11/05/2003 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 11/5/2003 ^.; First, the committee heazd from a resident of Curtis Drive, Lisa Abu-Raad, who spoke ~rw on behalf of Sheila McDougal, who first brought the issue of Birch Elementary School to her attention. The pazents aze concerned that speeding is appazently taking place on a regulaz basis neaz the school while children aze being dropped off for school. The school is now a full elementary rather than just a kinderschool, and the traffic has increased in that azea. The pazents feel that the safety of the children is at risk due to the driving habits of several of the cars that frequent that street during school hours. They aze requesting flashing lights in the school zone to alert drivers of the reduced speed in the area. Lt. Wolf of the North Olmsted Police Department stated that, of the schools needing such flashing lights, presently Birch is the only elementary without the flashing lights. He further did some investigating and not only agrees with the concerns of the parents, but he has checked into a set of flashing lights which aze presently unused in our city and which will not be needed by Abundant Living Pre-school for at a minimum of two years and which could be possibly utilized at Birch. He further found that the cost to install these used lights would be about $6,700, while the installation of new lights, if necessary, would be about $8,000. The installation requires that we tap into CEI lines, so CEI must be contacted on this issue. These lights aze low maintenance so the initial cost is the only one of real concern. Councilman Nashaz asked that perhaps the trailer sign for speeding be placed at the location in order to temporarily deter speeding in the area. It was further suggested that the PTA print their concerns in a newsletter; however, Council was informed that this has akeady been done. Safety Director Jesse was asked if funds were available perhaps in the Traffic Signalization Fund. He responded funds could be found for this; however, he had a concern that the schools were not participating in the costs. Councilman Miller then stated that all other elementazy schools have the lights, and we should put every school on an even playing field by installing the lights at the city's costs. The committee unanimously recommended that (1) Lt. Wolf contact CEI, specifically John Nauer, our representative from CEI, for a method of tapping into an electrical source; (2) that warnings or citations, whichever would be appropriate, be issued and that the trailer be placed in the area as a deterrent in the meantime. ^ The committee went into executive session regazding a personnel matter in the Fire Department. Pending a meeting of the appropriate administrators regarding the hearing results related to the injury of a fire fighter, the committee moved to continue the payment of wages pending a formal recommendation from the Law Director, Personnel Administrator and the Fire Chief on how to appropriately and legally proceed to address this injury as it relates to the benefits of the fire fighter. Councilwoman Kasler moved that the payment of wages be continued pending the formal recommendation from the Law Director, Personnel Administrator and Fire Chief with regard to this issue. The motion was seconded by Councilman Miller. The motion passed unanimously. 2) The issues discussed at the committee meeting, Birch School and the Fire Department personnel matter, have had some changes and updates since the committee meeting and both will be reheazd in committee next week. 7