Mayor Nathan Frisch called the December 22, 2022 Village of Attica Council regular meeting to order at 7:33 PM.
Roll Call: Ed Beamer, Tim Bulger, Lynn Love, Louis Sanders, Kirk Stanfield
Others Present: Alyssa Mason, Billing Clerk
Approval of Warrants: Motion by Councilman Bulger, seconded by Councilman Beamer to approve the warrants for payment. Vote: 5-0. Motion carried.
Approval of Minutes: Motion by Councilman Bulger, seconded by Councilman Beamer to approve the minutes. Vote: 5-0. Motion carried.
Written & Oral Communication: Alyssa Mason was present to update Council on some issues she has encountered as billing clerk. Alyssa reported that she received a call from utility customer, Melissa Evans, who reported that she has not received a utility bill but reports she made a $200-$300 cash payment in August around the 21st-22nd in the drop box. Alyssa reported no record of this payment on Melissa’s account. Alyssa reported customers bills do come back as undeliverable if they are not delivered and she does not have an undelivered bill for her. Alyssa also reported an old bill in the amount of $837.45 from 2010 from Dr. Robert and Nicole Wright. Alyssa asked if she could write that bill off. FO Hatfield suggested a tax assessment, but planned to do a little research.
Public Safety: Councilman Bulger asked if the FO had received reports from the sheriff’s office. FO Hatfield agreed to follow up with Deputy Chuck as she still has not heard anything.
Streets & Properties: None.
Parks: Councilwoman Love reported she would like to order swings but she plans to wait until January.
Trees: Councilman Beamer reported we will find our weak trees over the next few days with the expected weather forecast.
Fire: Councilman Bulger reported AVR had 230 calls for service, November had 15 total calls, all but one was in our jurisdiction. AVR is looking to get a new generator in reaction to weather coming.
EMS: Councilwoman Love reported she attended a meeting with Commissioner Tony Paradiso, Dean Henry, and herself to review contracts and discuss paying personnel. Later in the day she met with all 16 board members, Attorney Dean Henry, Attorney Derek Devine, Julie Adkins to make sure that they have all the paperwork needed for the UAN switchover. Derek missed a resolution that he thought only the ambulance districts needed but actually may surpass their own resolution, so the tax monies go into the new Seneca County joint district which was passed/formed on November 7 prompting resolution 2022-20.
RES 2022-20 Directing Funds to the Seneca County Joint Ambulance District
Motion to suspend the three-read rule by Councilman Bulger, seconded by Councilwoman Love. Vote: 5-0 Motion carried.
Motion to declare an emergency Councilman Bulger, seconded by Councilwoman Love. Vote: 5-0.
Motion carried.
Motion to adopt by Councilman Bulger, seconded by Councilwoman Love. Vote: 5-0. Motion carried.
Resolution passed.
Cemetery: Councilman Sanders reported the committee has received several complaints about the footers and the stones tipping. When the warm weather comes they are planning to find a company to pour new footers.
Personnel: Councilman Beamer spoke with Gary about staying for $60 an hour. Councilman Beamer stated that he told Gary we would leave him alone in March. Gary asked if the $60 an hour could include him or Jeret up to 35 hours per week between the two of them. Ed reported if it required more than 35 hours Gary agreed to work the additional hours at $21 dollars an hour. Councilwoman Love stated these agreements need to be separate, one for Gary one for Jeret. Councilman Beamer stated regardless we would be paying $60 an hour for 35 hours per week. Councilwoman Love then asked how could Gary work 35 hours a week when before it was stated a licensed operator needs to be at the plant 40 hours a week. Councilman Beamer stated he figured a 5-hour violation would be better than a 40-hour violation. Gary and Jeret would be required to stay under 35 hours to keep them as part-time, meaning they would be receiving no health insurance or other benefits. Councilwoman Love stated nobody asked the Fiscal Officer if we could afford this and we were already told the budget isn’t balanced for water. FO Hatfield stated that we could afford to pay $60 an hour for up to 35 hours per week through March with the understanding we couldn’t afford to hire another operator in the meantime and not taking into consideration replacing him in March. Councilman Stanfield requested Council get Gary’s annual report with the plant’s metrics including how much water we are producing sometime in January as opposed to later in the year. Councilman Beamer is going to reach out to the Solicitor for guidance. The discussion was held to be discussed at a planned special meeting on December 31, 2022 at 9 am.
Zoning Commission: Councilman Sanders reported receiving a call from North Central Electric requesting to install a sign on their building. None of Council had the Zoning guidelines, so FO Hatfield emailed it to them. Councilman Sanders is going to review the guidelines and get back to North Central Electric. Councilman Beamer had a call from Viasat wanting to put up a satellite for internet. Councilman Sanders is also going to look into that.
Finance and rule: Cash balance: $1,505,402.68. All funds includes CDs and reserved or restricted funds, and debt reserve funds.
FO Hatfield presented Ordinance 2022-18 2023 Temporary Appropriations for the second reading. FO Hatfield did make changes to bring the water fund to even. She took 10,000 out of Chemicals and 2,500 out of Contract Services until we have final year end fund balance. She was open to suggestions from Council. Councilman Love reminded Council that FO removed appropriation for meters as well. Council did recall the Rescue funds could be used for meters.
Water & Sewer: Councilman Beamer spoke to Makeever’s Office regarding the water treatment plant bid documents. They hoped to have a rough draft of the bid documents together by next week. Councilman Beamer also stated Makeever’s Office is looking into a contract operator for us. Councilwoman Love asked if there was a proposal for preparing the bid documents. Councilman Beamer stated he forgot to ask. Councilman Beamer did offer to have Makeever’s office halt all work. Councilman Sanders spoke up and stated he would like the process to continue. Councilman Stanfield expressed disdain related to working with Makeever’s Office. Councilman Bulger stated that he would like the record to reflect that Councilman Stanfield’s opinion is only his opinion. Councilman Stanfield maintained that the Village doesn’t need a bid package. Councilman Bulger, Sanders, and Beamer all asked how Councilwoman Love reminded Council that the Solicitor didn’t feel comfortable preparing the bid documents, Councilman Beamer stated that is why we want to work with Makeever. Councilman Beamer reported that he heard that Willard would like to sell the village water. Based on hearsay, Councilman Beamer stated Willard would install lines to county line. It would be up to us to get lines to county line. He will be meeting next week to discuss further.
FO Hatfield did let Council know the sewer fund is healthy and it would be safe to hold the 3% raise for this year. Councilman Bulger moved to maintain 2022 sewer rates for 2023, Councilman Beamer seconded. Vote: 5-0. Motion carried.
Councilman Stanfield moved to suspend the $17.25 sewer flat rate charged monthly/ monthly meter tax, no one seconded the motion. Councilwoman Love suggested tabling until Councilman Stanfield had further information.
Village Website & IT: none
Unfinished, Old Business and New Business: Councilman Bulger stated the speed limit signs are no longer reflecting light, he requested to replace. Also, he stated there is a 25 mph sign by Eden St is set back too far off of the road. He asked if we could move that closer to the road.
Next meeting: Special meeting December 31, 2022 at 9 am. Regular meeting: Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 7:30 PM.
Motion by Councilman Bulger, seconded by Councilman Beamer to adjourn the meeting. Time: 8:45 PM. Vote: 5-0. Motion carried.
