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LISBON -- With coronavirus numbers on the rise, the next meeting of village council will either be at St. George Church hall or on Zoom.
Mayor Peter Wilson said Tuesday that with the county's numbers rising and the possibility of the county moving to level three, red, this week, he no longer feels comfortable with the meeting being held in council chambers in village hall. He suggested moving it online to help keep people from getting sick.
During Tuesday's meeting there were the six council members, Wilson, the fiscal officer, village solicitor, at least four village employees and about 10 others in attendance in the room.
Wilson said they have considered the school auditorium, but there were concerns about the difficulty people had hearing council members talking in that large of a space.
Wilson said with the CARES Act spending, council will all have Chromebooks anyway and they could use them for the meeting. However, it was not known if the Chromebooks would be there by then.
Councilman Jerry Cox said he was in favor of waiting until they know what the governor says later in the week and then deciding. Wilson countered a decision then could not be made until the Nov. 10 meeting.
"I understand your concerns Jerry, but this virus is real," Wilson said.
Cox agreed it is real, stating he has a friend who was hospitalized for 33 days with the coronavirus. Wilson noted he had been on a call with the governor's office and learned 82 of 88 counties now have high incidence of spread of disease.
Instead of Zoom, Cox suggested St. George's hall, where council can spread out or even form a horseshoe with the tables. Councilwoman Dawn Thomas pointed out they also must factor into any place they go the cost of cleaning up after they leave. It was noted the fire department will have a sanitizer that can be used to clean surfaces.
As the discussion continued, Fiscal Officer Tracy Wonner messaged someone involved with St. George to determine the feasibility of using the facility. Council decided to have the next meeting at St. George's hall, unless they learn they cannot use it and then it will be by Zoom.
Wonner also noted anyone wanting to address council by Zoom needs to register to be on the agenda by notifying her by noon on Thursday, Nov. 5, so they know who to unmute to speak during the meeting.
In other matters:
-- The Board of Public Affairs, after having a rate study done, is suggesting a sewer rate increase. The cost would include a 3 percent increase bringing the total rate to $8.09 per 100 cubic feet with a minimum of 200 cubic feet billed bi-monthly. The fee is broken down as $7.09 per 100 cubic feet as a user charge and $1 per 100 cubic feet toward debt service. A second ordinance that was suggested would create a surcharge for out of town residents. While the BPA can increase the water rates, it is up to council to make increases to sewer rates. The last increase was in 2019 and there was no automatic increase in 2020. It was noted the debt service money it would allow them to go after grants to upgrade or replace aging equipment.
Council had the first reading on the sewer rate ordinance, which would take effect in 2021.
-- The fire department will be cleaning out junk from the upstairs of its building and a 30-yard dumpster was approved at a cost of $589. Most of the items are reportedly from the LED light replacement project.
-- Council will accept letters of interest for the seat on the cemetery board opened with the retirement of Barry James through the end of November.
djohnson@mojonews.com