Mayor Tim Still called the online meeting to order at 7:15 pm. All council members were in attendance along with Solicitor James Ong and Fiscal Officer Kathy Norman.
Motion (1) to approve the meeting minutes for a) Special Meeting on 2-1-2020, b) Regular Meeting on 2-20-20, and c) Special Meeting on 3-28-2020 was made by Jim Dickey, 2nd by Helen Borland. Motion carried.
The Special Meeting held on 3/28/20 was amended to reflect that the following items were approved by Council based upon the cost-savings recommendations of the Finance Committee.
- Closed the offices on Friday, employees (fiscal assistant, administrative assistant will reduce hours from 40 hours to 32 hours but retain benefits; zoning official will reduce from 24 hours to 20 hours per week) Street laborer/Custodian will reduce his hours from 40 hours to 32 hours, no work on Friday.
- All non-essential purchasing must be approved by Mayor Still or Council. The rule of up to $500 purchases is suspended.
- Fiscal Officer Kathy Norman is waiving the raise she was recently given until further notice.
- Mayor Tim Still will reduce his pay $1000 for the year until further notice.
- Hiring of 4 part-time firemen will reduce the overtime brought on by the new ambulance agreement.
- Moving Ptl. Feck to full time status will reduce the overtime due to the loss of Ptl. Andrew Keller.
Bob Smith of Smith Ambulance came to give an update on the Ambulance service that began in the Village on April 1, 2020. He said that Dennison should be very proud of Chief Dave McConnell and his staff, they have done an exceptional job. From April 1 to April 15 they had 39 calls, out of that there were 32 transports to Trinity Twin City and Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital. Smith manned the ambulance for 17 hours and Dennison had manned it for 22 hours for those calls. The calls were 14 in Dennison, 9 in Mill Twp, 8 in Tuscarawas, 3 in Uhrichsville, 1 in Union Twp, and 1 in Gnadenhutten. All the feedback has been positive and the response times are excellent.
Bob called the Chief of Arrowhead Fire District with regard to the letter that was sent about a contract, he has not heard back from him as yet. He will follow up with another phone call.
GUESTS:
Patty Johnson asked Smith Ambulance about the medical alarms no longer working, she thought it was because of the change in ambulance service but it is actually because of the new telephone technology that will not work with the medical alarms Smith currently uses. She also commended the Mayor and Kathy Norman for their pay cuts due to the ambulance service. Greg DiDonato informed her that the pay cuts were for cost saving measures not the ambulance services. She also asked if the Memorial Day services were to be cancelled and was informed that if the directives for large gatherings was still in effect, it would probably be cancelled.
Amy Myers, a Uhrichsville council woman, thanked the Dennison’s Police, Fire and EMT’s for their responses during the coronavirus pandemic.
Mayor Tim Still said the Twin City Water and Sewer Board meeting was cancelled.
DEPARTMENTS:
Police: Chief Todd Beeman was on the online meeting. He said that the Railroad Festival had been cancelled because of the inability to do safety and social distancing. He reported that the new police cruiser had been delayed because of the virus but they are planning to start work on it the beginning of the week.
FIRE: Chief Dave McConnell was also on the online meeting. He said that the EMT’s are going very well and the call volume is way ahead of last year. He thanked the council and coalition for doing the ambulance service. The Fire Department had been short handed over the past 2 weeks operating with only 3 full time employees because of Assistant Chief Jimmy Shamel being on medical leave.
ZONING: Dan Shaver was on the online meeting. He said he’s been kept busy with permit requests. He’s also been working on getting all of the Landlord Registrations online. The demolition of the house on McCrea has been put on hold by the contractor. The home at 19 Jewett Ave. has been purchased by the neighbor and he is in the process of demolition of the house.
MONTHLY REPORTS: The monthly reports from February and March from the Police, Fire and Zoning departments was approved by Motion (2) made by Greg DiDonato, 2nd by Jim Dickey. Motion carried.
FISCAL: Fiscal Officer Kathy Norman was in attendance online. She presented bills in the amount of $82,078.92. Bills were for 2 months. Motion (3) to pay the bills was made by Greg DiDonato, 2nd by Tracie Bolitho. Motion carried. There were no outstanding receipts or adjustments on the bank reconciliation as of 3/31/20.
Kathy Norman said she had received a call from Buck Cottrell, administrator of the Uhrichsville Moose Lodge #740. He made a donation of $762.63 to the memorial fund of Ofc. Andrew Keller for the K9 program. The Uhrichsville Moose has made $6,692.96 in donations to Dennison first responders since 2018.
RITA collections YTD is $269,478, 33% to budget an increase over last years YTD of $8,402.00. RITA completed a Shortfall and Delay estimate chart which shows the impact of collection due to the virus to be approximately 8.5% below last year.
The Generator, LED lighting, Electrical box replacement projects are all paid for. The N. 1st Street & Fuhr St. projects are delayed due to State funding.
OLD BUSINESS:
Ordinance #2729, An ordinance amending pay for the position of mayor for the Village of Dennison, had it’s 3rd and final reading. Motion (4) to approve the ordinance was made by Greg DiDonato, 2nd by Jim Dickey. Motion carried.
Mayor Still was given permission to postpone the community yard sales that was scheduled for May 28-30, 2020.
Kene Edwards requested a change in the fence ordinance. He would like it to read 6’ fence. Solicitor Ong said he would review the ordinance on Monday and then discuss any possible changes.
Officer Stephen Feck has been named the K9 handler for Bronco due to the death of Officer Andrew Keller. Officer Keller’s family made a statement that read, “ Our hearts are broken over the loss of our son, K9 Officer Andrew (Drew) Keller. Drew loved his job, his K9 Bronco and the Village of Dennison. Drew and Bronco were born to serve. We were very pleased to learn that after this tragedy, Bronco will be returning to his job in Dennison with his new partner, Officer Stephen Feck. Officer Feck worked closely with Drew and knows Bronco well. We are confident that the Village of Dennison will embrace Officer Feck and Bronco as the continue to serve the community. Thank you, Drew’s Mom and Dad, Phillip and Ann Keller.”
Kathy Norman suggested that the Village do a permanent memorial in Village Hall for Ofc. Keller. This will be determined with the input of the village’s first responders.
NEW BUSINESS:
Resolution #2739B to enter into a Bridge Inspection Program with the Ohio Department of Transportation was made by (5) Greg DiDonato, 2nd by Helen Borland. Motion carried.
Motion (6) was made to purchase new air conditioner units for village hall. Weaver Appliance had the best price at $1,945 for 5 units. Greg DiDonato made the motion and it was 2nd by Tracie Bolitho. Motion carried.
Bids were opened on the green dump truck. 2 bids were received, one from Bill Glick for $6,105 and Jeff Cottrell for $5,250. A discussion was made about the plow included with the truck and the village’s opportunity to trade Mill Township the plow for a roller and guard rail cutter. Greg DiDonato will call Bill Glick and discuss. Motion (7) to sell the truck to Bill Glick without the plow made by Greg DiDonato, 2nd by Jim Dickey. Motion carried.
Resolution #2740, Authorizing the Mayor to enter into the 2020 Yard Waste Host Site Block Grant Agreement with Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Joint Solid Waste Management District, was presented. Motion (8) to approve the resolution was made by Helen Borland, 2nd by Tracie Bolitho. Motion carried.
Greg DiDonato presented a request for plumbing repairs in the 3rd floor Auditorium. He expects it will cost between $300-$350. Motion (9) to allow up to $500 for plumbing repairs in the Auditorium was made by Tracie Bolitho, 2nd by Mike Clark. Motion carried.
Meeting Adjourned. Next meeting is Thursday, May 21, 2020.
_______________________________________________ _______________________________________
Mayor Tim Still Admin. Assistant, Tammie Taggart
COUNCIL VOTES:
|
4/16/2020 |
RC |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
|
Helen Borland |
P |
Y2 |
y |
y |
y |
Y2 |
y |
y |
Y1 |
y |
|
Tracie Bolitho |
P |
y |
y |
Y2 |
y |
y |
Y2 |
y |
Y2 |
Y1 |
|
Mike Clark |
P |
y |
y |
y |
y |
y |
y |
y |
y |
Y2 |
|
Jim Dickey |
P |
Y1 |
Y2 |
y |
Y2 |
y |
y |
Y2 |
y |
y |
|
Greg DiDonato |
P |
y |
Y1 |
Y1 |
Y1 |
Y1 |
Y1 |
Y1 |
y |
Y |
|
Kene Edwards |
P |
y |
y |
y |
y |
y |
y |
y |
y |
y |