Here is the video from the council meeting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7J7c4g3O8o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7J7c4g3O8o
In the Work Session, we mostly just went over what we would be voting on.
In the Regular Session:
Mayor Koci did presentations to several Fire Department members for saving a young lady’s life recently. She had an unexpected cardiac arrest and they were able to revive her. The woman was on hand with her family to thank the firefighters personally. Channel 19 News was also on-hand, so you may see it on TV.
Highlights of the reports:
- Civil service exam is on April 7th. May 19th there will be a Firefighter’s Exam. Head up to City Hall if you or someone you know has an interest in applying for either of those jobs.
- The Tax Department will be at City Hall on April 7th & 14 for help with filing City taxes, in case you cannot make it during the week.
- The Bedford Easter Egg Hunt will be March 24th at 10AM at the Bedford High School Bearcats Stadium.
- In June, permits from the Building Department will be free.
- There will be a ward meeting for Wards 1 & 4 on March 26th.
- The gas company was having trouble boring at Taylor and Broadway. They have finally given up. They have now proposed an alternative plan which will involve open cutting the street and sidewalk.
- April 29th is the Rotary Club Fun Run, Pancake Breakfast and High School Art Show
- Walter Genutis (W2) is working on getting a Community Wellness grant
- Chipper service will start in April
The Council Voted on:
– Additional appropriations – this was mostly leftover grant money from last year (passed)
– To levy assessments against homes that have delinquent water bills. There are currently 64 homes delinquent on their water bills. (passed)
– Purchasing new vehicles – These vehicles were budgeted for but Council opted to do first reading so that additional information could be gathered. The quotes were all within less than 10% of each other so the Council could opt to go with a local business rather than the cheapest business (which was not local). The Council wanted to have more information before deciding on this. (1st reading on all of them)
– To amend Ordinance 915.03 & 915.10 – This is the “dumpster law”. It basically requires property owners of either larger residential or commercial properties to either provide trash facilities or alternative trash removal plans for their tenants. It also removes some archaic, outdated language and bans using municipal trash cans from being used to dispose of residential or commercial trash. If you will be affected by this law and have issues with it, please contact your council person to express your concerns. (1st reading)
– Accepting the police contract – The new police contract has several changes. Among them is putting more of the prescription costs on the employees who choose brand names over generic and also charging more for specialty drugs. Smokers will be charged $20 more a month for their insurance. And capping longevity for new hires. (passed)
– Authorizing a contract with the Village of Orange to handle their jail needs. (passed)
– Accepting properties from the Land Bank. Land bank tore the buildings down on these properties and the City would sell them to neighbors of the properties. Cost of each property is $1 to the City. Council opted to do firat reading so that we can make sure someone actually want to buy them and the City would not get saddled with the cost of maintaining the property. (1st reading)
– Creating a lease to use part of the Cleveland Metroparks properties for Parks & Recreation Parks and Fields. This is a longstanding agreement and has no cost to the City beyond maintaining the properties they are already using. (passed)
– Purchase a much larger bucket truck. This is a used bucket truck. The money to pay for this would come from the budget line item that was for a new stump grinder. Instead of a stump grinder, the City would purchase this truck. This truck would save on several rental and contractor expenses. (passed)
– Updating even more Building Department Code so that Council will not have to vote on already State required building code updates. (passed)