April 21, 2014 Council Meeting Minutes

Regular Council Meeting

April 21, 2014

The Council of the Village of Riverlea mmet on the above date at the Thomas Worthington High School, Worthington. The following Council members were present: Mayor Kirk M. McHugh, Michael D. Blanchard, Jeffery A. Colwell, Scott K. Gordon, Jenny D. Jones, Eric A. MacGilvray, President Pro-Tem, and Jacalyn Slemmer. Also present were Joshua C. Mehling, Clerk-Treasurer, L. Leah Reibel, Solicitor, William P. Charles, Street Commissioner, Karen McElmurray, Marshal, Michael Jones, Planning Commissioner, and Jody Croley Jones, Web Manager. Guests of Council were Pamela Colwell and Susan Tilgner, representing the Franklin County Health Department. At 7:05 pm the Mayor called the meeting to order.

Minutes

1. The minutes of the regular Council meeting of February 18, 2014 were not read since each member had received a copy. MacGilvray moved and Colwell seconded the motion that the minutes be approved as submitted by the Clerk-Treasurer. The motion was approved unanimously (6-0).

Report of the Clerk-Treasurer

1. Colwell moved and Blanchard seconded the motion to approve the payment of bills and to accept the financial report for March 2014 as submitted by the Clerk-Treasurer. The motion was approved unanimously (6-0).

Report of the Mayor

1. The Mayor reported that he and other Council members had met with representatives from MORPC and there appear to be opportunities for funding the street and water projects within the village. Council will have to decide the mix of loans and grants to apply for to receive funding. The village will apply put together a proposal to submit for this funding.
2. Susan Tilgner from the Franklin County Health Department addressed Council about the rates that the village pays to the department for their services. She announced that the health department is seeking national accreditation that will be necessary in order to receive federal funding. Due primarily to the costs of this accreditation, the amount that Riverlea pays to the Health Department will increase from $5,179 in 2014 to $6,678 in 2015. She stated that the amount the Health Department charges on a per capita basis is still well below the state and national averages.
3. The Mayor reported complaints that have been received regarding a trailer holding construction debris that has been parked in front of a residence for several weeks. The Marshal stated that she had spoken with the homeowner and was informed that the Contractor had fallen behind on work. The village will research the date that permits were ordered in order to determine the date that the trailer had been parked there and enforce the ordinance on location and length of time for parking of these containers.
4. The Mayor also reported that he has received a call regarding concrete that has come off a storm sewer on Melbourne, leaving a sharp edge. The caller reported that they had parked near this and sliced two tires on their car. The Street Commissioner will investigate this.

Report of the Solicitor

1. The Solicitor reported that there have been concerns about the new massage parlor on High Street near the village’s entrance. Worthington Police have been investigating the operations of the parlor with nothing improper discovered. The police will continue to investigate.
2. The Solicitor reported on the contract for water services that the village received from the city of Columbus. There were concerns from Council regarding the 25 year length of the contract as well as the maintenance costs that are being shifted to the village. The Solicitor reported that the length of the contract was not out of line with other local municipalities. Given this information, as well as the lack of leverage to address the costs, Council decided to sign the contract.

Report of the Street Commissioner

1. The Street Commissioner reported that Performance Pipelining was out to adjust caps on the line along West Riverglen. These caps do not attach tightly to the line, but rather sit on top and the freezing and thawing cycle during the winter had moved some out of place.
2. The Commissioner reported that he mailed copies of the stormwater report on April 1.
3. The Commissioner reported that the CMOM report is due to be updated. This report covers everything that we are doing with the sewer and water lines. He is working with Burgess & Niple to complete this.
4. The Commissioner reported that there had been a blockage in the pump at the lift station. Radico came out to investigate this blockage and found that it was caused by some cloth that had been flushed down the drain. The system can handle solid items up to a certain size in the line, but this had been beyond this limit. Residents should be aware of what is being flushed down the drain and ensure that rags or clothes do not get flushed.
5. Even after the blockage had been cleared, the ability of the pump at the lift station is declining due to age. The Commissioner would like to order a replacement to be ordered to be prepared for when this is needed. Council agreed that this is necessary and authorized the purchase of this replacement.
6. The Commissioner reported that there had been complaints from residents about brown water coming from the taps, and it was determined that Worthington had flushed the hydrants. Typically, they notify the village when they plan to do this, but this time they did not. The Commissioner will contact the Worthington Fire Chief to remind them that we would like notification of this in the future.

Report of the Planning Commissioner

1. The Planning Commissioner reported that he expected to receive a COA application for the work that was started and then halted at 5872 Olentangy.

Report of the Marshal

1. The Marshal reported there were 285 checks with no citations in February and 287 checks with no citations in March.
2. The Marshal reported that there have been some complaints about animals, as well as dogs that have been running around the village, including darting in front of cars driving down the road.

Report of the Web Manager

1. The Web Manager reported that residents have emailed her with compliments for the Council meeting highlights that have been posted on the web.
2. The Web Manager also reported that she has received questions from residents regarding receiving the Riverlea Quarterly electronically instead of paper copies.

Report of the Newsletter Editor

1. The Newsletter Editor reported that the spring newsletter has been sent out and she is working on the summer edition. She would like ideas for articles to run in the newsletter.

Comments from Residents on Agenda Items

Old Business

1. Ordinance No. 07-2013 Committee on Infrastructure
   The Chair of the committee had nothing to report.
2. Committee on Communications
   The Chair of the committee had nothing to report.
3. Committee on Ordinances
   The Chair of the committee reported that the Solicitor has incorporated comments from Council into the ordinances regarding chapters 150 and 151.

New Business

1. Ordinance No. 02-2014
   Ordinance No. 02-2014, An Ordinance to Amend the Building Regulations of Riverlea was introduced by Jones and given its first reading. There was discussion on the language in section C. It was agreed that the section should remain, but the amount should be no less than $50 and no more than $2,000.
2. Ordinance No. 03-2014
   Ordinance No. 0-2014, An Ordinance to Amend the Zoning Regulations of the Village of Riverlea was introduced by Jones and given its first reading. Council agreed that the section on landscaping in section 8 should be deleted.
3. Resolution No. 2014-06
   Resolution No. 2014-06, A Resolution to Lois Yoakam for her Service to the Residents of the Village of Riverlea was introduced by Blanchard. The date on the resolution was amended from March 15 to May 15. Colwell moved and Slemmer seconded the motion to declare an emergency and waive the three readings of this resolution. This motion was approved (6-0). Colwell moved and Jones seconded the motion to adopt this resolution. The resolution was approved (6-0)
4. Resolution No. 2014-07
   Resolution No. 2014-07, A Resolution to Confirm the Appointment of Bryce Jacob as a Member of the Planning Commissionwas introduced by Gordon. Colwell moved and Slemmer seconded the motion to declare an emergency and waive the three readings of this resolution. This motion was approved (6-0). MacGilvray moved and Colwell seconded the motion to adopt this resolution. The resolution was approved (6-0).
5. Resolution No. 2014-08
   Resolution No. 2014-08, A Resolution Authorizing the Village of Riverlea, Ohio to Contract with the City of Columbus to Provide Water Services was introduced by Colwell. MacGilvray moved and Colwell seconded the motion to declare an emergency and waive the three readings of this resolution. This motion was approved (6-0). MacGilvray moved and Colwell seconded the motion to adopt this resolution. The resolution was approved (6-0).
6. Social Chair Budget and Plans
   The Social Chair submitted a budget of $1,500 for expenses in 2014, which will cover the Easter egg hunt, the picnic, and other activities. The budget matches the amounts spent for similar activities in 2013. MacGilvray moved and Jones seconded the motion to approve the budget as submitted. The Social Chair also is thinking about moving the midsummer picnic to Saturday, September 6 in order to avoid residents on vacation and maximize attendance. Council agreed with this and hoped that it would encourage more residents to attend.
7. Expenses
   Jones moved and Colwell seconded the motion to authorize the following expenditure: $68.32 Jon Ankrom – Quarterly mailing expenses
   The motion was approved unanimously (6-0).

Comments from Residents on Non-Agenda Items