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EAST LIVERPOOL -- After much discussion and debate during previous committee and council meetings over how the board would operate, East Liverpool City Council voted unanimously to bring back the Board of Public Utilities.
The ordinance which passed by emergency measure on first reading during the June 5 meeting outlined the duties of board members and the position for the director of utilities and giving the board authority to make certain provisions for the sale of the city's personal property and provide for the legal defense of officials.
The board will consist of three members appointed by the mayor with consent of council. Board members will serve with no compensation and their duties will relate to the operation and management of the municipally owned waterworks and sewage disposal plant and system. They will also be able to sell personal property owned by the city which is deemed not fit or needed and valued at less than $1,000.
The ordinance also allows for the creation of the position of director of utilities and the qualifications which must be met to fill this position. Qualifications include: being a resident of the city or becoming a resident within one year of appointment, have five years' experience in operations, maintenance or supervision of a municipal water or sewer plant, have a Class III water/sewer plant license, and be able to perform the following duties: administrate the water and sewer departments, maintain communication with department heads for each department on daily basis, enforce the board's policies and regulations, supervise office staff, billing procedures and customer relations and report monthly to the head of the Utilities Committee.
Council approved an ordinance authorizing the safety/service director to enter into a master tax exempt lease/purchase agreement with American Capital Financial for the purchase of a 2023 International Mv607 Truck.
The safety/service director was also authorized to enter into an agreement with Fidelity Properties (Fidelity National Collections) for collection services in connection with the city's ambulance service. It was noted that residents who agree to a payment plan would not be turned into collections.
An ordinance passed to adjust appropriations.
Council authorized the mayor to grant an easement to the Anthony and Pamela Puorro Family Trust in the vicinity of Avondale Street at a location known as 1204 St. Clair Avenue.
Council approved amending sections of the codified ordinances pertaining to the zoning district map by allowing the reclassification of a medium density residential neighborhood to a neighborhood retail business classification. This is for Russell Motors Ltd., at 1800 Lisbon Street.
A resolution was approved to request the county auditor to certify certain tax valuation information in the city's anticipation of levying a tax in excess of the 10-mill limitation. This is for a five-year renewal levy for the city's fire department.
Council also passed a resolution accepting the amounts and rates as determined by the Budget Commission and authorizing the necessary tax levies.
All ordinances and resolutions passed with all-in-favor votes.
An ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with the Regional Income Tax Agency was on the agenda for the meeting, but scratched before the meeting began.
In his report to Council, Mayor Greg Bricker noted that the new pickleball courts were getting used and the pool would be opening Friday June 9 at 1 p.m.
Bricker has been in communication with the County Land Bank who is helping the city out with the property at 606 Dresden Ave by helping abate the asbestos and moving forward with getting bids to have the building demolished this summer. The mayor said that the building was a safety hazard.
There was a meeting between the city and the school district to get one of the city's police officers back at the high school as a school resource officer and Bricker thinks there is a possibility of making that happen.
"A lot of good things are happening this summer and we just keep moving on," Bricker said. We are waiting on Chef Ray and the Winery to open and there is a lot of good stuff going on."
East Liverpool City Council meets the first Monday of each month in council chambers, on the third floor of City Hall. The next meeting is scheduled for July 3.
The Safety and Rules Committee will meet June 7 at 4:30 p.m. The Finance/Labor Committee will meet June 27 at 3 p.m. and the Licensing/Economic Development Committee will meet June 21 at 6 p.m. All committee meetings will be held in council chambers.
Kgarabrandt@mojonews.com