08/05/2008 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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~~ Council Minutes of 8/5/2008 to fully analyze the issue of pay increases. Mayor O'Grady said certainly that was at Council's discretion. But his expectation is that he would not be bringing a plan to Council until it was close to being finalized. That will not be before Council's consideration of the transfer ordinance. The specific pay increases are simply to bring equity. For example, Secretary I's in the bargaining units have received an increase in salary. In fairness, it makes sense that Secretary I's not in the bargaining units be brought up to a similar level. That's what the legislation does. He will be very prepared to present the changes to Council during the committee process, but he would not tie it to these other discussions. Councilman Gateau asked if pay increases for all the directors was included. Mayor O'Grady answered yes, and it's an issue of equity. Division heads and lower are making in excess of the low wage appointed directors make. The salary for appointed directors is badly out of line ara that needs to be corrected. This is a very small number of people in total, a handful, a dozen. It is not going to have the impact of breaking the bank or making us solvent by January. That will be the other detailed work that is ongoing. Law Director Dubelko: 1) In July, he issued a formal legal opinion in response to a request from Councilwoman Jones regarding the legal rights of disabled to live in group homes in single family neighborhoods. Tomorrow evening a BZD Committee meeting will discuss that very issue. Legal opinions are posted on the city website. 2) Attended the annual Ohio 14unicipal Attorneys Association summer seminar in Columbus from July 16 through 18. Some topics covered included: eminent domain, residency law, developments in contracting, Section 1983 actions, environmental law, public records, telecommunications law, legislative and case law updates, substance abuse, ethics, professionalism. 3) Councilman Orlowski has submitted a couple of requests to him involving trees on tree lawns and trucks in residential neighborhoods. Coincidentally, he has inquiries on the same two subjects from the administration, and one includes a legislative request. Beth subjects are under review and legislation should be prepared by the next Council meeting. Mayor O'Grady invited Councilman Orlowski to be a co-sponsor, and he thanked the Mayor and said he would consider it. 4) Civil litigation: • In the fire fighters' litigation in the Court of Appeals, there was a change in the preheating conference date and in the briefing deadline for the parties. Preheating conference has been moved back from August 6 to August 15, and the city's brief is now due August 29. • City of North Olmsted v. Suburban Collision cases in Rocky River Court, there are three complaints currently pending. A status conference was scheduled on July 15 before Magistrate Valponi. There was some discussion of possible pleas; but no pleas were entered. The court has rescheduled for pretrial on October 7, 2008. That date was selected because defendant disclosed a tentative installation schedule for new paint booths expected to be operational in September. 5) We have had two fair housing complaints this year. One was recently closed for lack of probable cause, and the other is still pending and involves a complaint of discrimination on the basis of disability. The Fair Housing Review Board has scheduled a couple of educational events. Assistant Law Director Carole Heyward reports there is a 5 _. ~~~,~a