Aurora City Council & COW - 2/10/25

Aurora, Ohio, City Council and Committee of the Whole
February 10, 2025

Committee of the Whole (COW): The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by Chairman John Kudley with all Council members present: Reva Barner, Brad Duguay, Peter French, Sarah Grdina Gardner, George Horvat,   Dennis Kovach, John Seitz and Scott Wolf.   There were 8 City Officials and Employees present. There were 2 citizens present.

Minutes from January 27, 2025 were adopted. 

 There were 3 Ordinances proposed for action that evening on 1st Reading:

• An Ordinance amending Employees Generally to reflect changes in compensation for an employee who is transferring from Service Department to Parks and Recreation at the same pay and Tech II designation.
• An Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to execute a lease agreement with Aurora Community Theater for space at the city owned library building.
• An Ordinance selecting the bid of an awarding a contract to Gardiner Service Company for a one year contract for the annual maintenance of HVAC units within city buildings not to exceed $50,000.00 and having the option to renew the contract for the second and third year at the same not to exceed $50,000.00. They will also perform repairs if needed.

There were 2 Ordinances proposed for 1st Reading:

• An Ordinance accepting the quotation and authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with ClearSpan in the amount of $85,220.58 for the design, purchase and installation of a salt dome, replacing the one from 2000. A concrete company will do the concrete work.
• An Ordinance authorizing the purchase of a 2025 Grapple Brush Truck from Brown Equipment Company in the amount of $240,900.00 to replace a 2006 truck. In answer to questions by Council members Mr. Stark replied that delivery time should be by April and is also used to pick up dead deer. The truck comes fully equipped except for a driver.

Meeting adjourned at 6:09 pm

---

City Council (CC):  Council President George Horvat called the meeting to order at 6:13 pm with the Pledge to the Flag of the United States of America. All Council members were present as noted in the COW report. There were 8 City Officials and Employees present and 2 people in the gallery.

Reconsideration of a Prior Action: A Resolution confirming the Mayor’s appointment of Mr. John C. Jones to Aurora’s Planning Commission, replacing Connie Lewandowski for the term ending December 31, 2025 had “and declaring an emergency to ensure the continuity of the Planning Commission” added since an emergency clause was needed so he could participate in the decisions of the Commission. This was adopted with rules suspended.

January 27, 2025 Meeting Minutes were adopted. 

Mayor’s Report: Karen Pope read the report mentioning The State of the City luncheon on February 26th at the Bertram Inn  with registration deadline February 14. Since the last meeting she spoke at the Fire Department’s annual meeting, visited Godfrey & Wing with Economic Development Director Holly Harris Band, attended the grand opening of 56 Tavern at the Aurora Inn and recorded her February Community Focus report.

Law Director’s Report: Mr. DiPiero called attention to Ord 2025-021 which extends the moratorium until December 31, 2025 with respect to Vape and Smoke shops so that there is enough time to get recommendations so they can properly regulate these businesses.

Citizens Comments -  Legislation: None
Council Remarks – Legislation: None

Ordinance on 3rd Reading:

• An Ordinance creating 3 new funds for the Bainbridge Aurora JEDD Fund was adopted.
  

Ordinances on 2nd Reading:

• An Ordinance from City Council approving the text of the changes of Aurora’s City Charter, as approved by the voters at the November 5, 2024 election and as completed by Aurora’s Clerk of Council and its Law Director went to 3rd Reading. 
  
• An Ordinance from City Council approving and adopting the current replacement pages of the Aurora Codified Ordinances, as prepared by the Walter H Drane Company and verified by the Clerk of Council, went to 3rd Reading.
  

Ordinances on 1st Reading: 

• An Ordinance from the Mayor, Horvat & Wolf extending the moratorium until December 31, 2025 with respect to the submission and acceptance of applications and the issuance of permits for vape shops, e-cigarette shops, smoke shops, tobacco shops and shops that sell any product related to CBD, cannabidiol oils or edibles was adopted with rules suspended.
  
• The 3 Ordinances proposed for action this evening were adopted with rules suspended (see COW for details).
  
• The 2 Ordinances proposed for first reading for the Salt Dome and the Grapple/Brush Truck purchase went to 2nd Reading (see COW for details).
  

Citizens Comments: H Caplin, the owner of 7 ½ acres in Aurora, said that he has been in touch with the Law Director and is waiting to hear from Planning and Zoning for someone to appraise the property.

Council Members Remarks: Mr. Wolf thanked Assistant Fire Chief Lutz and N. Miller for how they handled an incident of a young man who broke his femur and the difficult circumstances of icy roads to render aid.
  Mr. Kudley spoke about 2 upcoming events at the Aurora Historical Society: February 20 with guest speaker talking about Aurora’s secessionists and March 13 with guest speaker talking about Cleveland Indian Larry Doby.
   Ms. Grdina Gardner thanked the citizen and EMS for their help when she suffered a life threatening allergy reaction to nuts- they saved her life.

 The meeting adjourned at 6:33 pm.

​