditional Use Permit recommendation was received from the Planning Commission for A Caring Embrace, LLC, 34099 Melinz Pkwy., Eastlake, OH 44095.
Mr. D’Ambrosio: This was discussed in the Miscellaneous section of the Planning Committee meeting and will be added to the evening’s agenda as Legislation No. 10-14-(03).
A fee waiver request was received from the Eastlake Youth Football Cheerleaders for use of the Community Center on Sunday, November 8, 2014.
Mr. D’Ambrosio: If there are no objections a Motion will be made to approve this request during the Committee reports.
Fee Waiver
Mr. Evers moved to approve the fee waiver request from the Eastlake Youth Football Cheerleaders for use of the Community Center on Sunday, November 8, 2014. Mr. Licht seconded.
ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.
Motion carried. The fee waiver request is approved.
A communication was received from the Administration regarding the funding of the new salt storage facility.
Mr. D’Ambrosio: This was discussed in Council-as-a-Whole Committee and will be added to the evening’s agenda as Legislation No. 10-14-(04).
A communication was received from the Administration regarding an agreement for electric services for streetlights.
Mr. D’Ambrosio: This was discussed in Council-as-a-Whole Committee. As authorization was already granted to Mr. Slocum to enter into utility contracts this item will not be added to the evening’s agenda.
A communication was received from the Administration regarding the Willowick Drive OPWC application.
Mr. D’Ambrosio: This was discussed in Council-as-a-Whole Committee and will be added to the evening’s agenda as Legislation No. 10-14-(05).
A contract recommendation was received from the Administration for Shore Drive concrete road work.
Mr. D’Ambrosio: This was discussed in Council-as-a-Whole Committee and will be added to the evening’s agenda as Legislation No. 10-14-(06).
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Mr. D’Ambrosio: A Planning Committee meeting was held:
PLANNING COMMITTEE – Mr. Hoefle, Chair
Mr. Evers: The Planning Committee met on October 7th at 6:00 p.m. Members of the Committee in attendance were Mr. Hoefle, Mrs. Quinn-Hopkins and me. In attendance from Council were Ms. DePledge, Ms. Vaughn and Council President Mr. D’Ambrosio. Mr. Licht was absent and excused. In attendance from the Administration were Law Director Klammer and CBO Menn. Mayor Morley was absent and excused. The conditional use permits that were discussed were Always Dapper, LLC dba Mitchell’s Traditional Barber Shop – this permit was discussed at the last Council meeting and needed a little touchup and housekeeping. The other permit discussed was for A Caring Embrace, LLC on Melinz Pkwy. This is an adult daycare that is moving in. They do workshops for adults who need watching over during the day and give them jobs to do. They have their State approvals and we saw no issues and moved this forward to this evening’s meeting. There were some housekeeping issues on City ordinances and we had one conditional use permit that was lacking some items so it was held in Committee. This concludes my report and I am open for questions.
There were no questions of Mr. Evers.
PORT AUTHORITY – Ms. DePledge, Liaison
Ms. DePledge: Last Wednesday we had the Eastlake Port Authority meeting and during the meeting it was announced that two members will not be returning after the end of the year. So, if anyone has an interest in serving on the Port Authority you can submit your resume to the Mayor and John Sima, President of the Port Authority or you can give it to me and I will make sure it gets to the right person for review.
Mrs. Cendroski: Just to remind everyone – the Mayor has five appointments to the Port Authority and Council has two. Once we know which ones are stepping down we will know whose appointments they are.
Ms. DePledge: Either way, if a resume comes in give it to the Mayor, me or Mr. Sima and it will be reviewed by the appropriate body and an appointment will be made.
MOTIONS
Legislative Recommendations
Legislation No. 10-14-(04)
Ms. Vaughn moved to add Legislation No. 10-14-(04) to the evening’s agenda providing
for the Issuance and Sale of Bonds in the Maximum Principal Amount of $300,000 for the
purpose of paying costs of constructing, equipping, and otherwise improving a new Salt
Storage Facility. Mr. Licht seconded.
ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.
Motion carried. Legislation No. 10-14-(04) is added to the evening’s agenda.
Legislation No. 10-14-(05)
Ms. Vaughn moved to add Legislation No. 10-14-(05) to the evening’s agenda authorizing and directing the Mayor to submit an Application to Participate in the Ohio Public Works Commission State Capital Improvement and/or Local Transportation Improvement Program(s) and to Execute Contracts as required. Licht seconded.
ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.
Motion carried. Legislation No. 10-14-(05) is added to the evening’s agenda.
Legislation No. 10-14-(06)
Ms. Vaughn moved to add Legislation No. 10-14-(06) to the evening’s agenda authorizing and directing the Mayor and Director of Finance to enter into a Contract with T.C. Construction Co., Inc., for concrete road repairs to Shore Drive for the total amount of Twenty-Four Thousand Nine Hundred Forty-Eight Dollars ($24,948.00). Mr. Licht seconded.
ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.
Motion carried. Legislation No. 10-14-(06) 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.
John Brewer, 37289 Green Drive, Eastlake
Mr. Brewer: You were talking about having your meetings on Wednesday night. Most Protestant churches have services Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. That wipes out a bunch of people from coming to any kind of a meeting. It is the same thing when you have the memorial services on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Almost all Protestant churches – 11:00 a.m. on Sundays is their service time. You may want to reconsider that.
There was no one else who wished to speak.
LEGISLATION PROPOSED – First number will be 2014-061
ORDINANCE NO.: 10-14-(01)
Requested by: Planning Commission An Ordinance authorizing the issuance
Sponsored by: Planning Committee of a Conditional Use Permit to Always Dapper,
LLC dba Mitchell’s Traditional Barber Shop, 34650 Melinz Parkway, Eastlake, OH 44095, and declaring an emergency.
MOTION: Mr. Evers moved to suspend the rules requiring separate readings and
reading in full. Mrs. Quinn-Hopkins seconded.
ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.
MOTION: Mr. Evers moved to adopt. Mrs. Quinn-Hopkins seconded.
ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.
Motion carried. Legislation is adopted as Ordinance No. 2014-061.
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ORDINANCE NO.: 10-14-(02)
Requested by: Clerk of Council An Ordinance to revise the Codified Sponsored by: Council
Sponsored by: Council Ordinances by adopting current
replacement pages, and declaring an
emergency.
MOTION: Mr. Evers moved to suspend the rules requiring separate readings and
reading in full. Mrs. Quinn-Hopkins seconded.
ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.
MOTION: Mr. Evers moved to adopt. Mrs. Quinn-Hopkins seconded.
ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.
Motion carried. Legislation is adopted as Ordinance No. 2014-062.
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ORDINANCE NO.: 10-14-(03)
Requested by: Planning Commission An Ordinance authorizing the issuance of a Sponsored by: Planning Committee Conditional Use Permit to A Caring Embrace,
LLC, 34099 Melinz Pkwy., Eastlake, OH
44095, and declaring an emergency.
MOTION: Mr. Evers moved to suspend the rules requiring separate readings and
reading in full. Mrs. Quinn-Hopkins seconded.
ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.
MOTION: Mr. Evers moved to adopt. Mrs. Quinn-Hopkins seconded.
ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.
Motion carried. Legislation is adopted as Ordinance No. 2014-063.
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ORDINANCE NO: 10-14-(04)
Requested by: Administration An Ordinance providing for the Issuance and Sale Sponsored by: Council of Bonds in the Maximum Principal Amount of
$300,000 for the purpose of paying costs of
constructing, equipping, and otherwise
improving a new Salt Storage Facility, and
declaring an emergency.
MOTION: Ms. Vaughn moved to suspend the rules requiring separate readings and
reading in full. Mr. Licht seconded.
ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.
MOTION: Ms. Vaughn moved to adopt. Mr. Licht seconded.
ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.
Motion carried. Legislation is adopted as Ordinance No. 2014-064.
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RESOLUTION NO.: 10-14-(05)
Requested by: Administration A Resolution authorizing and directing the
Sponsored by: Council Mayor to submit an Application to Participate in the Ohio Public Works Commission State Capital Improvement and/or Local Transportation Improvement Program(s) and to Execute Contracts as required, and declaring an emergency.
MOTION: Ms. Vaughn moved to suspend the rules requiring separate readings and
reading in full. Mr. Licht seconded.
ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.
MOTION: Ms. Vaughn moved to adopt. Mr. Licht seconded.
ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.
Motion carried. Legislation is adopted as Resolution No. 2014-065.
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RESOLUTION NO.: 10-14-(06)
Requested by: Administration A Resolution authorizing and directing the Sponsored by: Council Mayor and Director of Finance to enter into a Contract with T.C. Construction Co., Inc., for concrete road repairs to Shore Drive for the total amount of Twenty-Four Thousand Nine Hundred Forty-Eight Dollars ($24,948.00), and declaring an emergency.
MOTION: Ms. Vaughn moved to suspend the rules requiring separate readings and
reading in full. Mr. Licht seconded.
ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.
MOTION: Mr. Vaughn moved to adopt. Mr. Licht seconded.
ROLL CALL: Yeas unanimous.
Motion carried. Legislation is adopted as Resolution No. 2014-066.
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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: Welcome residents to this evening’s meeting. We have a little good news on the home front. We have someone who is going to lease the Visitors’ Bureau at the stadium. It is a baseball academy that has signed a one year lease for $8,000 a year. They are starting to move in right now. This has been empty since June, 2013 when the Visitors’ Bureau left and at that time they were not paying us anything. My goal was to try to make $1,000 per month but as we looked further into it if we had got a business other than what is now leasing we would have had to change the zoning. I contracted a real estate company on the fees. If you add in all the fees it is probably $1,000 a month. We are glad to have a tenant. People have been emailing and calling about the Blockbuster Video building – Drummond Financial which is based out of Georgia is moving in there. A couple of other places have applied for CUP’s but they have to go through Planning Commission before we can talk about them. One of the things I am going to try to do in the future is once I get a report on a business from the Building Department I will forward it to Council and put it out for our residents to see. The residents only see if there is a store on Vine Street and they don’t see the businesses going in on Melinz or Lakeland or the Marginal. We have been doing pretty well lately. We need 25 businesses with $2 million in payroll to cover this income tax issue we are trying to get. We only had 9 people attend that last informative meeting. My office is always open if people cannot make meetings and the Directors’ offices are open. We did put the article from our Tax Administrator that is going to be in the next Gazette on Face Book. Yesterday it had 1,363 views and 18 shares. All I can say is if you have questions please call. Out of the people who did come there are a lot of rumors going through the community that we answered and cleared up. I appreciate the approval for the repair on Shore Drive. If you go down Shore Drive you will see it – it is ready to go. People have been calling about leaf pickup. The schedule is out but not publicized yet. It will start November 10th – depending on the passage of the levy we may not have leaf pickup this year. I am asking Council to go into Executive Session tonight. We have identified the employee cuts and I would like to let them know. The other cuts to services we can discuss down the line. I am trying to be prepared so if this levy fails – we are hoping it passes – but, in case it doesn’t we want to be ready – so we are not shooting from the hip when the time comes. I had a meeting with the Western Lake County Chamber of Commerce and surrounding Mayors – Mayor Bonde from Willowick, Mayor Margalis from Wickliffe and Mayor Weger from Willoughby Hills. Mayor Anderson was on vacation. We had our first initial meeting about collaborating our cities to see what we can do together to get businesses into our communities. One thing we did discuss was hiring an economic developer who would serve all our communities. We talked about whose community would be served as we did not want to undercut each other. We are trying to make it so we can get more businesses into this end of the County. Everything seems to go to the east end of the County. The asphalt program will start October 28th and the company has said they will get it done. There are nine roads that have needed repairs for a long time. This concludes my report and I am open for questions.
Mr. Licht: You said the company that was leasing the old Visitors’ Bureau was a baseball academy – do you know what type of services they provide?
Mayor Morley: From what they told me they meet with kids. They have actually been working out of the stadium – getting kids ready to play.
Mr. Licht: Like an information center?
Mayor Morley: The work at the batting cages and show different techniques. They work with parents to show them various schools. I can forward Council information so everyone has it. Stop in if you can and talk with them – they seem like they are very into baseball. I think it is good for us and a good fit.
There were no further questions of Mayor Morley.
FIRE CHIEF – Ted Whittington
Chief Whittington was absent and excused.
POLICE CHIEF – Larry Reik
Chief Reik: Most of you know two weeks ago Andy Allan passed away. He was an Auxiliary Officer for us and a Willowick resident but in truth he did a lot for the City with Safety Town and some of the other fund raisers. Keep his family in your prayers. Hopefully within the next year or two someone will step up to help and fill the void that his absence will definitely leave. I have nothing further to report and am open for questions.
There were no questions of Chief Reik.
CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL – David Menn
Mr. Menn: A comment on what the Mayor was saying about businesses. We do get a lot of changes in businesses – small businesses coming in. We do get a lot of calls and when it does actually happen we will bring it up to you. Just so everyone is clear there is a lot of interest in Eastlake. This concludes my report.
There were no questions of Mr. Menn.
SERVICE DIRECTOR – Nick Rubertino
Mr. Rubertino was absent and excused.
CITY ENGINEER – Tom Gwydir
Mr. Gwydir: I have nothing to report and am open for questions.
There were no questions of Mr. Gwydir.
FINANCE DIRECTOR – Mike Slocum
Mr. Slocum: We received our refund check from Workers’ Comp today. Can you imagine it is three weeks before the election and the State returned a billion dollars? It is amazing how that works. We received $117,160.67 of which $75,293.44 will go to the General Fund. I am happy to report that the Audit for the City for 2012 and 2013 has been released by the State Auditor’s office. We got a clean audit report with no significant findings. The only finding they had was that we had some stale checks in the reconciliation which I will not lose a lot of sleep over. All money was fully accounted for. I am open for questions.
Ms. Vaughn: You did an outstanding job on the tax initiative information you prepared. I was pleased to share it with the seniors at the Senior Center.
Mr. D’Ambrosio: Yes, thank you. I showed it to some people also. Also, to our Tax Administrator Mr. Miller, I showed some your letter – it was very good.
Ms. DePledge: We are trying to reach our residents with information and obviously the Town Hall meeting had 9 residents and Face Book has 11,000. Maybe we should post something up there from the Mayor or Mr. Slocum about the clean audit and all our monies being accounted for and how we passed it for 2012-2013. Let the residents know we are doing everything we are supposed to do and doing it correctly.
There were no questions of Mr. Slocum.
LAW DIRECTOR – Randy Klammer
Mr. Klammer: I am just working with Mr. Slocum on a couple of things. The only real significant thing is we are going to punch through a hiccup on one of the contracts with the firefighters. We should have that resolved.
Mr. Slocum: We have also been working with the AFSCME contract. We are going to be bringing an issue. They exercised a reopener they were entitled to and we have reached an agreement that we would like Council to review probably before the next meeting. It is similar to what we did with the police and fire – an additional payment with the longevity and doing away with their ability to cash in vacation. It will save us money over the year.
Mr. Klammer: Other than that we were working on the energy contract and the lease for the Visitors’ Bureau as well as helping Mr. Menn get those buildings down although he has done all the heavy lifting on it. I am open for questions.
There were no questions of Mr. Klammer.
MOTION TO ADJOURN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mr. D’Ambrosio asked for a Motion to adjourn into Executive Session.
MOTION: Ms. Vaughn moved to adjourn into Executive Session in compliance with Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22, “Open Meeting Law” for discussion of matters of personnel and possible change in job status for an employee. Mr. Licht seconded.
MEETING CALLED BACK TO REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Ms. Vaughn moved to adjourn back into the Regular Council Meeting portion. Mr. Licht seconded. The meeting was called back to the Regular Council Meeting with Ms. Vaughn, Mr. Licht, Mr. Evers, Mrs. Quinn-Hopkins, Ms. DePledge and Council President Mr. D’Ambrosio in attendance.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:26 p.m.
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JOE D’AMBROSIO, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
APPROVED: __________________________
ATTEST: _____________________________
DEBORAH A. CENDROSKI,
CLERK OF COUNCIL