10/02/2007 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 10/2/2007 officials, he almost always provides advice to the members of City Council or other officials that are potentially defendants. When he gives that advice under cover of attorney-client privilege, it's not something he is going to talk about openly. Jim Burns, Friends of the North Olmsted Library, 27403 Lorain Road, said the transfer ordinance (2007-106) included only $1,800 for an appropriation in the Library Construction Fund. Perhaps that should be amended to include appropriations of monies if Ordinance 2007-99 is to be passed this evening. Finance Director Copfer agreed the legislation only included $1,800, and it should be amended to include $73,000 so the architect can be paid. Councilman Ryan made a motion to amend the Library Construction Fund from $1,800 to $74,800. The motion was seconded by Councilman Gareau and passed unanimously. Dennis Lambert, 25057 Carey Lane, commented on Ordinance 2006-179, the noxious odor ordinance. His concern is quality legislation-legislation that means something. He believes there will be difficulty in enforcing this ordinance if it is taken to court. Unlike noise, noxious odors are not measurable. It would be very subjective, and he thinks courts would throw out anything that is too ambiguous. People are well meaning when they create these things. Eventually, they go to the Law Director who does not generate junk ordinances. Law Director Dubelko said this is not an exception 4) Paul Bouffard, 6701 Bretton Ridge Drive, applauds the Mayor's stance on overtime m the Fire Dept., saying he felt $500,000 was absurd. Regarding the proposal to increase sewer rate fees, he felt the rates should have been raised a while ago in smaller increments. Mayor O'Grady answered that the sewer proposal is a good story to tell. There was a rate increase in 1995 which was to last unti12000. By changing the way we operate the plant, by finding greater efficiencies, we were able to take that increase and make it last far longer than the five years it was intended for. When he became Mayor, he said he would not bring forward another rate increase with regard to WWTP until he had done everything in his power to be as efficient as we can be. A rate and operational study was conducted, and the rate study projected the amount of money needed for the future to modernize the plant. The operational side said this is where you are, and this is where you need to be. The proposal that the administration has brought forward on the WWTP calls for an immediate reduction of four people, over the next 12 months or so, which is three management positions and one union position. That is the beginning of the streamlining. The increase of 9.5% is not firm yet. But the dollars generated by the increase are dedicated to making changes at our WWTP that modernize and automate the system. The largest cost in service industries is people. If we can automate, we're going to be able over the next few years to significantly reduce the number of people who need to be employed there. We currently have three shifts that run 7 days a week. It is our goal, our objective, within this timeframe to go to one shift, Monday through Friday. He understands an increase, especially in these days, is very difficult. But this increase was one that we were able to hold off on, and, when we finally came forward with it, it's for the dedicated purpose of making the plant more efficient, more modern, more automated so it reduces costs in the long run. Councilman Barker added that hopefully infiltration problems will be fixed which would address flooding problems, especially in Ward II. 12