09/05/1989 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 9/5/89 _2_ 1990 local government fund allocation is $748,679.93; the local Government Revenue Assistance Fund is $17,182.03 for the last half of 1989 and $51,379.04 for 1990. 4) Service Director and personnel, Department of Human Resources and bus line personnel as well as Mayor Petrigac attended a training session on the Employees' Assistance Program called "Concern" which was taught by Marymount Hospital. Will propose that this employee benef it be implemented city-wide for all employees, beginning with the bus line. 5) Has joined other mayors in proclaiming September 20th "National Education Day" for the purpose of raising awareness about the problems facing educationally dis- advantaged children. 6) By the middle of September, the Fitch Road and Butternut Project will be under- way; should take approximately four to six weeks to complete, weather permitting. 7) Has requested the Budget and Management Director to go over the appropriations again to see if there is money that could be found to hire an additional policeman. Would like this policeman to be involved as a full-time person in the DARE Program which deals with the drug situation. 8) City Engineer is currently researching the history of the property on Clague Road in Westlake with respect to the drainage obstruction; report will be provided to the Law Department for action. 9) Requests the Chairman of the Streets and Drainage Committee to meet prior to the next council meeting to discuss Issue Two money. 10) Requests the Chairman of the Legislative Committee to review her candidate's resume to fill the vacancy on the Planning Commission. 11) Hoped that all members of council had an opportunity to view the video, "Where In The World", at the city's tent during Homecoming. Thanked Safety Director Becker and DHR Director Copeland who put the program together. 12) Introduced Dr. Dennis Allen, School Superintendent; Roy Garland, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce; Greg Birney, Coordinator of Adult and Community Education; Art Phillips and Jim Alexander, Economic Development Department of CEI. Mr. Birney explained the functions of the Community Education Program. Mr. Alexander described the activities of the Economic Development Department. Law Director Gareau reported: 1) Has distributed a letter to council regarding various aspects of the EPA Landfill Case; requests council's thoughts on this to know which way to proceed. 2) Pre-trial was held last week with respect to the private detective case; the City of North Olmsted charges a registration fee; a provision in the Ohio Revised Code indicates that the city is not permitted to do so; the city is challenging the constitutionality of that provision. 3) There is a motion hearing set for later this month on the Bryant Case which deals with the dilapidated property on Stearns Road, behind the strip center. 4) With respect to the recent publicity in the newspapers regarding City Prosecutor, Donald Albenze, would like it known that the prosecutor falls within the juris- diction of the Law Department; is appointed by and answerable to the Law Director. Has never had a complaint of this nature. in the sixteen years Mr. Albenze has served as prosecutor. Has reviewed the various aspects of the article as well as the same documents that Mr. Albenze reviewed and has concluded that under no cir- cumstances would he have ever cited that person for criminal behavior, simply be- cause there. would be no way of proving - it was one person's word against another's; it was a civil case. If the city had a policy of assisting people in preferring civil charges, collecting debts, etc., and would prosecute them criminally, Law Director has no question that the city would wind up establishing a policy that would be contrary to the constitution of the United States and would probably wind up with numerous law suits dealing with deprivation of constitutional rights under Section 1983. Prosecutor Albenze was well within his rights to rule the way he did; the story in the Plain Dealer was slanted with respect to the facts and was very demeaning to the City of North Olmsted. The newspaper columnist happens to be an attorney and a member of the bar and ought to know better.