Mayor Bryan Shock called the January 10, 2019 Village of Attica Council meeting to order at 7:34PM.
Roll Call: Nate Frisch, George Yakoubian, Justin VanAlstine Louie Sanders, Ed Treft, and Kirk Stanfield
Others present: Village Administrator Greg Martin
Approval of Warrants: Motion by Councilman Yakoubian, seconded by Councilman Frisch to approve the warrants for payment. Vote: 6-0 Motion carried.
Approval of Minutes: Motion by Councilman VanAlstine, seconded by Councilman Yakoubian to approve the minutes. Vote 4-0. With Councilman Sanders and Councilman Stanfield abstaining. Motion carried.
Written & Oral Communication: Resident Deb Briggs, wife of former police chief Jeff Briggs, who served the village for 16 years, spoke of her disappointment of the failure of the police levy. She said she was saddened by the department’s closure and wanted to know what council was going to do about it. She said people would have voted for it if the department had been efficiently and professionally run. She said her husband never had a levy fail.
She asked, “Did you really think a 5-mill levy was going to pass with the level of quality and services we were receiving? People didn’t vote ‘no’ because they didn’t want police protection, people voted ‘no’ because they didn’t want to pay more for the service we were receiving.”
Deb also stated that people are afraid to come to council meetings because of repercussions from council. Local resident Scott Dorris asked what kind of repercussions she was talking about, he also stated it’s a free country and people are allowed to voice their oppion. He also stated regardless of your personal oppion about Turner he was still doing his job, he was doing it whether the people though he was or not. He also stated that if the villagers did not think he was doing his job, then they should come down here and say something about it not wait until everything is all said and done and then come and complain, then it’s too late.
Shock informed Briggs that local government funding from the state had been reduced by $30,000 and $25,000 of that went toward the police department. The two 3-mill levies that the village has carried no longer were able to support the department and that is why a 5-mill levy was sought. One 3-mill levy ended at the end of 2018 and the second finishes at the end of 2019. The funds collected this year go toward unemployment and the loan payment for the police department office space.
Village utility billing clerk Sheryl Hamilton addressed the council about safety measures for her area. On December 28th a water/sewer customer was unhappy that we had her water shut off due to unpaid water bills and entered the office screaming and belligerent. The resident was asked to leave, but her son then made two more visits to the office. She requested council consider a barrier between herself and the public for safety purposes. Discussion resulted in Village Administrator Greg Martin being directed to obtain estimates on the cost of creating a wall with a bullet-proof window.
During Attica Village Council’s organizational meeting Thursday night, Councilman Justin Van Alstine was elected president pro tempore and Mayor Bryan Shock announced all committees would remain the same.
Councilman Yakoubian nominated Councilman Van Alstine for Pres pro-tem. Councilman Sanders seconded that nomination. Motion by Councilman Frisch, seconded by Councilman Yakoubian to close nominations. Vote: 6-0 Motion carried.
Motion by Councilman Yakoubian, seconded by Councilman Sanders to elect Councilman Justin Van Alstine as Pres pro-tem. Vote: 6-0 Motion carried.
Public Safety: Solicitor Rick Palau informed council members a decision needs to be made whether they are seeking a new levy. Following discussion, councilmen voted to place a five-year, 8-mill levy on the May ballot. Councilman Kirk Stanfield abstained. This would replace the two 3-mill levies and generate approximately $103,000 annually. Palau is to draw up a resolution of necessity that, when passed, would go to Seneca County Auditor Julie Adkins to calculate the figures for voters. A special session was scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday January 17th to take action.
Motion by Councilman Yakoubian, seconded by Councilman Sanders Intent to Proceed with Police Levy 8 mills for 5 years for May 2019 ballot. Vote: 5-0. With Councilmen Stanfield abstaining. Motion carried.
Streets & Properties: Pot holes are showing up, due to freeze and thaw.
Parks: Ground is too soft He also noted the repairs to the Myers Park ballfield lights have been delayed until the ground is more firmly frozen.
Trees: none
Fire: Paid the bills.
EMS: Paid the bills.
Cemetery: Paid the bills.
Personnel: Martin stated that first interviews for the entry level water/sewer worker position have been completed. Now the personnel committee is deciding who moves on to second interviews. Training starts February 4th with the 1st water class
Zoning Commission: none
Finance & Rule: Cash balance of all funds $1,053,444.29. December bank reconciliation and December Utility adjustments were reviewed by council. Council approved the resolution for the 2019-01 annual appropriations by emergency measure with all members present. Stanfield was opposed.
1st Reading of Resolution 2019-01 was given. Year 2019 Annual Appropriations $939,476.85. Motion by Councilman Sanders, seconded by Councilman Treft to suspend the three read rule on Resolution 2019-01, Year 2019 Annual Appropriations. Vote: 5-1. with Councilman Stanfield voting No. Motion carried.
Motion by Councilman Sanders, seconded by Councilman Frisch to declare an emergency on Resolution 2019-01. Vote: 5-1. with Councilman Stanfield voting No. Motion carried.
Motion by Councilman Sanders, seconded by Councilman Van Alstine adopt Resolution 2019-01, Year 2019 Annual Appropriations $939,476.85. Vote: 5-1. with Councilman Stanfield voting No. Motion carried.
Water & Sewer: none
Village website & IT: none
Unfinished, Old Business and New Business: none
Next meeting: Thursday, January 17, 2019 at 7:30PM.
Motion by Councilman Frisch, seconded by Councilman VanAlstine to adjourn the meeting. Time: 9:26 PM. Vote: 6-0. Motion carried.
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Mayor Bryan Shock Fiscal Officer Angela Depinet
