September 15, 2014 Council Meeting Minutes

Regular Council Meeting

September 15, 2014

The Council of the Village of Riverlea met on the above date at the Thomas Worthington High School, Worthington. The following Council members were present: Mayor Kirk M. McHugh, Jeffery A. Colwell, Scott K. Gordon, Jenny D. Jones, and Jacalyn Slemmer. Also present were Joshua C. Mehling, Clerk-Treasurer, L. Leah Reibel, Solicitor, and William P. Charles, Street Commissioner. Guests of Council were Pamela Colwell, Marc Benevento, and Jim Favret. At 7:02 pm the Mayor called the meeting to order.

Minutes

1. The minutes of the regular Council meeting of August 18, 2014 were not read since each member had received a copy. Gordon noted that the minutes in the fourth item under “Old Business” listed the vote on amending Resolution 03-2014 as having failed 2-2, where it should be 2-3. Colwell moved and Jones seconded the motion that the minutes be approved as submitted by the Clerk-Treasurer with the above correction. The motion was approved unanimously (4-0).

Report of the Clerk-Treasurer

1. Jones moved and Colwell seconded the motion to approve the payment of bills and to accept the financial reports for August 2014 as submitted by the Clerk-Treasurer. The motion was approved unanimously (4-0).

Report of the Mayor

1. The Mayor reported that there had been a suspicious car at the end of Olentangy. He mentioned that the Police had been notified and reminded people to be on the lookout for activity at that location, as there have been problems there in the past.

Report of the Solicitor

1. The Solicitor reported that she had drafted a resolution authorizing certain officials in the village to execute a memorandum of understanding with Franklin County for investigating child abuse.
2. The Solicitor reported that the Infrastructure Committee had been meeting and that they had Bond Counsel come and speak to the committee about funding options. She will be contacting the Ohio Department of Taxation to determine what an income tax would bring in.

Report of the Street Commissioner

1. The Commissioner reported that Decker had completed their work on the curbs around the village. He was not sure about the inlet at the corner of Southington and Crescent, where the work had not been performed satisfactorily in the past.
2. The Commissioner reported that the lift station was having some minor trouble pumping, but it was able to clear itself.
3. The Commissioner reported that he had taken advantage of Decker Construction being in the neighborhood to get a quote for the curb and gutter repair for 5690 Olentangy Blvd. There has been a drainage problem here for years, dating to when the village paved the streets and overlaid the gutters. Due to this, as well as the slope of the driveway, the runoff from even an ordinary rainfall will breach the gutter and drain into the house. Because the storm drain runs right along there, the solution from Decker will be to install a 7’7 inlet along the curb. The Commissioner felt that since the village was responsible for creating the problem, it should be responsible for the repairs, which Decker estimated at about $6,500. Jones questioned how this repair would be impacted when the village performed the planned work on the streets and gutters. The Commissioner responded that a cap may need to be placed at the top of the inlet if curbs are raised, but the inlet itself was in enough of a depression that it should be all right. Colwell asked why the village should do this work when it is planning on repairing the streets, which may remedy the problem. The Commissioner replied that the problem with this was that the timeline for these repairs was unknown and it may be several years before it was performed. Jones moved and Gordon seconded the motion to approve the installation of this inlet, costs to be paid by the village. The following vote was recorded on the motion: Yea, 3, Gordon, Jones, and Slemmer; No, 1, Colwell. The motion carried (3-1).

Report of the Planning Commissioner

1. The Planning Commissioner was not in attendance. In an update to the Mayor, he noted that the committee had approved one certificate of appropriateness, for the installation of a patio at 42 W Southington Ave.

Report of the Marshal

1. There was no report as the Marshal was not in attendance.

Report of the Web Manager

1. The Web Manager was not in attendance. In an update to the Mayor, she noted that the top hits on the village website were the archived meeting minutes, Street Commissioner, and Planning Committee meeting minutes. Her suggestion was that the village should beef up the meeting minutes, sharing more details.

Report of the Newsletter Editor

1. There was no report from the Newsletter Editor.

Comments from Residents on Agenda Items

1. Jim Favret, the resident at 5690 Olentangy, thanked the Council for approving the repairs to the curb & gutter in front of the house. He mentioned that he would be glad to help out in the case of any cost overruns.
2. Marc Benevento commented on the situation at the end of Olentangy. He noted that there were no rules posted near the entrance to Rush Run Park. The Mayor noted that there was a no parking sign near the entrance, so if residents are bothered by cars in the area, they may notify the Police.

Old Business

1. Committee on Infrastructure
   Marc Benevento, a member of the committee, reported that the committee is looking at different ways to fund any debt that the village takes on for repairs. They are currently investigating three options: an assessment, an income tax, or a bond levy funded by a property tax.
2. Committee on Communications
   The Chair of the Committee reported that the Summer Quarterly had been distributed. She is looking for article suggestions for the next issue, which may change schedule from being a quarterly. Publication will depend upon how often she is able to compile content.
3. Committee on Ordinances
   There was no report from the Chair of the Committee.

New Business

1. Resolution 2014-12
   Resolution 2014-12, A Resolution Authorizing Certain Village Officials to Execute a Memorandum of Understanding for the Investigation of Child Abuse and Neglect was introduced by Jones. This was an update of a resolution passed in 2012. Colwell moved and Gordon seconded the motion to waive the three readings of this resolution. The motion passed unanimously (4-0). Jones moved and Colwell seconded the motion to adopt this resolution. The motion passed unanimously (4-0).
2. Resolution 2014-13 Resolution 2014-13, A Resolution Accepting the Amounts and Rates as Determined by the Budget Commission and Authorizing the Necessary Tax Levies and Certifying them to the County Auditor was introduced by Slemmer. Jones moved and Colwell seconded the motion to waive the three readings of this resolution. The motion passed unanimously (4-0). Jones moved and Slemmer seconded the motion to adopt this resolution. The motion passed unanimously (4-0).
3. Budget Committee
   The Budget Committee will need to meet to draft the village’s appropriations ordinance for 2015 and to review the village’s investment policy. Because Eric MacGilvray, a member of the committee, was not in attendance, the members will set a date and time for this meeting by email and publish this once it is decided.
4. Expenses
   Jones moved and Colwell seconded the motion to authorize the following expenditure: $61.60 – Haman Midwest – Riverlea Quarterly postage
   The motion was approved unanimously (4-0).

Comments from Residents on Non-Agenda Items