MINUTES
The Village of Evendale
Regular Council Meeting
December 10, 2007
The Village of Evendale held its Regular Council Meeting. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Don Apking. Upon roll call, the following council members were present: Mrs. Carolyn Smiley-Robertson, Mr. Stiney Vonderhaar, Mr. Bill Puthoff, Jr., Mr. Jeff Albrinck, and Mr. John H. Ranz, Jr. Mr. Doug Lohmeier was absent and excused. Also present were: Village Engineer, James Jeffers; Chief Fiscal and Accounting Office, George Snyder; Recreation Director, David Nichols; Village Solicitor, Tim Burke; Economic Director, Linda Fitzgerald and Village Clerk, Michelle Ficke.
The Village of Evendale held a public hearing on the 2008 preliminary budget. There was no discussion. A motion to close the public hearing was made by Mr. Puthoff, seconded by Mr. Vonderhaar and unanimously approved.
Mayor Apking presented the consent calendar. Mrs. Smiley-Robertson wanted to clarify that the December 4th minutes concerning the Gorman Farm should be viewed in the context of the farm expenses in general. Mayor Apking asked for a motion to accept the consent calendar, as corrected, consisting of the Regular Council Meeting Minutes from November 8, 2007 and Special Council Meeting Minutes from December 4 and Organization Meeting Minutes from December 1, 2007; CFO Report for November, 2007; Tax Administrator’s Report for November, 2007; current Departmental Reports. Treasurer’s Report for November, 2007. A motion to accept the consent calendar as amended was made by Mr. Vonderhaar, seconded by Mr. Albrinck and unanimously approved.
There were no Council Committee Reports or Mayor’s Report.
There was no Finance Report.
There was some discussion on the hiring process for the Fire Chief position that will be opening March 1, 2008 when Chief John Vail retires. Mayor Apking said that Mr. Lohmeier should be present for this discussion. He said that he would talk to the ex-fire chief from Sharonville to see if he would recommend in house or outside hiring of a new fire chief. Mayor Apking said that there is also a captain retiring in January and two lieutenants eligible to retire in 2008 so there will be a lot of movement in the fire department next year. Hiring would not take place until February or March after advertising and allowing four weeks as required by the NFTPA. The current eligibility list expires in January, 2008.
Mr. Albrinck asked why we would hesitate to look outside the Evendale Fire Department to fill the Fire Chief Position. Mayor Apking felt that it would be a waste of time and money to go outside and he personally feels there is no need to do so. Mr. Vonderhaar was concerned with moral if it was decided to look outside of the department for a chief. Mayor Apking said if we hire a consultant to go outside it would cost around $8,000-$12,000. He said you really need a professional when you go outside to hire. Mr. Albrinck said that longevity should not be the only requirement for fire chief. Significant weight and time in the department will be considered but we want to hire the very best applicant whether that be from inside or outside the department. We owe it to the residents and businesses to look for the absolute best person to fill this
position. Mayor Apking said that he would have data for council to consider in January regarding this issue. Mr. Burke said that only a resolution or motion of council is needed to expand the pool one level down or to the outside.
Peggy Paff, Executive Director of the Gorman Heritage Farm Foundation addressed council. Holiday at the Farm will be held Saturday, December 15 from 2:00-8:00 pm. The farm is all lit up and is a whole different experience in the dark. There will be crafts and food as well.
They have stepped up their marketing efforts. They have a full time events and marketing person. They have published press releases in a wider variety of newspapers to reach other communities in the city. They have redone all of their brochures in house to keep costs down. They participated in taste of Blue Ash and neighbor to neighbor and even some parades to expand marketing and reach out to communities beyond Evendale. They have a new farmer, Tim Smith. He has a great can-do attitude, a BS in Animal Sciences, MA in Agronomy and is working on his PhD. Three things they have asked him to explore is how to generate more revenue from farming, a five year plan for farming properties and that all animals have purpose on the farm, i.e., slaughtered, milked, eggs, etc.
Mayor Apking said that thus far there are four applicants for the Village Clerk position and the deadline for applications is Friday, December 14th.
Mayor Apking said that there is $100,000 in the 2007 budget for the Civic Center renovation. He will not spend it all in 2007, only about $20,000. He is meeting with the commission from 3:00-5:00 tomorrow to see how to best spend the money. He will come back to council to re-appropriate the money that they don’t spend for the 2008 fiscal year. The goal is to open in March or April of 2008.
Mayor Apking presented Ordinance #07-69, ORDINANCE APPOINTING/PROMOTING JOEL N. WARD AS PERMANENT VILLAGE OF EVENDALE POLICE OFFICER AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. A motion to read Ordinance #07-69 by title only was made by Mr. Vonderhaar, seconded by Mr. Puthoff and unanimously approved on roll call. A motion to suspend the second and third readings of the ordinance was made by Mr. Albrinck, seconded by Mrs. Smiley-Robertson and unanimously approved on roll call. A motion to adopt Ordinance #07-69 as an emergency was made by Mr. Ranz seconded by Mr. Puthoff and unanimously approved on roll call. Mayor Apking declared Ordinance #07-69 adopted as an emergency.
Mayor Apking presented Ordinance #07-70, APPROVING ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS IN VARIOUS FUNDS, TRANSFERRING FUNDS AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. A motion to read Ordinance #07-70 by title only was made by Mr. Vonderhaar, seconded by Mr. Albrinck and unanimously approved on roll call. A motion to suspend the second and third readings of the ordinance was made by Mr. Puthoff, seconded by Mr. Vonderhaar and unanimously approved on roll call. A motion to adopt Ordinance #07-70 as an emergency was made by Mrs. Smiley-Robertson seconded by Mr. Albrinck and unanimously approved on roll call. Mayor Apking declared Ordinance #07-70 adopted as an emergency.
Mayor Apking presented Ordinance #07-71, ORDINANCE MAKING ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR CURRENT EXPENSES AND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2008 AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. A motion to read Ordinance #07-71 by title only was made by Mr. Puthoff, seconded by Mr. Albrinck and unanimously approved on roll call. A motion to suspend the second and third readings of the ordinance was made by Mr. Puthoff, seconded by Mr. Ranz and unanimously approved on roll call. A motion to adopt Ordinance #07-71 as an emergency was made by Mr. Albrinck seconded by Mrs. Smiley-Robertson and unanimously approved on roll call. Mayor Apking declared Ordinance #07-71 adopted as an emergency.
Mayor Apking presented Ordinance #07-72, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO HIRE PART-TIME EMPLOYEES AND SETTING PAY RATES AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. A motion to read Ordinance #07-72 by title only was made by Mr. Puthoff, seconded by Mr. Ranz and unanimously approved on roll call. A motion to suspend the second and third readings of the ordinance was made by Mr. Vonderhaar, seconded by Mr. Puthoff and unanimously approved on roll call. A motion to adopt Ordinance #07-72 as an emergency was made by Mr. Ranz seconded by Mr. Albrinck and unanimously approved on roll call. Mayor Apking declared Ordinance #07-72 adopted as an emergency.
Mayor Apking presented Ordinance #07-73, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING MAYOR TO HIRE PART-TIME EMPLOYEES AND SETTING PAY RATES AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Mr. Puthoff recused himself from the vote. A motion to read Ordinance #07-73 by title only was made by Mr. Vonderhaar, seconded by Mrs. Smiley-Robertson and unanimously approved on roll call. Since there were only four council members to vote on the ordinance and a majority vote of five is needed to suspend the second and third readings of the ordinance and adopt it as an emergency, Mayor Apking declared this a First Reading of Ordinance #07-73.
Mayor Apking presented Ordinance #07-74, ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 1612 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE VILLAGE OF EVENDALE AMENDING THE FIRE PREVENTION CODE, PRESCRIBING REGULATIONS GOVERNING CONDITIONS HAZARDOUS TO LIFE AND PROPERTY FROM FIRE OR EXPLOSION AND DEFINING THE OFFICERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CODE’S ENFORCEMENT AND DEFINING THEIR POWERS AND DUTIES AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. A motion to read Ordinance #07-74 by title only was made by Mr. Albrinck, seconded by Mr. Vonderhaar and unanimously approved on roll call. A motion to suspend the second and third readings of the ordinance was made by Mrs. Smiley-Robertson, seconded by Mr. Puthoff and unanimously approved on roll call. A motion to adopt Ordinance #07-74 as an emergency was made by Mr. Ranz seconded by Mrs. Smiley-Robertson and unanimously approved on roll call. Mayor Apking declared Ordinance #07-74 adopted as an emergency.
Mayor Apking presented Ordinance #07-75A, ORDINANCE APPROVING SIGN VARIANCE FOR THE EVENDALE CHURCH OF CHRIST AT 3789 GLENDALE MILFORD ROAD and Ordinance #07-75B, ORDINANCE DENYING SIGN VARIANCE FOR THE EVENDALE CHURCH OF CHRIST AT 3789 GLENDALE MILFORD ROAD. James Jeffers explained that this was sent back to Planning Commission and they recommended to council that it be illuminated from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm since it is in a residential area and that it be 35 ft from the curb. Sign Variance also recommended for this. It is comparable to the other church signs in the area. Mr. Vonderhaar recused himself from the vote for possible conflict of interest because he owns the property across the street. Mr. Burke explained that there is no conflict of interest if he is not living at the property. Therefore, Mr. Vonderhaar was not recused from
voting. Mr. Ranz made a motion to act on Ordinance #07-75A as amended by Planning Commission. The motion was seconded by Mr. Vonderhaar and unanimously approved on roll call. A motion to read Ordinance #07-75A by title only was made by Mr. Puthoff, seconded by Mrs. Smiley-Robertson and unanimously approved on roll call. A motion to suspend the second and third readings of the ordinance was made b Mr. Ranz, seconded by Mr. Puthoff and unanimously approved on roll call. A motion to adopt Ordinance #07-75A as an emergency was made by Mr. Puthoff, seconded by Mrs. Smiley-Robertson and unanimously approved on roll call. Mayor Apking declared Ordinance #07-75A adopted as an emergency.
Mr. Vonderhaar made a motion to table indefinitely Ordinance #07-75B, ORDINANCE DENYING SIGN VARIANCE FOR THE EVENDALE CHURCH OF CHRIST AT 3789 GLENDALE MILFORD ROAD. The motion was seconded by Mr. Puthoff and unanimously approved on roll call. Mayor Apking declared Ordinance #07-75B tabled indefinitely.
There were no other items to go before Council. A motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Vonderhaar, seconded by Mrs. Smiley-Robertson and unanimously approved. Council adjourned at 7:42 pm.
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Mayor
Attest:
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Village Clerk
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