November 10, 2009

Record of proceedings

Millersport Village Council met in regular session on Tuesday November 10, 2009 at 7:00 PM in the Municipal Building. In attendance were President Pro Tem David Levacy, Gary Matheny, Charles Mesko, James Wright, Shane Wise, Donna Thogmartin, Assistant Fiscal Officer Vincent B. Popo and Fiscal Officer Susan Ramsey. Also present were Board of Public Affairs member Christopher Tennant, Karen Bergum, Michael McKenzie, Charles Prince, Carol King, Fire Chief William Yates, Police Chief Randall Lewis, Officer Carl Roberts and Police Captain John Shirk.

 

Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was said and roll call was taken.

 

Minutes of Tuesday September 15, 2009 were read.   A motion to accept the minutes was made by Councilman David Levacy and seconded by Councilman Charles Mesko. All voted yes and the motion carried 6-0.

 

Committee Reports

The Safety Committee and Captain John Shirk introduced Joseph Carl Roberts as the new auxiliary police officer for the village.  Carl has twenty-two years of law enforcement experience and is a former resident of Millersport.

 

Councilman Charles Mesko announced that the Finance Committee would meet on Monday November 23, 2009 at 7:00 pm.  The mayor has asked department heads to give the committee their recommendations for pay increases for 2010.

 

Old Business

Councilman James Wright informed council the boats need to be removed from the canal by November 15, 2009 because that is when the lake is lowered to the winter level.

 

Vincent Popo reported that the Refugee Street annexation proceedings have been turned over to the village solicitors and there is no new news.

 

Vincent Popo reported that the swimming pool has been painted in the five-foot area and that the twelve-foot area will be painted in the spring.  The equipment was brought inside and the pool pumps are to be sent away for the winter.  Zane Maughmer, Jacob Logue and Matthew Willis worked three days to complete the work at the pool.

 

New Business

Walnut Township Trustees voted to approve the Fire contract with Thurston but did not with the Village of Millersport.  The trustees voted 2-1 to appropriate $412,000.00 to Thurston. Trustee Dupler feels that the Millersport Fire Department can cut $76,000.00 from the budget and still provide twenty-four hour per day and seven days per week coverage to Fairfield Beach.  Council members gave Fire Chief William Yates the authority to respond to Trustee Dupler’s questions and accusations.  Trustee Ralph Zollinger favors a one-year contract and will chair an independent audit of both fire departments to investigate possible unnecessary spending and runs.  Chief Yates will bring in new fire personnel to be sworn in at the December meeting.  Councilman Matheny raised the question of the cost to the taxpayers when attorneys are brought in to negotiate and refine the fire contracts.

 

Police Chief Randall Lewis officially welcomed Carl Roberts to the force.  Police Captain John Shirk reported that the department received a grant for three lap top commuters for the cruisers at a value of $3,800.00 per computer and the computers have been ordered.  Captain Shirk also reported that the village may receive an anonymous donation for printers to go with the laptops and then reports can be generated on the spot.  Captain Shirk has also applied for a NRA grant to outfit the cruisers with AED’s and medical equipment and an educational grant to work with the school system.  Captain Shirk discussed the success of the fingerprinting program called Identi-kid that was done the night of Trick or Treat.  Parents had one hundred and twenty-two children thumb printed with cards.  He asked that the Beacon let residents know that there are still thumb print cards available for their children.

Councilman David Levacy reported on the parking issues at Lancaster Street between Mill Street and Main Street.  John Clark drew the project to scale.  The centerline would need to be moved to the east and ten parking spaces would be marked on the west end of Lancaster Street.  Councilman Levacy proposes that the residents affected be invited to the next council meeting in December. 

 

Mayor Dean Severance received a letter from Jeff Comechis of the Fairfield County Engineer’s office pertaining to the county road north out of Millersport.  The county wants Millersport to annex the thirty foot right of ways from the center of the road.  The village would then assume the liabilities that go with the permanent signs that have been place in the right of ways.  The county would still have to maintain the bridge but the village could extend the twenty-five mile per hour speed limit to Lieb’s Island Road.  Jeff Comechis is invited to the December meeting to explain the county’s options.

 

Christopher Tennant from the Board of Public Affairs gave an update on the Water Plant and the Waterline to Buckeye Lake. Law Construction has laid 3,200 feet of pipe as of Tuesday November 10, 2009.  They have two crews working at Lakeside Road around Route 360 and at the Feedercreek.  The boring machine is ready to place pipe under the creek and they are placing sixty foot of pipe each day.  They plan on being finished by the end of the year for Lakeside to be paved by Walnut Township.  Michael Fox is working with GGC to make sure the service and plant is up to standards.  They will have pay recommendations done by next meeting.

 

Ordinance 716 is an ordinance appropriating additional monies for the fire, police and water funds. A motion to suspend the three reading was made by Councilman Charles Mesko and seconded by Councilman Shane Wise.  All voted yes and the motion carried 6-0. A motion to pass the ordinance was made by Councilman Charles Mesko and seconded by Councilman Shane Wise.   All voted yes and the motion carried 6-0. 

 

The Christmas Parade is on Saturday December 5, 2009 and will start from Millersport High School to Jeff Watson’s Valero station.  It will start at noon.

 

Vincent Popo discussed options on ways and costs of annexation.  There are positives and negatives for potential homeowners to become part of the village.  He also presented information on the process of creating a township from an existing township.

 

Bills were presented for payment as attached. A motion to pay the bills was made by Councilman James Wright and seconded by Councilman Shane Wise. All voted yes and the motion carried 6-0.

 

A motion to adjourn was made by Councilman James Wright and seconded by Councilman Gary Matheny.  All voted yes and the motion carried 6-0.