Meeting Minutes: December 15, 2009

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Meeting Minutes: December 15, 2009

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS:

Council called to order by Mayor Amy Joseph on
Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 7:30 pm at the Rockford Village Hall.

Invocation was given by Gene Steiner

Pledge of Allegiance

Those present: Gehle, Steiner, McKee, Searight, Pontsler

Also attending: Jeff Long, Judy Koesters, Adam Saunders, Chris Heitkamp, Nancy Leighner, Sue Barna, Betty Belna.

Motion Steiner. Second Searight to accept Agenda as Orders of the Day with correction to Visitors to Address Council. Members of the RADC Pool Committee would like a few minutes.
Gehle called for the question. Steiner = y, Searight = y, Gehle = y, McKee = y, Pontsler = y. Passed 5 yes.

Motion: Searight. Second Steiner to accept the minutes from the December 1, 2009 as submitted by the Fiscal Officer. Gehle called for the question. Searight = y, Steiner = y, Gehle = y, McKee = y, Pontsler = y. Passed 5 yes.

Visitors to Address Council:

Members Nancy Leighner, Sue Barna, and Betty Belna from the RADC spoke to Council. The Candy Cane give away at the 4-way stop was a success. Just another way to get Rockford on the map. The RADC has done a lot of work this past year for a small organization. Comments in previous minutes regarding spending to much time on the pool, shouldn‟t have sounded like Council didn‟t approve or appreciate what the Pool Committee has done. Council is very thankful for all the work done in the past year. The RADC has some more ideas that they will be working on in the upcoming year. Would be nice to get all the organizations in the community to combine their efforts for the common good of Rockford.

THANK YOU „GOLDEN GIRLS‟ FOR ALL YOUR WORK !!! IT‟S MUCH APPRECIATED.

Mayor’s Report and Correspondence:

Letter from Jim Jordan – Congressman, Ohio 4th District:

“Thank you for contacting me regarding the United States Postal Service Processing and Distribution Center in Lima. I appreciate you taking the time to share your concerns with me and for providing our office with the resolution recently passed by your Council.”

“I share your desire to maintain speedy and high quality postal services in our community. My staff and I have met the representatives of the Lima facility, and I appreciate the important points they bring forward. I have also been in contact with Postmaster General John Potter as well as the office of Chu Falling Star, District Manager of the Cincinnati District. I know USPS is considering further consolidation between Lima and Toledo, and I want to take some time to pass along some of the information I have received. “

“According to the Postmaster General, there as been an unprecedented decline in the volume of mail being sent through the USPS. In 2008, mail volume was down 4.5%, which was the largest decline since the Great Depression. This decrease in volume has resulted in a loss of revenue, which has caused serious financial hardship for the USPS, a self-supporting agency that is funded through the revenue that comes from the sale of postal products and services. For fiscal year 2008, the Postal Service saw a net loss of $2.8 billion. The USPS has expressed the need to implement a variety of cost cutting measures to try to reduce their financial decline.”

“In response, I have requested the Postmaster General to provide me a detailed written explanation of the facts and figures behind this proposed consolidation. We are all concerned about the federal government acting in a fiscally responsible way, but it is incumbent upon the postal service to prove that such action would indeed save money while protecting the integrity of the mail delivery and the high quality postal service our residents have come to expect.”

“Again, I share your concerns on the issue, and I value your input. My staff and I will continue to monitor the situation and press for answers from the USPS. In the meantime, I hope you will find the enclosed information helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any other concerns or questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at (202)225-2676 for by email through our website at http://jordan.house.gov.”

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Village Administrator’s Report – Jeff Long

South Main Street Project:

a) Motion McKee. Second Steiner to approve pay application #11 for CTL Engineering for $1,665.14. Pontsler called for the question. McKee = y, Steiner = y, Pontsler = y, Gehle = y, Searight = y. Passed 5 yes,

b) Motion Searight. Second Pontsler to approved pay application #7 for Shinn Bros. in the amount of $42,240 and application #8 in the amount of $27,127.42. Gehle called for the question. Searight = y, Pontsler = y, Gehle = y, Steiner = y, McKee = y. Passed 5 yes.

These payments will be made from the State and the project will be completed with a total cost $1,201,319.18.

Need to contact the owner of home on Columbia St. Area needs to be cleaned up in a timely fashion.

Committee Reports:

Finance Committee – Todd McKee

Motion Steiner, Second Searight to pay bills as submitted by the Fiscal Officer in the amount of $18,047.90. (Mostly audit fees and electric)
Pontsler called for the question. Steiner = y, Searight = y, Ponstler = y,
Gehle = y, McKee = y. Passed 5 yes.

ORDINANCE #06-09
AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR CURRENT EXPENSES AND OTHER EXPENDITURES OF THE VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD, STATE OF OHIO, DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2010.

  • 1st reading – 12/01/09

Motion Searight, Second Steiner to suspend the rules and pass Ordinance 06-09 as an emergency. Ponstler called for the question. Searight = y, Steiner = y, Pontsler = y, Gehle = y, McKee = y. Passed 5 yes.

  • 2nd reading 12/15/09

Motion Steiner, Second Searight to approve Ordinance 06-09. Ponstler called for the question. Steiner = y, Searight = y, Pontsler = y, Gehle = y, McKee= y. Passed 5 yes.

Motion McKee. Second Searight to approve Fund 4908 – Neighborhood Revitalization Project. Gehle called for the question. McKee = y, Searight = y, Gehle = y, Steiner = y, Pontsler = y. Passed 5 yes.

Motion Searight, Second Gehle to approve 2009 supplemental appropriations. Pontsler called for the question. Searight = y, Gehle = y, Ponstler = y,
Steiner = y, McKee = yes.

ServiceCommittee: SteveGehle

Will plan to have a Service Committee Meeting in January.

Motion Steiner. Second McKee to change our first meeting in January from the 5th to the 12th at 6:30 pm. Ponstler called for the question. Steiner = y,
McKee = y, Pontsler = y, Gehle = y, Searight = y. Passed 5 yes.

Safety Committee:

Economic Development Committee: Eugene Steiner

Had meeting with Doug Hole of DJ Auto on Monday – December 14. He has some ideas he would like to discuss in January or February. Will have a business meeting schedule prepared for January meeting.

Public Utilities Committee: Greg Pontsler

Water meters are going good. Should be completed by the end of next week. We will be online with rates and billing by July or August. Residents will be paying for usage.

Rules Committee: Ron Searight

Reported on Rules Committee meeting on December 8, 2009.

Discussion was held concerning overtime as per Employee Handbook Section 4.3 page 16. Employees questioned losing overtime worked while having scheduled day off in same week. Committee decided to delete the following sentence from handbook. “There shall not be included within the overtime calculation any hours attributed to vacation, personal, or sick leave.”

Motion McKee to amend the Employee Handbook regarding overtime. Second Pontsler. Steiner called for the question. McKee = y, Pontsler = y, Steiner = y, Gehle = y, Searight = y. Passed 5 yes.

Ron asked to check resolution pertaining to display of banners on light poles during time Christmas decorations are being displayed. Upon checking banners are not to be displayed at this time.

Also discussed that a street light should be added on East Columbia Street by the Village Hall. Jeff to get a quote.

Old Business

Pontsler – How did the hydrant flushing work? We had a good turn out. Identified and oiled hydrants along with flushing. Good cooperation between Village employees and the Fire Department. Will need to do again in 6 months.

Thanks from Village Employees for the Gift Certificates. Greatly appreciated.

New Business:

 

Meeting adjourned 8:05 pm.