03/18/1991 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Regular Council Meeting 3/18/91 Page Two Mayor Carmen said he does not think there is anyone on Council who would not like to protect the golf course. The concern is the cost and the overall impact on our budget. He said there was a comment that if we took it by eminent domain that it would genera.te enough revenue to pay for itself. If that were the case, Mayor Carmen said he thinks they would do it. One problem is the numbers the Finance Director ran did not support that theory; it was quite the contrary. Mayor Carmen explained that it would seriously impact our capital budget and expressed a concern regarding what would happen if they guessed wrong as to the fair market value of the golf course which would put them in trouble from a financial standpoint. He thinks everyone agrees that it would be the ultimate thing to do; however the concern is the monetary impact it would have on us if it would not bear out to be a profitable venture. Mayor Carmen said he knew there was an "intent" ordinance to pursue and invesrigate the project but there is no outstanding ordinance to acquire the golf course at this point. He said he realizes that people are asking what will be done with this issue; they are very anxious. Mr. Bill Cronemever. 6847 Creekwood, said the scenario he questions pertains to the lawsuit under which the matter would be settled without public referendum by vote of Council which would permit apartment buildings to be on the property. Mayor Cazmen said technically no, but as a pracrical matter yes. He explained that a referendum is required for any area to be rezoned. He said, however, if a developer sued a judgement could be pnt on by a Court. He said if the zoning will change that it will only change by a vote of the people or by a Court ruling. Mark Fixler, 6758 Bramblewood, asked if given the choice between office campus and semi high rise apaztments what they would choose. Mayor Cannen said that they do not plan to change the current 35' height restriction. Tom Welo. 6467 Chase Drive, said he would like to find something out from an article he read in the Plain Dealer yesterda.y. He said it was about people who ran for office and lost; he said he does not lrnow the details--that is why he is here. He said the article implied that a letter was sent from Council endorsing a couple of candidates against two who ran. He does not know if the taxpayers paid for that letter; then he finds the Village is being sued because of the words that were taken in the letter and the taxpayers are being asked to fend against two malcontents. Mayor Carmen said he cannot get into it too much because it is currently a litigarion matter. He said that the first question was whether the taxpayers paid for the letter that was sent out.lVlayor Carmen said it was paid for by himself and the people on Council at that rime. He said the suit is about a letter that was sent in response to a letter sent by the "Coalirion for Better Government" group which they felt this rime they had to respond to. He said the lawsuit was filed against himself in his capacity as Mayor and against the members of Council in their capacity as Council rnembers and against Donna Heath as Clerk of Council. He said that he was also named personally in the suit and that he is represenring himself in that capacity. The Village Law Director is representing everyone who was sued in their capacity as Village officials and approximately $900 has been spent to date. Mayor Carmen said their goal is to have the lawsuit go away and in addirion to that they will attempt to recover any legal fees incurred by the Village as a result of the lawsuit.