Council of the Village of Yellow Springs

MINUTES

IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS May 1, 2006

CALL TO ORDER
Council President Jocelyn Hardman called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.

ROLL CALL
Jocelyn Hardman, Karen Wintrow, Bruce Rickenbach, Judith Hempfling and Kathryn Chase were present, as was the Village Manager Eric Swansen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Hempfling announced that the Environmental Commission is hosting an Eco Yard Tour at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 3, 2006 and Botanist Don Cipollini will offer a keynote address at the Senior Center from 1 p.m.

REVIEW OF THE MINUTES
Review of the minutes from May 1, 2006 regular meeting. Rickenbach MOVED and Wintrow SECONDED a MOTION to APPROVE the minutes as amended. The MOTION PASSED.

REVIEW OF AGENDA

PETITIONS/COMMUNICATIONS
The Clerk will receive and file:
AMP-Ohio Newsletter(s)
Lt. Governor Bruce Johnson re: TEL
Notice: NBA Ohio Chapter Brownfield Conference
Notice: TEL Impact Trainings
OML Legislative Committees Schedule for May 8 th & 15 th
Clerk: Membership Roster-Commissions and Boards
Todd Leventhal re: Stanley Hall
Mary Agna re: Activities of the YS Senior Citizens Center &
Greene County Council on Aging
Greene County Parks Weekender Update
Amended Mayor’s Monthly Statement
First Presbyterian Church re: Handicapped Parking

PUBLIC HEARINGS/LEGISLATION

1st Reading and PH of Ordinance #2006-13 Annual Fund Transfers as an Emergency. Rickenbach MOVED and Wintrow SECONDED a MOTION for APPROVAL. The total of $1,025,754 would be transferred from the General Fund to various other funds, as they are certified and available. Hardman opened the public hearing. Having no comments, Hardman closed the public hearing. The roll was called. The MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Resolution #2006-17 Establishing a Voluntary Retirement Incentive. Rickenbach MOVED and Wintrow SECONDED a MOTION for APPROVAL. Swansen explained that the employees belong to either OPERS (Ohio Public Employees Retirement System) or OP&F (Ohio Police & Fire) in lieu of belonging to social security. Swansen further explained that the Plan should begin on June 1, 2006 and terminate on June 1, 2007. The Plan would affect approximately 25% of the staff, which is approximately nine employees. Two years of service is the maximum benefit although an employee would have to be least 55 years of age with a minimum of 24 years of service or any age with 29 years of service. The Plan shall be in effect for a minimum of one year and would follow the grievance procedure listed in the Village’s Employee Personnel Policy Manual. This Voluntary Retirement Incentive Program is for non-uniformed staff members in Ohio Public Employees Retirement System. Swansen stated that if this resolution were approved, the next step would be getting the minutes approved so that they could be certified and sent to OPERS with the signed legislation. The MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. Council agreed to review the minutes of this meeting at their special meeting scheduled for May 30 th .

CITIZENS CONCERNS
Brenda McDonald stated that she had witnessed a contractor who was working on renovations at the Methodist Church on Winter St. pour cement into the sewer. She had contacted the OhioEPA and was told that this was illegal dumping.

Bob Brecka encouraged the Council to work with the various groups in support addressing problems of peak oil and global warming. Hardman suggested and Council members agreed to the Environmental Commission working with Community Services in order to provide recommendations to Council on actions it could take regarding peak oil and global warming.

SPECIAL REPORTS
No special reports were scheduled.

OLD BUSINESS
Review of the HRC Brochure. Hempfling distributed a black and white draft of the brochure. The phone number currently listed is the same as the Village Mediation Program. However Swansen suggested the phone number should be tied to a cellular phone rather than a landline. Council members offered some editing suggestions and asked about the cost of printing the brochure in color. Hempfling would come back to Council with a revised draft of the brochure and the cost of printing. HRC would pursue donation of the printing to offset the cost.

Volunteer Response 2nd Draft. Council agreed to review a draft of an acknowledgment letter that could be sent to applicants. Wintrow would compose the draft. Council would also review a general application form that could be used in addition to or instead of a resume.

Agenda of Joint Meeting-Miami Township Trustees and Council. Council will meet with the Miami Township Trustees on May 30 th in Meeting Rooms A and B of the Bryan Center.

NEW BUSINESS
Overview of Mandated Village Services. Swansen explained that there were three sources of law; the State of Ohio Constitution, the Ohio Revised Code and the Village Charter by which mandated services have been established. Swansen explained that the Village’s in-house mandated services include legislative functions, fiduciary responsibilities and land use planning.

Mandated services that could be fulfilled by another entity other than the Village would include accounts payable, receivables, payroll, records management, human resources and risk management. The Village is mandated to provide public safety, which includes police, dispatch, fire protection and emergency service, this could also be provided by an outside entity.

According to the Charter, the Village must also provide a Village Solicitor, Mayor’s Court, Board of Zoning Appeals, and a Treasurer.

The Village has contractual obligations to private parties related to debt. The Village currently has $1.9 Million in debt.

Services that are provided by the Village but are not required include the Bryan Community Center, the YS Library, the Pottery Shed, Parks, Gaunt Park Pool, Cable TV, street- lights, and animal control.

Council requested and Swansen agreed to include the costs, revenues, alternatives and pros and cons of each of these services in his next presentation.

MANAGER’S REPORT

Swansen announced June 12 th is the beginning of Clean-Up Week. He would be meeting with First Energy in Akron to discuss electric service. The Gaunt Park Swimming Pool will open June 5 th.

STANDING REPORTS
Council agreed to review the membership of all commissions, committees and boards at its second meeting of the month during Standing Reports.

Kathryn Chase Village Mediation Program
Bruce Rickenbach Community Council
Judith Hempfling Environmental Commission
Judith Hempfling Human Relations Commission: Has one vacancy.
Kathryn Chase Cable Advisory Panel (On file): Has one vacancy. The Panel has requested amendments to the ordinance that would include decreasing the term length and increasing the membership.
Karen Wintrow Chamber of Commerce
Jocelyn Hardman Reg. Planning & Coord. Comm. Greene Cty.
Jocelyn Hardman Library Commission
Bruce Rickenbach Planning/Bike Comm./N. Gateway Commission (On file): The Northern Gateway Project could be postponed for one year. This would give the committee more time to fundraise for the project.
Karen Wintrow Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (On file)

AGENDA PLANNING
The next meeting of the Council of the Village of Yellow Springs will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 5, 2006 in Council Chambers, John Bryan Community Center, 100 Dayton Street.

Items for discussion on Monday, June 5th:
Resolution: Establishing a Special Revenue Fund-Commerce Park
Revenue Sources-Program Cuts-Non-mandatory
Annual Report-Bike Enhancement/Northern Gateway Committee Volunteer Response
Amending Cable Advisory Panel Ordinance

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Resolution re: Awarding Bid-Dayton Street
Ordinance re: Parking-Bike Lane
Council Goal Outline-High Speed Internet
Approval of the Tax Budget
Guidelines for Utility Resolution Dispute Commission
Fairfield Pike/Polecat Rd Citizen’s Petition Update
Katrina Relief
Greenspace Fund
Sidewalk Obstructions
Interview for Village Treasurer
Municipal Credit Card
Pole Contact Agreements
Marking State Route 68 Bikeway
Conservation Easement-Well fields
Parks & Recreation Master Plan
Review of the Village Manager Search Process

EXECUTIVE SESSION
There was no Executive Session scheduled for this meeting.

ADJOURNMENT
Having no further business, Rickenbach MOVED and Wintrow SECONDED a MOTION to ADJOURN. The MOTION PASSED at 9:29p.m.