Council to watch budget in new year
By ERIN COLELLA (Special to The Review)SALINEVILLE - In the first meeting of 2009, Salineville Council continued to discuss past issues and will continue watching the budget, as they hired a part-time employee for the sewage plant but opted out of hiring two more part-time patrolmen.
Brad Ketchum was hired as the part-time sewage operator of the plant at minimum wage which has increased to $7.30 from $7 at the start of 2009. The job entails maintaining operations of the plant, located off state Route 39, for up to 24 hours per week.
Mayor Dave Berta recommended to Council Ketchum be hired for the position and hoped he will be able "to grow into the position" over time.
Ketchum will be trained on site and will take the required courses needed to fulfill the duties.
When it comes to police protection, Council chose not to hire two individuals part time as recommended by Berta and police Chief Tim LaClair.
"We can't afford them," Council member Kathy Detchon stated.
Councilman Rick Beadle said, "We can have them, but I don't see how we can pay them."
Fiscal officer and village clerk Melissa Baker said this year will be a challenge since the village is going to have a $30,000 deficit and will try to make up for lost income tax revenue.
"All bills (have been) paid by the end of the year," Baker said about 2008. "We're still in the black."
Council member Linda Beadnell suggested getting the finance committee together soon in order to propose further cuts in spending.
In other business, the issue of employee sick leave was brought up again, but Council considered the ordinance a "dead issue."
Baker proposed that employees receive more than five days of sick and personal leave combined since the village eliminated personal and bereavement time.
In other news:
Linda Crawford, owner of the almost completed carryout pizza shop on Main Street, requested Council put up signs to reserve three spaces for parking in front of the shop. After some discussion, Council agreed probably only two spaces will fit without taking away from the apartment parking spaces or being too close to the fire hydrant. Berta said he will measure the area this week.
Council approved the first reading which allows the transfer of money from magistrate court - which handles misdemeanours like traffic citations and filing taxes - into the general fund instead of being placed in a separate account. Baker said she will continue to dismiss the cases when residents prove they already have filed their taxes as to avoid being charged court fines, citing that sometimes the Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA) makes a mistake.
Fire Chief Jeff Lewis released a year-end report to Berta during the meeting. According to Lewis, the department has handled 126 total calls with 84 emergency medical calls included and five structure fires for the 2008 year.
The next regular meeting is scheduled at 7 p.m. Jan. 26 in village hall.
