12/05/2006 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 12/5/2006 Councilman Ryan noted the North Olmsted crews did a marvelous job of cleaning the snow from Lorain Road this morning and noted that Lorain Road in Fairview Park was not in good shape. Regarding Central Dispatch, he asked whether it was the position of the administration, since we do run a very tight budget, that in the year 2008, we will do away with central dispatch and go with the extra dispatchers in the other city. Are we going to spend $200,00 on top of the $600,000, or are we only going to spend $400,000? Mayor O'Grady said it was not his or his administration's intention to eliminate dispatch within the North Olmsted. Quite to the contrary. The intent is to continue to allow North Olmsted Dispatch, which does a very goad job, to operate. Hopefully, if we join Central Dispatch at no cost for 2007, we get faster response time, we get greater coordination, we get extra dispatchers in those emergency instances when we need them at no cost to our residents. As we look at this over the next 12 months with the concurrence of Council, we have the opportunity to evaluate our own dispatch. He would not put himself or the Safety Director in a position to say they believe our dispatch should change in some way. It would be the person who works with them and supervises them, Police Chief Wayne Wozniak, who would evaluate and decide if changes can be made to reduce costs. If we can do that, we do it. If we don't, then we get to the end of this year with all this benefit we've had and we make the decision: Is it in our best interest or is it not? If it is, if it's greater safety, greater security for our citizens, he believes $200,000 is a small price to pay. If we get there, we can make that decision. In the meantime, we've had the opportunity to run the system at no cost, to bring the benefit, and to decide whether it is right or wrong. That is the intent of this administration. Councilman Ryan commented on his disappointment in a Westlife editorial regarding Central Dispatch which he felt was irresponsible. He said the editorial left out the financial part and that additional input and additional human input would be required to make that system work. Law Director Dubelko: 1) Since the last meeting, he has reviewed and/or approved contracts for the Service, Community Life Services and Safety Departments. 3) Received correspondence from the Board of Elections regarding new nominating petition forms for elections to be held in 2007. The Board of Elections requested he review the new forms to make sure they comply with the city's Charter. He did approve those forms and sent them back to the Board of Elections today. 4) City Prosecutor report for November: total of 200 cases, 77 General Offenses, 123 Traffic. No trials. 5) Assistant Law Director O'Malley report on pending litigation: In the continuing litigation involving Local 1267 and the city and the motions to vacate certain arbitration awards that involved management rights issues, the city filed a brief in opposition to the union's motion to consolidate on November 27. The union filed a brief in opposition to the city's motion to stay proceedings. An arbitrator was selected for the John Davis grievance arbitration. Councilman Gareau, chairperson of the Building, Zoning and Development Committee: 1) The committee met on Wednesday, November 29, to discuss Ordinance 2006-197, an ordinance amending Chapter 713 of the Business Regulation Cody entitled Licensing of 4