Aurora City Council & COW - 4/22/24

Aurora, Ohio, City Council and Committee of the Whole
​April 22, 2024

Committee of the Whole (COW): The meeting was called to order at 6:15 by Chairman John Kudley with Council members Brad Duguay, Reva Barner, George Horvat, Dennis Kovach, John Seitz and Scott Wolf present. Sarah Grdina Gilmore and Peter French were  absent. There were 8 City Officials and Employees present. There were 2 citizens present.

Minutes from April 9, 2024 were adopted with S. Wolf abstaining.

Finance Director’s Report: Timothy Clymer reported the Fund balances remain in a healthy position with $42,637,561 unencumbered in all funds and $13,661,569 unencumbered in the General Fund.

 There were 8 Ordinances proposed for action that evening on 1st Reading. 

• An Ordinance amending “Employees Generally” to reflect changes in compensation for 1 newly hired seasonal individual.
  
• An Ordinance amending the contract with Environmental Design Group for additional engineering and design services for the Aurora Trail Phase 1 Project in an amount not to exceed $20,000.00.
  
• An Ordinance authorizing the closing costs not to exceed $21,000.00 ($7,000.00 per house) for the purchase of 1040 Orchard, 1090 Orchard and 1233 Moneta, through the FEMA Flood Hazard Mitigation Grant.
  
• An Ordinance authorizing the purchase of 1014 Moneta Ave in the amount of $250,000.00 plus closing costs not to exceed $7,000.00 through the FEMA Grant program.
  
• An Ordinance authorizing the purchase of vacant parcel 03-001-21-00-046-000 in the amount of $22,000.00 plus closing costs not to exceed $7,000.00 through the FEMA Grant program.
  
• An Ordinance authorizing the purchase of 1260 Orchard Ave in the amount of $250,000.00 plus closing costs not to exceed $7,000.00 through the FEMA Grant program.
  
• An Ordinance authorizing the purchase of 1080 Orchard Ave in the amount of $185,000.00 plus closing costs not to exceed $7,000.00 through the FEMA Grant program.
  
• An Ordinance authorizing the purchase of 1084 Orchard Ave in the amount of $260,000.00 plus closing costs not to exceed $7,000.00 through the FEMA Grant program.
  

All of the properties purchased through the FEMA Grant program followed strict rules for getting and abiding by appraised values. The buildings on the properties will be razed and steps will be taken for flood mitigation changes to the properties. 

The meeting adjourned at 6:35 pm

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City Council (CC):  Council President G. Horvat called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm with the Pledge to the Flag of the United States of America.   All Council members were present and absent as noted in the COW report. There were 8 City Officials and Employees present and 2 people in the gallery. 

April 9, 2024 Minutes were adopted with S. Wolf abstaining.

There was a 15 minute Executive Session to discuss the Acquisition of Real Property

 Mayor’s Report: Items included: Noting the devastating house fire in the Beljon neighborhood and extending gratitude for Aurora’s Safety Forces and the Solon, Twinsburg Reminderville, Streetsboro and Mantua-Shalersville Fire Departments for providing mutual aid; Warmest wishes to our Jewish residents and their families as Passover is celebrated; Upcoming events include National Day of Prayer on Thursday May 2 at noon at the Bicentennial Park Gazebo- all are welcome; Many meetings attended including the ribbon cutting of the new Atlas Cinemas, 60th Anniversary Open House of Anna Maria, launching a new cyber security program at the High School, Chamber Bingo at the Aurora Inn and meeting between the city and local senior care facilities at the Aurora Fire Department to foster enhanced communications and relationships. The Mayor also wished her husband David Benjamin a Happy Birthday.

Law Director’s Report: Mr. DiPiero had no remarks but his report was included with the agenda packet.

Citizens Comments: None

Council Remarks: None

Ordinances on 3rd  Reading:

• Ordinance 2023-104 for the Purchase of 40 acres of land and 53.63 acres of Geauga Lake with a Trail Lake Loop easement from ICP remains postponed but Council President hinted there may be good things coming.

• An Ordinance authorizing payment to National Driver Training School in an amount not to exceed $100,000.00 through December 31, 2024 was adopted.
• The 3 Ordinances authorizing payment to 3 individuals for providing community education classes: Progress in Chess, Conmack Inc and June Lucal were adopted.

Ordinances on 2nd Reading:

• An Ordinance granting an exception to the requirement for sidewalk lighting along Sycamore Lane and State Rt 43 to Salon Patrick was adopted with an amendment, rules suspended and a No vote from S. Wolf.

• An Ordinance granting a Conditional Zoning Certificate to Toni and Antonio Tritto for a private recreational facility located at 365 East Mennonite Rd went to 3rd Reading.
• An Ordinance accepting the proposal of Hejduk-Cox and Associates, Inc. for engineering services for sidewalks on Aurora-Hudson Rd went to 3rd Reading.

Ordinance on 1st Reading:

• An Ordinance approving and adopting the March 2024 replacement pages of the Aurora Codified Ordinances as prepared by the Walter H. Drane Company and verified by the Clerk of Council in order to comply with current state law was adopted with Rules Suspended as requested by Council President.

• The 8 Ordinances proposed at COW on 1st Reading for action that evening were adopted with rules suspended. See COW for details.

Citizens Comments: None

Council Members and Committee Remarks: J. Seitz extended compliments to the Service Department for improvements to the Four Seasons Entrance.

 The meeting adjourned at 7:45 pm.