05/06/2009 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Council Minutes of 5/6/2009 2) The annual tour of streets that are slated to be resurfaced and cracksealed and to look at streets in the wards that need attention will take place toward the end of summer. Councilman Kearney, chairperson of the Public Safety, Health & Welfare Committee: 1) The Public Safety Committee met at 6:55 p.m. on April 28. Present were committee members Orlowski, Kearney and Mahoney and all of Council; the Safety Director and Service Director. The committee discussed Ordinance 2009-54, a resolution authorizing the Director of Public Safety on behalf of the city, to apply for a Federal Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant for the purposes of receiving funds to purchase a ladder truck; further authorizing the Mayor, if the application is granted, to enter into an agreement with the appropriate agency to accept said grant funds and declaring an emergency. Matching funds on the part of the city would be required in the approximate amount of 10% of the cost of the truck. Dr. Thomas explained this is a win-win for the city. The Fire Dept. is in need of a new ladder truck, and the new fire station has a bay large enough to store it. The committee agreed with the Safety Director and voted 3-0 to recommend the ordinance. The meeting concluded at 7 p.m. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION 1) Donald Pangrac, 23470 Sharon Drive, cited a recent newspaper article about the Cleveland Water Dept. not reading meters at homes for five years, and now some homeowners are receiving bills for over $5,000. This evidence of an inept-run division of the city of Cleveland is why he continues to bring to the attention of the administration and Council to continue to pursue leaving Cleveland and going to Avon Lake. Are we planning to continue our partnership with Westlake? Mayor O'Grady answered it is the intent of city to continue to investigate the feasibility of going with Avon Lake water. Councilman Gareau asked about the cost of performing the water study as the enabling legislation included a cost of $24,000, but the actual bill the city received was about $30,000. He knows the city was required to do a transfer ordinance for the different figure and wondered if this had been addressed. Service Director Limpert came forward and explained the $24,000 figure was brought forward when the three communities of Westlake, North Olmsted, and Bay Village were part of the effort and there was to be one report. Once Bay Village dropped out and North Olmsted and Westlake decided on separate reports, the costs did go up. We were not completely aware of what was happening. He is trying to get that addressed. He had planned at first to have legislation for Council tonight, but he is still trying to get some details worked out to see if he can get it handled in a different way. Councilman Gareau inquired, since it's a 25% increase in the costs and the enabling legislation included a specific dollar amount, have we paid the additional $6,000 yet? Finance Director Copfer said she believed it has been paid but thinks we are asking for the check back. She doesn't know if we got it. Councilman Gareau quipped: Let the record reflect that the Councilman-at-Large said, good luck. Mr. Pangrac continued his remarks noting another newspaper article had said that senior citizens receiving Social Security benefits will receive zero increases in their benefits for the next two or three years. He asked that be kept in mind for financial planning for the 6