Aurora City Council & COW - 11/25/24

Aurora, Ohio, City Council & Committee of the Whole
​November 25, 2024

Committee of the Whole (COW): The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by Chairman John Kudley with Council members present: Reva Barner, Brad Duguay, Peter French, George Horvat, Sarah Grdina Gardner,  Dennis Kovach, and Scott Wolf. Council member absent: John Seitz. There were 10 City Officials and Employees present. There were 4 citizens present.

Minutes from November 11, 2024 were adopted.

Finance Director’s Report: Fund balances remain in a healthy position with $51,175,108 unencumbered in all funds and $21,054,951 unencumbered in the General Fund. “As is typical in December, I anticipate proposing a seven-figure transfer out of the General Fund into various capital funds to prepare for our future needs”.

 There were 6 Ordinances proposed for action that evening on 1st Reading:

• An Ordinance reflecting changes in compensation for 3 individuals- a part time patrol officer to full time, 2 promotions from Service Tech II to Service Tech I.
  
• An Ordinance to enter into a 60 month lease agreement with Blue Technologies for 12 copy machines in the amount of $1,406.20 per month per copy fees of $.0037 for black and white pages and $.039 for color pages.
  
• An Ordinance accepting the proposal of OpenGov in an amount not to exceed $373,243.05 for a five year contract to upgrade Planning, Zoning and Building Department’s records management software.
  
• An Ordinance accepting the proposal of R2O Consulting LLC in the amount of $105,000.00 to provide professional engineering services for improvements to the sanitary system within the Geauga Lake neighborhood.
  
• An Ordinance awarding a contract to Trojan Technologies, Inc. in the amount of $221,069.00 for the replacement of the ultraviolet light disinfection equipment at the Westerly Wastewater Treatment plant.
  
• An Ordinance accepting the proposal of Hejduk-Cox and Associates, Inc. in the amount of $62,103.00 to provide professional engineering services for improvements to the sanitary trunkline leading to the Westerly Wastewater Treatment Plant.
  

There was 1 Ordinance proposed for 1st Reading:

• An Ordinance approving and adopting the Annual Budget and Appropriations for Calendar Year 2025.​ 
  

Meeting adjourned at 6:21 pm

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City Council (CC):  Council President George Horvat called the meeting to order at 6:27 pm with the Pledge to the Flag of the United States of America. Council members were present or absent as noted in the COW report. There were 10 City Officials and Employees present and 3 people in the gallery.

November 11, 2024 Meeting Minutes were adopted.

Mayor’s Report: Read by Karen Pope: City Offices will be closed November 28 and 29 in observance of Thanksgiving; Holiday Tree Lighting Festival will be Saturday November 30 from 4:30-7:00 pm at Bicentennial Park; Chamber of Commerce Person and Business of the Year- Rachel Reight and Lee Angelo’s- will be honored at the Aurora Chamber Holiday Luncheon on December 6, 2024 at 11:30 at the Bertram Inn; The Mayor spoke with participants in the Aurora Citizen’s Police Academy and attended the Aurora Schools Foundation Donor Appreciation Night.

Law Director’s Report: Mr. DiPiero’s report was included in the packet.

Citizens Comments: None

Council Remarks: None

Ordinances on 3rd Reading:

• An Ordinance authorizing the renewal of a five-year contract with Ltech Solutions Ltd. In the amount of $150,000.00 per year for information technology consulting services was adopted.
  
• An Ordinance increasing the threshold for capital asset tracking from $2,000.00 to $5,000.00 and the threshold for inventory tracing from $500.00 to $5,000.00 to more closely align with the best practices recommended by the Government Finance Officers Association retroactive to January 1, 2024 was adopted.
  
• The 8 Resolutions concerning the reappointment to various boards and commissions were adopted.
  

Ordinances on 1st Reading:

• An Ordinance from Planning Commission approving a conditional zoning certificate for a home occupation for the property located at 205 Eldridge Rd, in a R-3 Residential Zoning District was adopted with rules suspended. The owner was present and said all business conducted will be remote.
  

• The 6 Ordinances proposed at COW were adopted with Rules suspended. See COW report for details.
  
• An Ordinance approving and adopting the Annual Budget for 2025 went to 2nd Reading.
  

Citizens Comments: None

Council Members Remarks: R. Barner, S. Wolf. G. Horvat and D. Kovach wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

 The meeting adjourned at 6:52 pm.