03/03/2009 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 3/3/2009 Environmental Control committee meeting when the issue of I & I is discussed. (Mr. Lambert provided a copy of the DVD to Mr. Orlowski and to the administration.) 2) Don Pangrac, 23470 Sharon Drive, is concerned about the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio as Dominion is being allowed to shift the cost of the delivery of gas from non- residential or business to residents. In three years, citizens will be contributing 9.6% profit to Dominion and businesses will be contributing zero, in fact they will be receiving a .84 reduction. He asked if the Mayor had voiced his objection to this change and whether the mayors and managers association had taken a stand on this with the PUCO. Mayor O'Grady answered that, at Council's discretion, he is no longer a member of the Cuyahoga County Mayors and Managers Association, which he believes was short- sighted. He has not spoken to the association about this. However, he is on the board of the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council. He has voiced opposition to the plan, and has participated in a teleconference. Tomorrow he will join in a meeting at the NOPEC offices on this issue and more-the issue of deregulation will also be discussed. When they have these pass-through charges that are not tied to consumption, they are creating an artificial billing and increase on residential customers. It is unfair; it is wrong-headed. Even the PUCO in their own statements came up with the information and the certainty that what was happening here and the new billing process was not supported by reason. Mr. Pangrac noted that Dominion is not supporting conservation. If you conserve and use less, your rates go higher. If you burn gas like there's no tomorrow, your rates go down. He would hope that cooler heads will prevail and something will be done to help protect the citizens of the state and the city. Mayor O'Grady said it is being done. He believes, with the presentation that has already been made and the other information that's surfaced with the PUCO, that they're going to take a look at this again. He doesn't think the book is closed on this. It is unfair, unjust and he thinks it will be changed. Mr. Pangrac noted residents were already getting billed at the new rate. LEGISLATION Resolution No. 2009-26 was introduced and placed on first reading by Councilman Kearney on behalf of himself and Councilman Orlowski. A resolution supporting the Employee Free Choice Act and declaring an emergency. Councilman Kearney moved for suspension of the rules requiring three readings and committee review. The motion was seconded by Councilman Mahoney and passed unanimously. Resident Don DeBrodt came forward to say this appears to be another one of those useless resolutions that he has complained about before. He thinks Council has better things to do, especially in regards to local problems and issues. These things should not even be considered. If he understands this correctly, this prohibits a secret ballot when a union is seeking membership or seeking recognition. Is that correct? Council Kearney said yes. Mr. DeBrodt said he is totally against it as he thinks a secret ballot is essential in all elections. Councilman Kearney moved for adoption, and the motion was seconded by Councilman Orlowski. Roll call: Kearney, yes; Orlowski, yes; Jones, yes; Mahoney, yes; Gareau, no, with comment. First, this falls into his definition of resolutions that he has been watching as of late as to how we proceed on resolutions before the Council. Secondly, he did have the occasion to read two position pieces which he thought were very interesting. One