Aurora City Council & COW - 9/25/23

City Council and Committee of the Whole - September 25, 2023
Aurora, Ohio

Committee of the Whole (COW): The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm by Chairman  John Kudley with the following council members present: Reva Barner, Brad Duguay, Harold Hatridge, George Horvat,and Scott Wolf. Sara Grdina Gilmore, Dennis Kovach and Peter French were absent. There were 8 City Officials/Employees and 5 citizens present.

September 11, 2023 minutes were adopted.

Finance Director Timothy Clymer reported that fund balances remain in a healthy position with $43,460,379 unencumbered in all funds and $20,511,899 in the General Fund.

             There were 8 Ordinances proposed for Action that evening on 1st Reading:

• An Ordinance to hire 3 new employees. 
• An Ordinance entering into a contract with June Lucal for community education classes.
• An Ordinance to enter into a contract with Connmack Inc for community education classes.
• An Ordinance to enter into contract with Progress with Chess for community education classes.
• An Ordinance to enter into contract with United Medical Resources (UMR), Sun Life Financial and United Health Care for employee benefits. 
• Amending Ordinance 2023-129, adding Sewer Fund as additional funding source for the R2O contract.
• An Ordinance approving a change order from Ronyak Paving in the amount of $100,000.00 for additional work requested for improvements to the parking lot at 10 S. Chillicothe Road.
• A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to prepare and submit an application to participate in the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) State Capital Improvement and/or Local Transportation Improvement Program for resurfacing work to East Pioneer Trail from Page Road to the City of Aurora’s eastern property line. Grant deadline is October 13, 2023. 

There were 2 Ordinances proposed that will go on the October 9 agenda:

• The dedication of roadways, watermains, storm sewers and sanitary sewers for Hawthorne subdivision, Phase 6A
• An Easement with 251 West Garfield LLC for the purpose of constructing a sidewalk.

 The Meeting adjourned at 6:55 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.  Council members were present and absent as noted in COW Report. There were 5 people in the gallery.

Minutes from the September 11, 2023 meeting were adopted.

 Mayor’s Report: Karen Pope read Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin’s report. The Street dedication of Manny Berenholtz Way will be on September 30; SR 43 is closed at Liberty Road in Solon which will impact Aurora; Cemetery cleanup starts October 16; Senior Leaf Raking event is on Saturday November 4th; The Fall Festival and Business Showcase at Sunny Lake Park is Saturday, October 7 from noon to 4 pm; Shred Day is October 14 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Aurora Service Center; the Harmon 8th Graders visited City Hall on their annual walkabout around the city; she taped her September Community focus report; attended the Aurora Chamber Purse Bingo and attended and handed out awards at the Classic Car Show at Sunny Lake Park.  John Kudley expanded on the 8th Graders Walkabout and their visit to the Historical Museum. 

Law Director’s Report: There were no questions for Mr. DePiero.

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. D. DePiero said “progress is being made“ but there is no timetable.
  
• The 2 Ordinances from Planning Commission- 1 granting exceptions for Aurora Codified Ordinances and 1 approving the Revised Development plan for Walden Co Ltd were adopted.
  
• An Ordinance accepting the proposal to enter into a contract with Wertz Geotechnical Engineering Inc was adopted.
  

Ordinances on 2nd reading:

• An Ordinance accepting for dedication the watermain and sanitary sewer on East Pioneer Trail went to 3rd Reading.
  
• An Ordinance granting a 50%, 15 year tax abatement of real property taxes to Elm Aurora LTD (Goddard School and Aurora Dental) was adopted with rules suspended.
  
• An Ordinance granting a tax abatement to Salon Patrick for a 50%, 15 year abatement of real property taxes was adopted with rules suspended.
  

The 8 Ordinances proposed at the COW for action that evening were adopted with rules suspended. See Committee of the Whole report for details. (Ordinance 2023-139 approving the change order from Ronyak Paving was adopted with a no vote from B. Duguay.)

Miscellaneous:  None

Citizens Comments: Harry Caplin spoke about the 7 acres he owns near the Cemetery and the Service Center. He had it appraised and wanted it on the record that there are some issues that may occur with the City’s use of the service road and the road’s decline. April Secura, President of LWV of NPC spoke about the upcoming Candidates and Issues Night on October 3 at Harmon School at 6:30 pm.

Council Members and Committee Remarks: S. Wolf questioned the math for the purchase of Geauga Lake. B. Duguay mentioned the Chamber of Commerce Person and Business of the year Applications are being accepted. H. Hatridge, Ward 6 Councilman, said this was his last year as Councilman.

 The meeting adjourned at 7:28 pm.