Village of Boston Heights: Council Meeting November-2003

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the Village of Boston Heights OH.

VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS
45 E. Boston Mills Road
Hudson, OH 44236

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING - November 12, 2003 - 8:00 P.M.

AGENDA
[and Editor's Notes on Council Meeting]

ROLL CALL

*[All council members were present; also present were Mayor Ray McFall, Clerk-Treasurer Carol Zeman, Engineer Steve Schreiber & Solicitor Russ Pry.]

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MINUTES PRESENTED FOR CHANGE, CORRECTION OR ADOPTION

*[The Mayor pointed out a minor error in the minutes, which was corrected. The minutes were then approved.]

CORRESPONDENCE

*[Solicitor Russ Pry explained that Ordinance R-2003 and Resolution Z-2003 (see below) were necessary to put the failed +1/2% income tax increase back on the ballot in March 2004. Council must decide whether to do so and enact these measures by 18 December 2003 to meet the ballot deadline.]

*[Clerk-Treasurer Carol Zeman reported that she, Solicitor Pry, and representatives of the village safety services had meet with Macedonia's (lame duck) Mayor Kornuc and that city's respective chiefs. Macedonia performs both dispatch for the village's police and fire services, and EMS service, and the current contract is nearing an end. In the new contract, Macedonia wants an immediate 20% increase for dispatch services, about $11,000/year more than the current $56,840/year. EMS runs would go up from $750/run to $800/run. There would be additional incremental increases in successive years of the new contract. There seemed to be a general agreement among the village leaders that this seemed "steep".
Mrs. Zeman, Mayor Ray McFall and Solicitor Pry answered several queries from the audience and Council:
(Q) Can the village's "computer fund" be tapped for this purpose?
(A) No, by state law it is reserved for certain other purposes.
(Q) Have other nearby communities been approached for the same services?
(A) Yes, but most of those that outsource dispatch services are already servicing other communities, or have incompatible radio frequencies.
(Q) How is Macedonia establishing these rates, with respect to the Village's dispatch levels?
(A) The Village of Boston Heights dispatch comprises about 23% of Macedonia's total dispatch load, and the fee is a similar proportional of Macedonia's total cost for this service. It was not clear whether that referred to the current or proposed rates, or both. Mrs. Zeman mentioned that a long-promised and never-accomplished expansion of the Macedonia dispatch staff was to finally be put in place.
(Q) Has Hudson been approached for these services? They once provided them, some years ago.
(A) Yes, but Hudson appears not to be interested. Police Chief Varga is continuing discussions, however.
Mrs. Zeman concluded by noting that it was now up to the Village to make a counterproposal.]

*[Mayor McFall noted the Senior Thanksgiving Dinner on the upcoming Saturday, 15 November. He also announced the traditional Santa Delivery would be 14 December 2003 (Noon); details to follow in the village's next newsletter.]

*[Engineer Steve Schreiber reported on several projects:
* Certification of questionable materials used in the Olde 8 repaving project has been completed, and the materials were found to meet the applicable ODOT standards. He has therefore authorized payment to Karbo Paving, with a percentage held back to ensure the promised future crack sealing.
* He had terminated the contract with Karbo Paving for rebuilding of Norbury Road, as the pending winter weather put the roadbed in peril once the road surface was removed. Apparently the whole project would need to be restarted next year.
* The controversy over drainage along Colesbrooke Road, in connection with its rebuilding, has further erupted once the first ditch was dug. That whole project is also on hold, while Mr. Schreiber works out an alternative drainage scheme, which he will then present to the homeowners. Apparently this will include more extensive sub-surface stormwater management, instead of the planned restoration of the ditched drainage of the original subdivision plans. This more extensive and costly approach might require an assessment from the affected homeowners, however. Mr. Schreiber will have more information by the 25 November 2003 meeting of Council's Finance Committee. Temporary repairs would be made to Colesbrooke to tide it over for the winter. Mrs. Joani Hedderick, of Colesbrooke Road, objected to the current and planned outlets for the storm water -- she did not agree with the Engineer as to whether these extended far enough toward the adjacent wetlands.
* The new subdivision along Olde 8 Road, The Manor (née Donley Farm), was now planned to have a gravity sewer instead of a forced-main sewer. This meant that Olde 8 homeowners along the sewer main's route might at some point be required to tap into the sewer and abandon their septic systems. A future workshop meeting would provide further information.
* Unspecified work is continuing on other drainage issues in the Village. (This presumably referred to the flooding and stormwater management problems along West Hines Hill Road, and in the adjacent Wooded View Estates.)
Mr. William Thompson, of 53 Sholle Drive, asked why Sholle Drive received a mere chip-and-seal job this summer, which did not even fill the existing holes in the road. He contrasted this with the more extensive work carried on on other village roads. Mr. Schreiber explained that as a contracted engineer he was not involved in this level of road maintenance -- it was a function of the village Road Superintendent, James Robinson. He further noted that Council had to decide what the village could afford to do within a limited budget.]

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
[Nothing further!]

ORDINANCE N-2003
[Approved as Ordinance 18-2003,
with amended language]
AN ORDINANCE REGULATING UNLAWFUL NOISE AND DISTURBANCES AND AMENDING THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS TO ADD A NEW SECTION 509.12 TO THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS.

THIRD READING

[Councilor Mike Cheung proposed an amendment to repair the Ordinance's language, which was approved by Council. Click here for this version of Ordinance N-2003.]
[See also these previous discussions: September 2003, and October 2003.]

ORDINANCE R-2003
[First Reading
Referred to Finance Committee]
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 183, TAXATION, SECTION 183.03, "IMPOSITION OF TAX," AND SECTION 183.06, "COLLECTION AT SOURCE," TO PROVIDE AN INCREASE IN THE TAX LEVIED ON INCOME FROM ONE AND ONE-HALF PERCENT TO TWO PERCENT, SUCH INCREASE BEING EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2004, FOR THE PURPOSES PROVIDED IN SECTIONS 183.01 AND 183.12 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS, AMENDING CHAPTER 183, "TAXATION," SECTION 183.04, "EFFECTIVE PERIOD," TO ESTABLISH THE EFFECTIVE PERIOD FOR THE INCREASE IN THE INCOME TAX RATE, AND AMENDING CHAPTER 183, "TAXATION," SECTION 183.12, "ALLOCATION OF FUNDS," TO PROVIDE THAT THE INCREASED REVENUES DERIVED FROM THE INCREASE IN THE INCOME TAX RATE BE USED SOLELY FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PURPOSES OF THE VILLAGE, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

[This same income tax increase had, as Issue 51, failed at the polls last week:
42% for and 58% against. See also Resolution Z-2003 below, which calls for the required public election on this question.]

ORDINANCE S-2003
[Approved as Ordinance 19-2003]
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 1121 "PLATTING RULES AND REGULATIONS" OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

[This measure was requested by the Village Engineer, in light of the current rash of subdivision plans. Mr. Schreiber had pointed out that the Village's Zoning Code should be updated to reference the current 2002 version of the Summit County regulations, rather than the previous reference to the 1992 version.]

RESOLUTION Z-2003
[Referred to Finance Committee]
[A] RESOLUTION DECLARING THE NECESSITY OF AN ELECTION ON THE QUESTION OF APPROVING THE PASSAGE OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTIONS 183.03, 183.06, 183.04, AND 183.12 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE INCOME TAX RATE FROM ONE AND ONE-HALF PERCENT TO TWO PERCENT BEGINNING JULY 1, 2004, AND ENDING ON DECEMBER 31, 2009 FOR THE PURPOSES PROVIDED IN SECTIONS 183.01 AND 183.12 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS AND PROVIDING THAT THE INCREASED REVENUES DERIVED FROM THE INCREASE IN THE INCOME TAX RATE BE USED FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PURPOSES OF THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS.

[See Ordinance R-2003, above. Note also that this is an extension of the proposed tax over the failed Issue 51, from 4 years to 4.5 years.]

COMMITTEE REPORTS

*[Councilor Mike Cheung reported on the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals meeting of 5 November 2003. He noted that the next meeting would be on 3 December 2003.]

*[Councilor Cheung stated that he had reviewed the village's financial statements through 31 October 2003.]

*[Council P-PT Bill Goncy stated that he had reviewed the Village's bank reconciliation for September 2003, and the Mayor's Court reconciliation for August and September 2003.]

*[Councilor Jim Hudson reported the usual doings of the village's Road Department.]

*[Councilor Terry Slane reported that she had reviewed the Village's expenditures through October 2003.]

*[Councilor Paul Palumbo announced a meeting of Council's Safety 1 Committee: 18 December 2003, 7PM.]

OLD BUSINESS

NEW BUSINESS

ADJOURN

[Signed...]
CAROL ZEMAN, Clerk-Treasurer

Some documents are Public Domain Information from the Village of Boston Heights OH or other public entities.
Other materials Copyright 2001-2003 W.J.Hinkle and BostonHeights.Org
Boston Heights Overlook and BostonHeights.Org are not affiliated with the Village of Boston Heights OH.

ORDINANCE N-2003 [Approved as Ordinance 18-2003, with amended language]	AN ORDINANCE REGULATING UNLAWFUL NOISE AND DISTURBANCES AND AMENDING THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS TO ADD A NEW SECTION 509.12 TO THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS. THIRD READING [Councilor Mike Cheung proposed an amendment to repair the Ordinance's language, which was approved by Council. Click here for this version of Ordinance N-2003.] [See also these previous discussions: September 2003, and October 2003.]
ORDINANCE R-2003 [First Reading Referred to Finance Committee]	AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 183, TAXATION, SECTION 183.03, "IMPOSITION OF TAX," AND SECTION 183.06, "COLLECTION AT SOURCE," TO PROVIDE AN INCREASE IN THE TAX LEVIED ON INCOME FROM ONE AND ONE-HALF PERCENT TO TWO PERCENT, SUCH INCREASE BEING EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2004, FOR THE PURPOSES PROVIDED IN SECTIONS 183.01 AND 183.12 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS, AMENDING CHAPTER 183, "TAXATION," SECTION 183.04, "EFFECTIVE PERIOD," TO ESTABLISH THE EFFECTIVE PERIOD FOR THE INCREASE IN THE INCOME TAX RATE, AND AMENDING CHAPTER 183, "TAXATION," SECTION 183.12, "ALLOCATION OF FUNDS," TO PROVIDE THAT THE INCREASED REVENUES DERIVED FROM THE INCREASE IN THE INCOME TAX RATE BE USED SOLELY FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PURPOSES OF THE VILLAGE, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. [This same income tax increase had, as Issue 51, failed at the polls last week: 42% for and 58% against. See also Resolution Z-2003 below, which calls for the required public election on this question.]
ORDINANCE S-2003 [Approved as Ordinance 19-2003]	AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 1121 "PLATTING RULES AND REGULATIONS" OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. [This measure was requested by the Village Engineer, in light of the current rash of subdivision plans. Mr. Schreiber had pointed out that the Village's Zoning Code should be updated to reference the current 2002 version of the Summit County regulations, rather than the previous reference to the 1992 version.]
RESOLUTION Z-2003 [Referred to Finance Committee]	[A] RESOLUTION DECLARING THE NECESSITY OF AN ELECTION ON THE QUESTION OF APPROVING THE PASSAGE OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTIONS 183.03, 183.06, 183.04, AND 183.12 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE INCOME TAX RATE FROM ONE AND ONE-HALF PERCENT TO TWO PERCENT BEGINNING JULY 1, 2004, AND ENDING ON DECEMBER 31, 2009 FOR THE PURPOSES PROVIDED IN SECTIONS 183.01 AND 183.12 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS AND PROVIDING THAT THE INCREASED REVENUES DERIVED FROM THE INCREASE IN THE INCOME TAX RATE BE USED FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PURPOSES OF THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS. [See Ordinance R-2003, above. Note also that this is an extension of the proposed tax over the failed Issue 51, from 4 years to 4.5 years.]