12/19/2000 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 12/19/00 receive three 8 hour days off with pay every six months for perfect attendance, ;; previously it was 2. Section 20, a $200 boot allowance will be paid for seventeen employees whose titles are listed in the ordinance. The committee recommended approval. • Ordinance 2000-164, which provides for the sale of $300,000 of notes in anticipation of the issuance of bonds for the purpose of street lighting in 2001. The committee recommended approval. Mr. McKay noted that he was in receipt of the Fiscal Officer's Certificate. • Ordinance 2000-165, which is a transfer ordinance for expenses and expenditures for the year ending December 3 1, 2000. • Ordinance 2000-166, which makes appropriations for the current expenses and expenditures for the year ending December 31, 2001. This is for the first quarter of 2001. The committee recommended approval. • Ordinance 2000-167, which creates a project fund entitled "Library Construction Fund" this is for the monies coming in and being expended in connection with the library. The committee recommended approval. • Ordinance 2000-168, which approves an agreement with the Board of Trustees of the Cuyahoga County Public Library for the acquisition, construction, lease and occupying of real property and the purchase and use of the personal property pertaining to the new library. Law Director Gareau addressed this in his report. The committee recommended approval. • Ordinance 2000-171 and 2000-172, were explained by Service Director Bohlmann, and these are the labor agreements with the North Olmsted Police Department for the officers and the correction officers. Mr. Bohlmann again explained the changes in these agreements to Council this evening. The committee recommended approval LETTERS AND COMMUNICATIONS The Clerk read a letter from Mary H. Slama: "Dear President Saringer and Council members. This letter is in regard to the pending ordinance regulating the use of cell phones while driving an automobile. I am as annoyed as anyone when I see someone talking on the phone while driving. I consider it a risk to my personal safety as a fellow motorist. I have a cell phone in my car, but I do not trust myself to use it while driving, therefore, I pull over if I need to make a call. But I question whether talking on the phone while driving is an offense which should be or can be legislated. I compare cell phone use to any conversation occurring while driving, such as dealing with a child misbehaving while in a moving vehicle or an argument or other animated conversation between the driver and passenger or passengers in a moving vehicle. Afar bigger danger than cell phone use has to be conversation between a driver and a passenger since the driver often automatically takes his eyes off the road to look at the person to whom he is speaking. I frequently observe drivers and passengers in spirited conversation, where the driver is looking at the passenger, not the road, and gesturing with both hands, no hands on the steering wheel. Surely, this is more hazardous than a conversation on a cell phone since the other party to the conversation is on the phone, not physically present in the vehicle. It would be unthinkable in America to prohibit verbal exchanges between driver and passenger in a moving vehicle. That would be a violation of our first amendment 7