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WELLSVILLE -- A new financial recovery plan will be headed toward the village's Financial Planning and Supervision Commission next week as the village looks to get out of fiscal emergency.
Village council earlier this week approved the mayor's revised financial recovery plan in accordance with state law, which will then be submitted to the financial planning commission. The village was placed in fiscal emergency in November 2016 for the third time.
This marks the second plan submitted to the commission. The original plan, which was approved by council last month, was turned down unanimously by the commission on July 26. Members cited concerns with future incoming funds, including the traffic camera enforcement program with Blue Line Solutions, and the half-percent income tax levy on the November ballot. That plan was submitted to the state 120 days after the formation of the commission, which took place in March.
As with the previous plan, the commission must approve the plan if it can be enacted in a reasonable and timely manner. If rejected, the commission will have to provide reasons for its rejections, and council will have to again come up with another plan.
The second plan, submitted to the state, will be voted on during the next commission meeting at 2 p.m. Aug. 23.
The resolution was one of four pieces of legislature passed by council Tuesday. The other three included an ordinance to authorize and direct the fiscal officer to advertise and receive statements of qualifications for improvements of the village's waste water treatment plant; an ordinance to allow the village administrator to advertise for and receive bids for the sale of the village's 2008 Ford F-450 dump truck; and a resolution to accept the amounts and rates as determined by the budget commission as well as authorize the necessary tax levies and certify them to the county auditor.
In other business:
-- Lt. Marcia Eisenhart announced the police department, in conjunction with the Columbiana Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA), will be collecting toys and household goods, which will go toward women residing in battered shelters after fleeing their homes from other states.
The women, according to Eisenhart, are coming to the area with only what they are wearing. As a result, the department will be looking into getting sizes for children, but sheets for the children and couches in good condition with no holes are also being accepted.
Those who would like to donate or seek more information many contact Eisenhart at the police station or Stacy Willis at Shoub Towers.
-- Murray reported the village received a notice from the Columbiana County Auditor's office, which included a check for $11,004.54, which was for exemptions for village-owned property. The mayor said she had filled out exemptions for properties when she took office in January 2016, and the paperwork had never been done previously.
She also said the village's second and final advance of the real estate tax will be coming in soon, and that the village will be receiving $39,800.
-- Councilman John Cianni provided the latest update on demolitions on properties owned by the county Land Bank. Those demolished by Xtreme Demolition are on Main, Cedar, and Chester streets, with a fourth house, on Fourth Street near the American Legion, in the process of being razed.
Cianni also reported five properties in which individual owners have contracted with the Land Bank for demolition, including two on Center Street, one on Maple Avenue, and one each on Riverside Avenue and Lincoln Street.
Cianni also is advising residents not to park on empty lots, noting the village is still responsible for mowing and maintenance on those lots until sold. In relation to the empty lots, Cianni advised residents who may be interested in purchasing land to contact the Land Bank.
"If you know somebody who is interested, there's lots of empty lots around town," Cianni said. "It would be a prime opportunity because most of them were, like, one eyesore in a perfectly good neighborhood. If you know somebody who wants to build a house or something, there's plenty of lots to do that, or if you happen to live near one of these empty places, please call the Land Bank. Get yourself an extra-sized yard."
The next council meeting will be at 6 p.m. Sept. 5.