03/20/2007 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 3/20/2007 4) Terry Groden, 25211 Chase Drive, spoke about the vicious dog ordinance. When a pit bull attacked a dog in his neighborhood, there were no sanctions against the owner of the attacking dog. While this legislation is in committee, he asked the Law Director whether this could be addressed in the ordinance. He would like to see verbiage to the effect of zero tolerance or at least being able to close loopholes so that someone who is keeping a vicious dog understands they will be prosecuted for an attack by their animal. Law Director Dubelko said he appreciated the comments which will be taken into account when redrafting the legislation. Councilman Gareau suggested minimum mandatory sentences could be used when there has been a prior offense, although judges are sensitive to that issue as they feel it is within their discretion to determine penalties. Dennis Lambert, 25057 Carey Lane, is a citizen with a great concern. He spoke about leadership and said everyone suffers the consequences of leadership and group efforts that do not mesh to make things work. A good leader has to build bridges, build consensus of opinion and work with others. He and others have a concern that money go productively into what serves the community directly, not indirectly. We need more income in this community. We need more investment in this community. We need more people building this community so that the taxpayers do not have to pick up the cost of all the things that are needed. Investors will not come into the community if the leaders do not work together. He spoke about leaders in other communities who knew how to get along with people, get the job done quietly, behind closed doors, without parnp, without circumstance. This community needs that kind of leadership. He hopes we can see aturn-around. Mayor O'Grady did not agree with Mr. Lambert's characterizations. He guarantees that he is for the people at every turn. 6) Ellen Johnson, 24783 Arlington Lane, thanked Mr. Orlowski for all he has done. As a realtor, she wants to address the fact that property values are decreasing. She and her neighbors now have stigmatized properties. They have to disclose, by State of Ohio law, any problems that they have in their properties for five years. They now have to disclose a terrible water problem. They are losing money on their most valuable possession. For 30 years, there was no problem. She hopes the city does come forward and address this problem as soon as possible. Mayor O'Grady said he does not disagree and it is important to know the city is doing something about it. There are things currently underway: a rate and operational study is being conducted at the WWTP, which is ultimately where everything gets to. Also, the city is working with the Ohio EPA to do analysis of our entire system. That analysis is in Phase II of its work. We are dealing with the sins of our fathers and dealing with contractors who were able to come into the City of North Olmsted and build homes in an unwise way and there was no one there to stop them. The problem exists, and we will be dealing with it. He can't promise a solution tomorrow, but can promise the city will continue to work on it. Councilman Orlowski said, when the street is improved, it adds value to residents' property. The streets in this neighborhood need to be addressed as does the water problem in the backyards. He believes the city needs to come out there with a an electric plumber's snake, a cutter that's sized to the pipe, and run it through that piping and clean it out. 13