City Council Council Minutes 11/10/2008 - Council Meeting Minutes Menu
| 11/10/2008 - Council Meeting Minutes |
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CITY OF MAYFIELD HEIGHTS COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES November 10, 2008
The regular meeting of Council was called to order at 7:30 P.M. by Council President Michael Ballistrea.
ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Mr. Michael Ballistrea, Mr. Anthony DiCicco, Mrs. Donna Finney, Mr. Ronald Kobunski, Mr. Sam Mercurio, Mr. David Sasak, Mrs. Diane Snider. ABSENT: None.
Also present were Mayor Gregory Costabile, Mr. Leonard Carr, Mr. Robert Tribby and Ms. Renee Augustine.
The Pledge of Allegiance was said.
Mr. Kobunski moved to suspend reading of the Council minutes of October 27, 2008, and approve as written, seconded by Mr. DiCicco. All in favor, motion carried. Minutes approved .
SPECIAL PRESENTATION Ms. Joanne Mraz from the American Diabetes Association spoke about diabetes. She presented statistics about this preventable disease. The disease is a leading cause of many other ailments. Diet and exercise are important in prevention. She suggested that everyone visit http://www.diabetes.org/ to take a risk assessment.
CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mrs. Finney has received calls from residents who are concerned about Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) buses that are idling on SOM Center Road. Mayor Costabile said that previously buses used the parking lot of Hillcrest Hospital's north campus to turn around and wait for their next run. There is limited space in that parking lot due to the hospital's construction project. He has been in contact with representatives from RTA and has a meeting with Hillcrest Hospital representatives tomorrow morning to discuss this issue. Mr. Ballistrea said the hospital moved employee parking to the north campus so the hospital lot and parking garages are available to patients and visitors. There was a concern with the turn radius for buses at the north campus with everyone now parked there.
REPORTS OF OFFICERS:
Mayor Costabile: Thanked Joanne Mraz of the American Diabetes Association for the presentation this evening. Since the establishment of the Human Resource Director position, the City has initiated wellness and educational programs geared toward the prevention of disease.
Thank you to the Service Department for their work last week in planting over 100 trees along Mayfield Road from the Lyndhurst border east to the Lander Road/Mayfield Road intersection. The trees were purchased with funds from the Community Development Block Grant.
The Brewer-Garrett Company has been advised that City Council approved the recommendation of the Finance Committee providing the Mayor with authorization to negotiate a professional services contract to implement the energy conservation program in the City. The negotiated contract will be presented to City Council for approval.
Meetings have been held with companies that offer "green" janitorial products for City Hall.
The 2008 Road Program is complete. More than fifty percent of the city streets received repairs. There are funds remaining in the budget and that excess will be used to make more road repairs. In an attempt to receive more favorable bids, the City Engineer and Service Director will review the streets this fall and will advertise for bids in the first quarter of 2009.
Mayor Costabile and Law Director Leonard Carr met with Mr. David Hartt, Planning Consultant of DB Hartt, to discuss the development of a mixed-use zoning classification. Mr. Hartt will present the plan at the December 1, 2008, meeting of the Planning Commission.
Mayor Costabile and Recreation Director Sean Ward met with representatives of the LNE Group to pursue grants for recreation issues.
As Safety Director, Mayor Costabile took part in a Shoot/Don't Shoot Range held by the Police Department. The range provides real life scenarios for officer training. These training opportunities keep our safety forces prepared to offer top quality protection to our community.
Public Sector Solutions worked with the Mayor's Office to develop a retail business letter that was sent to 334 tenants and property owners in the retail district. The recipients may also participate in an on-line survey that will enable the City to determine what is working for our businesses and what help they may need from us. A similar letter and on-line survey will be provided for the tenants and property owners in the corporate park. A copy of the letters will be forwarded to City Council.
The 2nd Annual Fall Leaf Pick Up Program sponsored by the Mayor's Community Council and the City of Mayfield Heights was held on Saturday, November 8, 2008. Approximately fifty volunteers, including members of the Mayfield High School Key Club and St. Francis Youth Group, raked leaves at twenty-nine homes of Seniors who were unable to undertake this task on their own. A special thank you to the members of the Mayor's Community Council for the great service they provided.
Director of Law Carr: Mr. Ballistrea received an email from Mr. Carr pertaining to a resident who disagrees with the Regional Income Tax Agency's (RITA) decision to tax stock options. Mr. Carr explained that the resident filed an appeal with RITA arguing the taxability of certain stock options from a previous employer. Codified Ordinance 793.34 stipulates that a Board of Review consisting of the Mayor or his/her designee, the Law Director or his/her designee and a Member of Council to be elected by that body must be convened to hear the appeal. By the end of the month, an organizational meeting will be held with representatives of RITA at which the date of the appeal will be set. The resident, who can retain individual counsel, will argue his/her position at that appeal as will RITA. This is an administrative appeal and whoever loses has the option to appeal to the Court of Common Pleas. Mr. Ballistrea asked if any Member of Council would be willing to serve on this board. Mr. DiCicco volunteered to serve. Mr. Ballistrea called for a vote of affirmation. All in favor; motion carried. Mr DiCicco is the Council Representative to the Board of Review.
Director of Finance Tribby: No report.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS:
Building Committee: Mr. Sasak reported that a meeting will be scheduled in a few weeks.
Finance Committee: No report.
Legislative Committee: No report.
Public Works and Services Committee: Mr. Kobunski complimented the Service Department on planting the trees along Mayfield Road in a timely manner.
Recreation and Parks Committee: Mrs. Snider reported that the committee met last week. Copies of the minutes of the meeting were mailed to all members and are a part of the permanent record. Breakfast with Santa will be held on December 13, 2008. Polar Express tickets are available at the Recreation Department.
Safety and Transportation Committee: No report.
Board of Zoning Appeals: Mr. Kobunski reported that there are no requests to appear and the upcoming meeting has been cancelled.
Commission on Aging: Mr. Ballistrea reported that the commission met last week and he was not in attendance. Copies of the minutes of the meeting were mailed to all members and are a part of the permanent record. The next meeting is scheduled for December 2, 2008.
Mayor Costabile reported that the flu shot program was a success. It was offered this year to all residents eighteen years of age and over. There was no wait in line longer than ten minutes. Applications for the popular Gold Resident program are already coming in for the ceremony next August.
Planning Commission: Mr. Sasak reported that the commission met last week. Copies of the minutes of the meeting were mailed to all members and are a part of the permanent record. There is one motion on the agenda tonight pertaining to the reconfiguration of the parking lot at Golden Gate Shopping Center. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PUBLIC COMMENT: None. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RESOLUTION NO.2008-76: "A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to apply for a grant from the Cuyahoga County department of Development and declaring an emergency (Northwest Mayfield Road Pedestrian Safety Project)". Mr. Carr read the resolution by title only. Mrs. Finney moved for suspension of the rules, seconded by Mr. Mercurio. Roll Call on motion as stated: AYES: Finney, Mercurio, Snider, Kobunski, Sasak, DiCicco, Ballistrea. NAYS: None. Motion carried. Mr. Sasak moved for adoption, seconded by Mrs. Snider. Mr. Ballistrea said that two public meetings were held and all members received a memorandum from Mr. Tribby explaining that Council will need to appropriate matching funds if the grant is received. Mayor Costabile thanked Building Director Jamieson, Finance Director Tribby, City Engineer McCallops and Public Sector Solutions for their work in completing the application. Roll call on motion as stated: AYES: Snider, DiCicco, Sasak, Mercurio, Finney, Kobunski, Ballistrea. NAYS: None. Motion carried. The resolution is adopted.
RESOLUTION NO.2008-77: "A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to apply for a grant from the Cuyahoga County Department of Development and declaring an emergency (Genesee Avenue Street Improvement Project)". Mr. Carr read the resolution by title only. Mrs. Snider moved for suspension of the rules, seconded by Mr. Mercurio. Roll call on motion as stated: AYES: Sasak, Kobunski, DiCicco, Finney, Mercurio, Snider, Ballistrea. NAYS: None. Motion carried. Mr. Sasak moved for adoption, seconded by Mr. Kobunski. Roll call on motion as stated: AYES: Mercurio, Sasak, Kobunski, Snider, DiCicco, Finney, Ballistrea. NAYS: None. Motion carried. The resolution is adopted.
RESOLUTION NO.2008-78: "A Resolution proclaiming November 2008 National Diabetes Awareness Month." Mr. Carr read the resolution by title only. Mrs. Finney moved for suspension of the rules, seconded by Mrs. Snider. Roll call on motion as stated: AYES: Kobunski, Snider, Finney, Mercurio, DiCicco, Sasak, Ballistrea. NAYS: None. Motion carried. Mr. DiCicco moved for adoption, seconded by Mr. Kobunski. Mr. Ballistrea thanked Ms. Mraz for the informative presentation this evening. Roll call on motion as stated: AYES: DiCicco, Mercurio, Sasak, Kobunski, Finney, Snider, Ballistrea. NAYS: None. Motion carried. This resolution is adopted.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ORDINANCE NO.2008-19: "An Ordinance authorizing the continuation of a Section 125 Premium Only Plan in accordance with Internal Revenue Service Regulations, and declaring an emergency." Mr. Carr read the ordinance by title only. Mr. Kobunski moved for suspension of the rules, seconded by Mr. DiCicco. Roll call on motion as stated: AYES: Finney, Mercurio, Snider, Kobunski, Sasak, DiCicco, Ballistrea. NAYS: None. Motion carried. Mr. Mercurio moved for adoption, seconded by Mrs. Finney. Mr. Ballistrea said the members received a memorandum from Mr. Tribby. This is a continuation of a benefit that enables employees to utilize pre-tax dollars to pay for health care. Roll call on motion as stated: AYES: Snider, DiCicco, Sasak, Mercurio, Finney, Kobunski, Ballistrea. NAYS: None. Motion carried. The ordinance is adopted. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mrs. Finney, seconded by Mr. Mercurio, moved to confirm the decision of the Planning Commission approving a final site plan for the parking lot recirculation plan at Golden Gate Plaza, 6420 Mayfield Road. Mr. Ballistrea said all members received a copy of minutes from the Planning Commission. He understands that Mr. Seders has agreed to reduce the turn angles to direct traffic into the appropriate lane. Mr. Sasak confirmed his understanding of that agreement. Mr. Ballistrea asked about a question raised by Mr. Dugovics pertaining to striping. Mr. Sasak said as there was no aerial view available, Mr. Doguovics asked if the striping will be painted on the pavement and was advised that it will be painted. All in favor; motion carried. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW BUSINESS/COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL: Mr. Sasak congratulated the Mayfield High School varsity football team on a wonderful season full of incredible accomplishments. Mr. Ballistrea spoke on behalf of all present saying that they echoed those sentiments. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There being no further business to come before Council, Mr. Ballistrea adjourned the meeting at 8:03 p.m.
Approved: Respectfully submitted,
Michael Ballistrea Renee C. Augustine Council President Acting Deputy Clerk of Council
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