Others present: Village Administrator Greg Martin and Solicitor Rick Palau

Approval of Warrants: Motion by Councilman Yakoubian, seconded by Councilman VanAlstine 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 6-0. Motion carried. 

 

Written & Oral Communication: Charlene Watkins with Seneca County Regional Planning Commission was present to advise that she found the right grant for the Veterans Memorial Park. She recommends to apply for the ODNR Nature Works Grant. The grant offers over $83,000 for Seneca County and doesn’t require income surveys to be conducted. Watkins checked around and is not aware of any other applications being sent in for this grant.

 

Watkins noted there are a few things to take into consideration. The application is due June 1st. The property for the park is officially deeded to the American Legion. The Legion would need to give the Village of Attica a 15-year non-revocable lease for the property, because the funds have to go to a municipality. The park also needs to be open to the public, which it is intended to be. There is not a need for engineering specs for the application, just good cost estimates and drawings. The drawings presented by Laurie Risner at a previous meeting are good for this requirement. If the funds are awarded, then engineering specs would be required.

 

There is a 25% match, but that should be able to be covered by donations and donated labor. Laurie would need to turn in a letter and a time sheet for her time spent on the drawings, and that can count towards the match.

 

The grant is a reimbursement grant, so the Village would have to pay the bills, then submit expenses to ODNR. The bills must be paid by Village of Attica checks. Watkins will assist with the process, working with the Fiscal Officer and Village Administrator. The grant application does require to show public input, so Watkins suggested a public meeting prior to June 1st to discuss the park and allow for public input on the matter.

 

Watkins also advised that the Village of Attica/Council needs a resolution to authorize the application and the Seneca County Regional Planning Commission to file and execute the application. The Village Administrator would act as the Project Manager. If there is any contracted work, it needs to be put out at Ohio prevailing wages and sent out for bid. The SCRPC will handle this process, with Watkins bringing packets of bids to Council for approval. Watkins also noted that it would be helpful in the application process to have some letters of support from the community and businesses like the Village, Sutton Bank, the Legion, and maybe some commissioners. Watkins suggested a public/private entity agreement, since the Village is public and the Legion is private. She also said the application must state who is doing the maintenance, which is going to be the Legion.

 

Watkins plans to work out of Village Hall next week and in the future while working on the grant. She stated that she will help in any way that she can. She can’t guarantee that it will be approved, but she feels there is a very good chance of approval. If the application is approved, it will be known in September. There is a process if the contract is awarded, bids go out, engineering specs are done and bids for that work are done. That would all be done around the end of the year, the project should be ready to start by spring and finished by the fall.

 

Solicitor Palau reviewed the information to be contained in the lease needed. The amount will be for $1 and be signed by the same names who signed the deed previously. The Legion will be required to carry the insurance. Palau will draw the lease and send to the Fiscal Officer. Once signed, Councilman Frisch will take the lease to the Legion.

 

Resident Jeff Painter asked if there was any way the wall adjacent to the park could be fixed with the grant. It was advised no, because the Legion does not own that building.

 

1 st read of RES2019-9, Form No 2: Resolution of Authorization, and declaring an emergency.

 

Motion by Councilman Sanders, seconded by Councilman Frisch to suspend the three read rule on resolution 2019-9. Vote 6-0. Motion carried.

 

Motion by Councilman Sanders, seconded by Councilman VanAlstine to declare an emergency on resolution 2019-9. Vote 6-0. Motion carried.

 

Motion by Councilman Sanders, seconded by Councilman Frisch to adopt resolution 2019-9. Vote 6-0. Motion carried.

 

Charlene Watkins noted that she will need all information turned in to her by the last week of May. She also noted that a small assessment is paid to the SCRPC, but it’s much less than the over $8,000 that would be paid to a private consultant doing the same work on this grant.

 

Motion by Councilman Frisch, seconded by Councilman Sanders to approve the proposed lease between the Legion and the Village of Attica, as enumerated, with authorization of the Mayor and Council President to sign. Vote: 6-0. Motion carried.

 

Pool Manager Glea Herr advised that she attended the pool manager certification class and passed. She is now a Certified Pool Operator, good for 5 years. She will bring a copy of her license when it comes in. Herr also mentioned that Bloomville has approached her about sharing lifeguards. She also asked if she could remove the white tile on top of the fence around the pool. Village Administrator agreed that it could be removed, as it just collects bird nests.

 

Resident Scott Dorris came to Council asking about a shared driveway at his house. It was graveled, and the excavator wasn’t sure how far up into the drive to go. Dorris asked if the Village was responsible to gravel that portion. Village Administrator Greg Martin advised that is not general practice. Dorris also noted that he has a tree with roots causing cracking in his sidewalk. Martin advised he will have the Tree Committee check into it.

 

Resident Deb Briggs asked Solicitor Palau to confirm whether or not Keith Turner is no longer employed and if he’s receiving unemployment. Palau advised that Turner is currently laid off and he is receiving unemployment benefits. Briggs then asked if there was any legal obligation to rehire Turner. Palau stated there are legal provisions and processes under the Ohio Revised Code that are required if removing Turner from his position since he is a chief, so yes. Briggs then asked if the levy passes, would it require by the action by the Mayor and Council to hire a chief or bring him back. Palau advised that the administration of the police department is by the Mayor, but the funds from this levy are not available until next year, so that wouldn’t be addressed until next year by the Mayor. Briggs went on to say that she was there to represent the citizens of the Village who completed her survey, which included residents and business owners. She stated 72 surveys were returned: 68 residents, 4 business owners. One question on all of the surveys was answered 100%, which was question #4, asking if they support Keith Turner as Chief. Only 7 said yes to that questions, and half of that 7 said they didn’t know him. On the question asking why they felt the levy failed, answers included they were uninformed, the Village can’t afford it, Keith Turner himself and high taxes for poor service. Briggs stated that survey respondents said their concerns about Keith Turner included: he took the car home, he was unprofessional, and he smokes in the cruiser. When asked what they are looking for in a police chief, Briggs said answers included someone who is professional and has integrity, community involvement, local and visible, and prompt. Most of those who answered the survey said a chief should live in or near the Village to respond quicker. Briggs asked Council to consider having a meeting with the public to discuss the issue and turned in her complete set of surveys to be available for public record.

 

Councilman Treft asked Briggs why she has a grudge against Keith Turner. Briggs answered that she doesn’t.

 

Solicitor Palau advised that law says we cannot require a Village employee to live in the village.

 

Councilman Yakoubian added that even if they wanted, that person wouldn’t be able to pay utilities on a $13/$14 an hour salary. Yakoubian also noted that we hold meetings twice a month that are open to the public and nobody came before the levy before. He argued that if Keith Turner did such a bad job, then he wouldn’t have agreed to things like body cameras and dash cameras. Residents have always had the option to come and make a complaint to Council if needed. Yakoubian also wanted to know how Briggs conducted the survey. Briggs stated she spent a Saturday afternoon, and she didn’t give them to Council, because she felt she already knew their opinion, but that surveys were “readily available.”

 

Resident Lynn Love felt that the surveys are worth looking at, as they could potentially have information that is helpful. Councilman Yakoubian agreed that he would read them.

 

Mayor Shock declared that Councilman Yakoubian would go through the surveys, and give to Councilman Sanders. He also advised the Public Safety Committee would set up a meeting for the public.

 

Public Safety: none

 

Streets & Properties: Village Administrator Greg Martin noted there is a catch basin deteriorating on the corner of Ash and Tiffin. Cones are there, and R.A. Bores has been called to come in and fix it.

 

Martin also advised he received a call from a resident about the grass mowing ordinance. They were concerned that there was no police presence to enforce it. At this time, there isn’t really anything Council can do without a police department in place. It’s an ordinance, so it falls under police duty.

 

Parks: Village Administrator Greg Martin noted that a small dumpster was ordered and placed at the Legion park and trash cans were moved outside of the dugouts. He also noted that two picnic tables were removed from the park, because they had been used by kids to climb up on top of the pavilion.

 

Pool Manager Glea Herr asked if another bench could be purchased for beside the baby pool. Martin advised it should be possible.

 

Martin advised that the wooden fence at Myers Park is gone. Nothing is in the works to replace it, and that would be up to Council.

 

Trees: Tree Committee member Lance Drummond reported he will talk to Stephanie and look at the Buckeye tree that’s been in question, as well as discuss what varieties of trees to plant. He will also talk the high school Ag program to see if students would like to help plant. Mayor Bryan Shock gave approval to do so.

 

Fire: had meeting paid bills

 

EMS: had meeting paid bills

 

Cemetery: none

 

Personnel: none

 

Zoning Commission: Village Administrator advised he would like to meet with the Personnel Committee at 7pm prior to the next meeting.

 

Finance & Rule: Cash balance of all funds $1,096,441.16. Fiscal Officer Michelle Gullett advised that the requested debt/loan figures would be added to the 1st meeting of every month.

 

Water & Sewer: none

 

Village Website & IT: none

 

Unfinished, Old Business and New Business: Mayor Shock wanted to extend condolences on behalf of the Village to the family of Kathy Dornan. She was a past Council member and did a lot of good things for the community.

 

1 st read of ORD 2019-8: an ordinance establishing rate of pay for seasonal Village employees and seasonal admission rates.

 

Next meeting: Thursday, May 9, 2019 at 7:30PM.

Motion by Councilman VanAlstine, seconded by Councilman Yakoubian to adjourn the meeting. Time: 8:51 PM. Vote: 6-0. Motion carried.

 

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______________________________

 

Mayor Bryan Shock Fiscal

 

Officer Michelle Gullett