Aurora City Council & COW - 9/23/24

Aurora Ohio City Council and Committee of the Whole
​September 23, 2024

Committee of the Whole (COW): The meeting was called to order at 6:45 by Chairman John Kudley with Council members present: Brad Duguay, Dennis Kovach, John Seitz and Scott Wolf. Council members absent: Reva Barner, Peter French, Sarah Grdina Gardner and George Horvat. There were not enough Council Members to adopt legislation on an emergency basis. There were 9 City Officials and Employees present. There was 1 citizen present.

Minutes from September 9, 2024 were adopted.

 There were 7 Ordinances proposed for 1st Reading:

• An Ordinance accepting the quotes submitted by United Medical Resources (UMR) as third party administrators , Sun Life Financial as medical stop loss insurer, VSP as vision provider, and United Health Care (UHC) through USI for the administration of a self-funded medical, dental, vision and prescription insurance program for City Employees for the maximum amount of $3,363,615.00 for fiscal year 2025.
  
• A Resolution accepting the amounts and rates as determined by the Budget Commission and authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the County Auditor.
  
• A Resolution to prepare nd submit an application to participate in the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) State Capital Improvement and/or Local Transportation Improvement Program for resurfacing work on Old Mill Road.
  
• An Ordinance accepting the proposal of Burrier Service Company, LLC in the amount of $27,224.00 for the replacement of the HVAC units at Fire Station No. 1.
  
• An Ordinance authorizing the purchase of 420 N. Chillicothe Road in the amount of $190,000.00 with closing costs not to exceed $20,000.00. This is a strategic purchase along the abandoned railroad right of way.
  
• An Ordinance to enter into contact with RKS Management, Inc. for cleaning services for city buildings in an amount not to exceed $52,052.52 annually.
  
• An Ordinance authorizing the purchase of 18 Automated External Defibrillators (AED) from Stryker in the amount of $33,074.98 appropriating the necessary funds from the Opioid Settlement Fund. The old ones are over 10 years old and cannot be repaired. There is an unfunded State mandate to have more AEDs in Rec areas. 
  

The meeting adjourned at 6:43 pm

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City Council (CC):  Council Vice President Dennis Kovach called the meeting to order at 7:00 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 9 City Officials and Employees present and 6 people in the gallery.

September 9, 2024 Special Meeting Minutes were adopted.
September 9, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes were adopted.
September 16, 2024 Special Meeting Minutes were adopted.

Matt Kelly, Portage County Auditor and John Kennedy, Portage County Treasurer spoke for 5 minutes each. They talked about the recent mandatory reevaluation of property taxes and how to contact their offices for questions and disputes. They are working together with other County Auditors and Treasurers to change the way schools are funded which amounts to 80% of property taxes and has been declared unconstitutional.

Mayor’s Report as read by Karen Pope: Items included: Thanks to City Council and her administration for the hard work and deliberation over the past 15 months on the proposed purchase of Geauga Lake and adjacent land; the annual Fall Festival and Business Showcase at Sunny Lake on Saturday October 5 from noon to 4; Speaking at the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at Sunny Lake; taped her September Mayor’s report with Community Focus.bb

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 purchase of bulk road salt from Cargill, Inc was adopted.
  

Ordinances on 2nd Reading:

• An Ordinance from Planning Commission granting a conditional zoning certificate to MJ Property Group, LLC for a storage facility located at 300 Lena Drive went to 3rd Reading.
  
• An Ordinance accepting the proposal of Salsbury Industries in the amount of $25,342.48 for purchase of new lockers, locks and keys for the locker room upgrade project at the police department went to 3rd Reading.
  
• An Ordinance accepting the proposal of Star2Star Communications, LLC for a 60 month contract extension to extend the city’s phone service agreement at the base rate of $2,497.31 per month went to 3rd Reading.
  

Ordinances on 1st Reading:

• An Ordinance accepting for dedication the roadways, watermains, storm sewers and sanitary sewers located within the right-of-way and dedicated easements within the Hawthorn subdivision, Phase 6B went to 2nd Reading.
  
• The 7 Ordinances proposed at COW went to 2nd Reading because there were not enough Council members present to adopt them on an emergency basis. A Special Meeting was set for Monday September 30 due to the time sensitive nature of these Ordinances.  See COW for details.
  

Miscellaneous: There was further discussion about changing the starting time for the COW/CC meetings and J. Kudley again spoke against any change. D. Kovach agreed.

Citizens Comments: Mark Curtis from Twinsburg introduced himself as a candidate running for State Representative. Deb Conti was concerned about deadlines for some of the Ordinances. Condolences were expressed by members of Council on the loss of her son. 

Council Members Remarks: G. Horvat said there would be a special meeting on September 30 at 6 pm to adopt the legislation before deadlines.

 The meeting adjourned at 7:32 pm.