Aurora City Council/COW - 2/13/23

Aurora Ohio City Council and Committee of the Whole
Feb 13,2023

Committee of the Whole (COW): The meeting was called to order at 6:15 pm by Chairman John Kudley with 7 other council members present:  Reva Barner, Brad Duguay, Peter French, Harold Hatridge, George Horvat, Dennis Kovach, and Scott Wolf. Councilwoman Sarah Grdina Gilmore was absent. There were 10 City Officials and Employees present and 3 people in the gallery.

There were 19 Ordinances proposed with 16 of these for action that evening: 

• An Ordinance approving the 2023 Salary Ranges for city employee positions
• Employees Generally- reflecting changes in compensation for 4 individuals
• Employees Generally –to reflect changes in compensation for 3 individuals

• Increasing the proposal from Hall Public Safety Upfitters to accommodate changes in equipment installations in vehicles
• Authorizing the purchase of three 2023 Chevrolet Tahoes for use by the Police Department
• Authorizing a contract with Hall Public Safety Upfitters for the purchase and installation of equipment for the 3 new Chevrolet Tahoes
• Authorizing the purchase of a GapVax combination Jet/Vacuum machine
• Authorizing the purchase of a 2023 Chevrolet Equinox for use by the Service Department
• Authorizing the purchase of a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD for use by the Service Department 
• A contract with the John Kelleher Company LLC to perform work outlined by the City’s Backflow Prevention Program in the Hawthorn Subdivision
• Purchase of a 2023 Chevrolet 3500HD with an aluminum flatbed for use by Parks and Recreation Department
• Purchase of a 2022 Ford F-250 truck for use by the Parks and Recreation Department
• The Purchase of a 2023 Mahindra 2660 Utility Tractor with loader and cab
• Authorizing a contract with American Fireworks for the city’s July 4th Fireworks Program
• Appropriating $8,864.00 for replacement windows at City Hall due to an increase to labor and material costs
• Authorizing the Mayor to submit an application for Clean Ohio Trail Fund grant for financial assistance with the construction of a section of Aurora Trail along the First Energy Right of Way between Chamberlain road in Mantua and State Route 82 in Aurora
• Authorizing the purchase of a 2023 ambulance from Horton Emergency Vehicles
• Authorizing the establishment of a Full time, non-union Community Events Coordinator.

Meeting adjourned at 6:40 pm.

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City Council (CC): Council President George Horvat called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm with Council members present as noted in COW Report.

After approval of the minutes, Assistant Fire Chief Matthew McBirney was sworn in as Aurora’s Fire Chief.

There was a 24 minute Executive Session to discuss the Acquisition of Real Property.

Mayor’s Report: Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin mentioned the upcoming State of the City luncheon presented by the Aurora Chamber of Commerce; announced the appointment of Assistant Fire Chief Matthew McBirney as Fire Chief who was sworn in that evening; listed the various meetings attended since the last Council Meeting.

There were 2 Citizens from the Geauga Lake Area and 1 from Chatham that spoke about concerns with the Ordinance 2023-004 “Prohibited Standing or Parking Places”. 3 Council members also spoke to this Ordinance. This Ordinance is being postponed.  

Ordinances on 3rd Reading:

• Ordinance amending “Prohibited Standing or Parking Places” is postponed
• Ordinance to renew the city’s Microsoft 365 subscription was adopted.

Ordinances on 2nd Reading:

• An Ordinance accepting for dedication the roadway and water and sanitary sewer lines at Beljon Farms subdivision went to 3rd Reading
• An Ordinance approving five-year depository agreements with 8 banks went to 3rd Reading.

Resolution on 1st Reading confirming the Mayor’s appointment of Mr. Matthew McBirney as Fire Chief was adopted earlier.

Ordinances on 1st Reading:

• An Ordinance approving a Conditional Zoning Certificate (CZC) for property located in the Greens of Aurora on N. Chillicothe Rd. went to 2nd Reading
• An Ordinance declaring a temporary moratorium, not to exceed 12 months, on applications for Vape, e-cigarette, smoke and tobacco shops and shops that sell any product containing CBD, cannabidiol oils or edibles was adopted with rules suspended.
• The 3 Ordinances concerned with employee salary changes were adopted with rules suspended.
• An Ordinance to increase the proposal from Hall Public Safety Upfitters to accommodate changes in equipment installations and transfers from other vehicles was adopted with rules suspended.
• An Ordinance for the purchase of 3 2023 Chevrolet Tahoes for the Police Department was adopted with rules suspended.
• An Ordinance to purchase and install equipment for the 3 Chevy Tahoes was adopted with rules suspended.
• An Ordinance for the purchase of a GapVax combination machine for the Service Department was adopted with rules suspended.
• An Ordinance for the purchase of a 2023 Chevrolet Equinox for use by the Service Department was adopted with rules suspended.
• An Ordinance authorizing the purchase of a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD for use by the Service Department was adopted with rules suspended.
• An Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with The John Kelleher Company to perform work on the Backflow Prevention Program in the Hawthorn Subdivision was adopted with rules suspended.
• The Purchase of a 2023 Chevrolet 3500HD with an aluminum flatbed for use by the Parks and Recreation Department was adopted with rules suspended.
• The Purchase of a 2022 Ford F-250 truck for use by the Parks and Recreation Department was adopted with rules suspended.
• The Purchase of a 2023 Mahindra 2660 Utility Tractor for Parks and Recreation Department was adopted with rules suspended.
• A Contract with American Fireworks for the City’s July 4th Fireworks program was adopted with rules suspended.
• An Ordinance for additional funds for City Hall window replacement was adopted with rules suspended.
• A Resolution authorizing the Mayor to submit an application for a Clean Ohio Trail Fund Grant for financial assistance with the construction of a section of Aurora Trail along the First Energy Right of Way between Chamberlain Rd in Mantua and State Rt 82 in Aurora will go to 2nd Reading.
• The Purchase of a 2023 Horton Ambulance will go to 2nd Reading.
• Job Description for a Full Time Community Events Coordinator was adopted with rules suspended.
• There were 2 Ordinances proposed from the Executive Session for Purchase of 2 properties: The Hanes building at 10 S. Chillicothe Rd and the house at 123 E Pioneer Trail, next to the Memorial Library. Both were adopted with rules suspended.
• An Ordinance transferring funds for the purchase of these properties was adopted with rules suspended.

               

Citizens Comments: None

 The meeting adjourned at 8:25 pm.