Aurora City Council & COW - 7/22/24

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

Committee of the Whole (COW): The meeting was called to order at 6:15 by Chairman John Kudley with Council members present: Brad Duguay, Reva Barner, Peter French, George Horvat, Dennis Kovach, John Seitz and Scott Wolf. Sarah Grdina Gilmore was absent. There were 10 City Officials and Employees present. There were 2 citizen present.

Minutes from June 24, 2024 were adopted with J. Kudley abstaining.

Finance Director’s Report: The 2023 financial audit has been completed with a clean opinion and has been submitted to the Auditor of State’s office for final review. The numbers are where we want to see them.

 There were 8 Ordinances and 1 Resolution proposed for action this evening on 1st Reading:

• An Ordinance amending “Employees Generally” to reflect changes in compensation for a part/time EMT to part/time firefighter/paramedic and the hiring of a seasonal Parks and Rec employee.
• A Resolution confirming the Mayor’s appointment of Ms. Ronda Lovell as the city’s representative to the Western Reserve Cable Television Consortium board.
• An Ordinance authorizing the purchase of an ambulance from Horton Emergency Vehicles in the amount of $347,158.00 with lead times estimated at 735-760 days.
• An Ordinance accepting the proposal of Midwest Public Safety in the amount of $21,551.70 for the purchase of GETAC cloud storage for body cameras and dash cameras.
• An Ordinance accepting the proposal of VASU Communications Inc in the amount of $146,618.27 to purchase 2 new radio consoles for police dispatch as replacements.
• An Ordinance awarding a contract to Ronyak Paving, Inc. for resurfacing E. Pioneer Trail from Page Rd east to the city limits and Oak Hollow Rd. in the amount of $713,343.23.
• An Ordinance authorizing the final payment to ODOT in the amount of $71,075.33 for the Citywide Signalization Improvement Project.
• An Ordinance accepting the proposal of Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. in the amount of $89,327.00 to provide professional design services for greenspace in relation to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program within the Geauga Lake neighborhood.
• An Ordinance awarding a contract to C&J Contractors, Inc. in the amount of $194,775.00 to provide asbestos abatement services and demolition services for several properties in the Geauga Lake neighborhood. The above 2 Ordinances are funded through the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Fund.

There was 1 Ordinance proposed for 1st Reading:

• An Ordinance for a contract with Chagrin Valley Engineering, LTD in an amount not to exceed $39,452.00 to provide watermain improvement plans for the intersection of SR 43 and SR 82.

The meeting adjourned at 6:35 pm

---

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. He also called for a moment of silence for the passing of David Benjamin, Husband of Mayor Anne Womer Benjamin and former Law Director of the City of Aurora. Council members were present and absent as noted in the COW report. There were 10 City Officials and Employees present and 7 people in the gallery.

June 24, 2024 Minutes were adopted with J. Kudley abstaining.

The Mayor presented a Proclamation to AIM (Advanced Innovative Manufacturing), acknowledging their Partnership for economic development for Aurora and Portage County. They have grown from 2014, investing in rehabbing an abandoned warehouse and making a strong commitment to Aurora.

There was a 20 minute Executive Session to discuss the Acquisition of Real Property and to discuss the Lease of City Property.

Mayor’s Report: Items included: The installation of Solar Panels on the rear of Fire Station 1; the successful completion of the 2023 Financial Audit; the conditional zoning certificate for the Aurora Trail obtained by Aurora from the Mantua Township BZA- “a positive result through three arduous hearings” helped by Laura Holman and Denise Januska; several meetings and attending the American Legion Auxiliary picnic at Hartman Park. She also expressed thanks to Council and the Community for their support during this time of loss of her husband David Benjamin.

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

Council President’s Report: In addition to adding Ordinances 2024-102 through 2024-111 to the agenda, Mr Horvat extended his condolences to the Mayor for the loss of her husband David Benjamin and said Council will have a tree planted in his memory.

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.

• An Ordinance prohibiting all Cannabis Operations was adopted.

Ordinances on 2nd Reading:

• The 13 Ordinances proposed by the Charter Review Commission to be placed on the November 5 ballot were adopted with Rules Suspended and included: 

Wards; Qualifications; Executive Powers; Administrative Offices; Departments; Boards and Commissions; Contracts and Purchasing (J. Kudley voted against this which would raise the spending limit from $20,000 to $25,000 that the Mayor would not have to go through Council); Department of Public Safety; Division of Planning, Zoning and Building; Planning Commission-Composition and Term; Organization; Public Hearings by Council; Composition and Terms; Establishment; Submission to Electors. These will be placed on the November 5 Ballot and voted on by the Aurora Citizens.

The 8 Ordinances and 1 Resolution proposed for action on 1st Reading were adopted. See COW for details.

The Ordinance for a contract with Chagrin Valley Engineering proposed for 1st Reading  went to 2nd Reading.

An Ordinance that came from the Executive Session was added- A Lease agreement with Senior Helpers- a Home health care agency that will be leasing the building at 10 S. Chillicothe.

Citizens Comments: Tevin Ray, the new Executive Director of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce, introduced himself.

Council Members Remarks: J. Kudley said he had a nice discussion with Tevin Ray; B. Duguay Thanked the City for a great 4th of July celebration which R. Barner seconded; D. Kovach said there were good comments about the recent Historic Home Tour; G. Horvat missed the tour but heard it was a great success to which Mr. Kudley added that 120 people went on the tour and Kudos to Rachel Reight who was the guiding force behind the event.

 The meeting adjourned at 8:08 pm.