08/18/2009 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Council Minutes of 8/18/2009 3) Homecoming highlights include opening ceremonies on Thursday; recognition of our 2009 Citizen of the Year Donna Smeal, a city sponsored 100' birthday party on Friday evening; Saturday the Burke School of Irish Dance and the Taste of North Olmsted in the big tent. The annual parade begins at 1 p.m, on Sunday, August 30. 4) Next week, he will be on the phone with the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change to discuss national energy policy and its affect on municipalities. Today he was on the phone with the office of Congressman Dennis Kucinich, again requesting assistance for a grant for the Fire Dept. which would be used fox the purchase of an aerial truck, and for the Police Dept. COPS grant that would be used to retain police officers. Decisions on both issues are pending. 5) The mobile farmer's markets sponsored by the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging will continue on Tuesday afternoons from 12:30 to 2 throughout the month of September. All city residents are encouraged to come by and buy fresh produce from local farmers. 6) The city prevailed in the arbitration regarding layoffs within the Police Dept. There were two matters before the arbitrator. First, the layoff of five patrol officers; secondly, layoff/demotion of a Sgt. down to patrolman. The city prevailed on both matters with one minor change regarding the official date of the layoff notification. The ruling clearly indicates that the city satisfied its initial burden of producing evidence that layoffs were due to a lack of funds. 7) The Community Development Block Grant public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, August 26, at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers. Our citizen advisory committee is strongly considering a grant proposal to relocate and improve the city's food cupboard. The public is invited to attend and make comments in front of city officials and representatives from the Cuyahoga County Dept. of Development. 8) Building Commissioner Dave Conway has submitted his letter of resignation effective September 18 of this year. Dave was hired in July of 1987 and has served the city in an admirable fashion for more than 22 years. He will be very much missed. 9) Due to age and condition, Ladder 1, which the city is trying to replace through a grant, has been removed from first responder status. Both engines 2 and 3 and EMS vehicles are fully equipped. The attempt of removing Ladder 1 from daily use is to prolong its life so it can be used as intended, which is when we have fires at high rise apartments and multiple family structures. There is no word yet on the stimulus dollars. 10) New State of Ohio regulations regarding Medicaid billing to nursing homes for EMS runs has been reviewed by our administration. No changes in our legislation are required at this time. 11) The Safety Dept. is working with the Recreation Center on issues pertaining to graffiti. The Police Dept. has created a special detail to monitor these activities. 12) Our paper recycling bin the back area behind City Hall is for all paper products, not just newspapers. Residents can bring newspapers, old phone books, or any other paper products to the bin. 13) Final striping is scheduled for next Monday on the Stearns/Cook project. We expect to have both sides of the bridge open to two-way traffic throughout the North Olmsted section of this project. 14) The asphalt recycling projects are complete and awaiting striping. Asphalt overlays are projected to be completed by the end of this month. 2