03/05/2002 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 3/5/02 out on issues that involve the community. Mr. Bowman asked the Law Director to research the issue of whether they can do it as paid school employees. The Law Director said he would have to be asked by Council or the Mayor's office to do so as his job under the Charter is to provide legal advice to the members of Council, to the boards and commissions, to the directors, all administrative officials aYUi the Mayor's office. As to the water rate issue, Mr. Bowman said he was a member of a committee organized by the Mayor after his first election to talk about the water issue. A number of meetings had been held, and the committee has been waiting for several months for the last meeting to occur. He noted that there will be nothing done about water raxes~-they will stay the same. The committee has know that for three years. It is his belief that the Mayor's intention was to lower the water rates for senior citizens. When he was not able to do that directly, he did it indirectly. There wiU be changes to the first thousand cubic feet of water, but the rates will remain the same. Regarding Clague Rvad, he is concerned because the city is spending $850,000 to fix South Canterbury Road when it would cost half as much to fix Claque Road a~ make it safe. Also, he does not understand why the city should spend $4 million on Crocker/Steams. Do we really need that road? Why can't the voters decide if the city will spend $4 million on Crocker/Steams? Mr. Limpert said the people did decide. Crocker/Steams is needed because the other northlsouth roads (Porter, Dover Center and Barton) are handling a large volume of traffic that they were never buih to handle. It is a safety issue. Mr. Bowman suggested that the money earmarked for South Canterbury Road be diverted to help fund the Crocker/Steams project. Mr. Limpert noted the legislation on South Canterbury Road was to be further discussed in the Finance Committee. With regard to water rates, Mayor Musial noted that Mr. Pangrac was talking about water rates and the committee on which Mr. Bowman serves is discussing sewer rates. He noted that the city is still under a consem decree of the U. S. EPA. When we get pad that hurdle, then the task force committee is going to look at reducing sewer rates for those individuals using one unit per quarter. Jim Palidar, 3903 Dover Center Road, agreed that the school levy should not be debated as it is not a function of City Council and should not be discussed in this forum. However, he does think the issue of elected representatives should be discussed. The levy has been defeated three times. In November, every precinct of every ward in the city voted against the Ievy. In February, Ward I was the only ward that supported the levy. Yet, the Mayor, President of Council and Council members, with the exception of Mr. McKay, still support the levy. As elected representatives, their titles should not be used in support of the levy. As individuals, they are entitled to vale, support and say whatever they want. Councilman Nashar noted that the citizens of North Olmsted had voted for the CrockerfStearns project. However, it has been delayed due to funding. The couirty now has the money available, and the city's share will be $4 million. With regard to the school levy, Councilman Miller said he thinks it would be unfair to say it is clear that a majority of voters are not in favor of the levy. In the last election, more than 9,000 people voted and the margin of defeat was about i08 votes. He believes it is important for people to make their own decisions. However, he is concerned that 10