01/15/2002 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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council Minutes of 1/15/2002 Councilman Nashar asked Mayor Musial when the Crocker/Steams project might begin if the city is able to purchase the property by this summer or the latter part of the year. Mayor Musial said the start-up would be shortly after all the property has been secured. If all of the property is secured by the middle of 2002, construction would probably start in 2003. Councilman Miller noted that the Mayor had issued a press release introducing a new city salting policy. He asked the Mayor for some details and why the change in city services. Mayor Musial said the change is to try to become more efficient in the utilization of salt within the city and to try to inhibit damage to the streets by excessive use of salt, in some instances damage to the lawns of individuals on the interior streets. The snow plowing will still occur to a reasonable depth above the street, and the six main thoroughfares will be salted 100%. We are going to try this to see how it works out. If it does work out, we will have a substantial savings in salt costs. If it doesn't work out, then we will re- institute the total salt policy. Councilwoman Kasler asked if the new policy affects the safety of residems. Mayor Musial said that was a substantive question. His position is that it does not. At this point, a discussion ensued as to the advisability of changing the salting policy and whether this constitutes a cut in service. Council members Limpert and Kasler suggested that the issue be discussed in a joint Streets & Drainage/Public Safety Committee meeting and everyone agreed to the suggestion. Law Director Dubelko: 1) Since the last regular meeting of Council, he has prepared three formal legal opinions: non-partisan elections in North Olmsted and the effects of them on committee assignments; whether or not a retail store which uses electronic instant bingo machines may legally operate in a retail district in the City of North Olmsted; guidance to the City Engineer in establishing a public records procedure for his department. 2) He has attended two fire fighter arbitration hearings on behalf of the city. The first one dealt with an issue of paying employees for out-of--rank pay. The other hearing dealt with the issue of whether or not the city must pay overtime to fire fighters for their separate lunch periods while attending 8 hour training seminars. Post-hearing briefs on each of these arbitration hearings are due to be submitted to the arbitrators on February 11 and February 18 respectively. 3) In accordance with Council' s directions with ordinance authorization, he is continuing to work on the land acquisitions for the Claque Road widening and for the roadway to the RTA Park-and-Ride. No additional acquisitions have been made since the beginning of the year, but he has had meetings with several of the property owners involved in the Claque Road widening and has spoken with the attorneys for the land owners involved in the roadway for the Park-and-Ride. Finance Director Copfer: 1) The Finance Department has been busy closing out the year. Some software glitches have taken place and two fixes have been completed for integration issues before the W2's can be processed. 2) The Regional Income Tax Agency subpoena program will begin the week of January 21. The RITA auditors will be in Council Chambers for two weeks meeting with individuals who have received subpoenas. 2 .~,.~.x -