Pay Increases OK’d Following Extended Executive Session
In addition to the Main Sewer Trunkline project and Roundabout proposal previously reported on, Village Council addressed several other issues at the November 2 meeting that extended past 10:30 p.m. and included a long executive session.
Pay Raises approved across the board are listed within five Ordinances that were posted online with the agenda for this meeting. View them here.
Personnel Issues
Prior to the executive session, former police chief Rocky Sirianni and other members of the department asked to be heard.
“You guys are going into executive session, and I want to say a few things before that takes place,” Sirianni said. “Now that I’ve worked for (Chief) Tippie. In doing so, I can say without a doubt that he is doing a fantastic job as Chief of Police.”
“None of the guys who left had anything to do with (Chief) Tippie, they all left for more money,” the former chief said regarding four recent resignations.
One patrolman spoke of the chief as a person of “courage, accountability, transparency and integrity”.
Sirianni urged council to give the chief proper due process.
The chief then spoke. “Before I make a comment, I’d like to know exactly why I’m being brought in on an executive session.”
Mayor Jake Hershberger responded, referring to a Friday meeting between the two.
“So Friday, when you came to me, you stated you were going to recommend my removal as chief of police and bump me back down to an officer,” Chief Tippie said. “You did not give me any specific reason as to why.”
“I understand I am a probationary police chief at this time. I don’t deserve an explanation, however, I would like one.”
Village solicitor Richard Myser suggested council “go into executive session and discuss it and invite Chief Tippie to be there and discuss it.”
Prior to going into the executive session several other officers present also spoke in favor of the police chief.
Following the lengthy executive session in which the police chief participated in until 9:22 p.m., Mayor Hershberger said “We will not act on the chief of police issue (tonight) to allow for two more weeks of discussions.
Church and North Chestnut Intersection Improvements
Council approved entering into a contract with May Engineering to design grant-funded improvements to the intersection that will improve pedestrian safety. Earlier, council agreed the firm met project requirements.
“They have the know how to do it,” Roger Deal, village administrator said.
May’s estimate for the work came in at $119,260 with the state funds covering 75 percent of the cost. Entering into a contract was unanimously approved.
Green Burials
Campbell-Plumly-Milburn Funeral Home Director Chase Milburn shared that they will soon be green burial certified, a practice gaining favorability that is considered a more environmentally friendly alternative to even cremation.
“No formaldehyde is used. Instead, an alcohol base or no embalming at all with the body placed in a wicker casket or buried directly in the ground in a shroud, or blanket”, Milburn said. “There are currently no cemeteries around that allow green burials. The nearest is in the Akron area.”
Milburn and village solicitor Deal have spoken about using the Potter’s Field Area at Crestview or the Potters’ Field area at Southern Cemetery for such burials.
Potter’s Field cemetery sections are those provided free-of-charge by law for indigent individuals who have no financial means to cover any funeral or burial expenses.
Other sections of the cemetery require a vault, Milburn said.
Deal said at present, no markers are allowed for those buried in Potter’s Field. However, if a designated section were established for green burials, both agreed a small simple small stone flat with the surface could be considered.
Milburn said this would be a hybrid cemetery. One is in Columbus, and they charge more for a burial than one with a vault because in a couple of years there will be major settling that must be addressed when the body decomposes.
Although no action was taken by council, Milburn and Deal will return with a more formalized proposal for consideration.
Flock Cameras
Police Chief Matthew Tippie reported the cameras are operational. Three registered users are the chief, sergeant Edward Kubat and a dispatcher.
Resident Brock Rogers again spoke out against the use of the cameras, citing reported abuses of the camera platform from locations throughout the nation.
Economic Development Committee Meeting
Lindsay Dowdle, chair of the committee, reported a meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m. before the next council meeting on Nov. 16. The committee will meet in council chambers with members of Main Street Barnesville to discuss strategies and common goals.
Parks and Recreation
Deal reported the new brown metal roof is installed at the Albert S. George Youth Center in Memorial Park, and it looks good.
In Other business, council
- approved a payment listing of $296,663.31 as submitted by village fiscal officer Jeannie Hannahs
- approved a building permit for 141 East Main Street to paint the front of the building submitted by Colin Hallstrom. This property was recently sold and will soon house a new downtown business.
- approved a request from Chamber of Commerce director Denise Adkins Leach to use the East Main and West Main Street parking lots for the Saturday, December 5 Christmas in the Ville event. She also received permission to accept one non-food vendor truck during the event.
- EMT Mary Anne Stephens provided the EMT report noting that in October there were 107 dispatches, 70 of them were patients that were treated and transported by Barnesville units, while others were assisting other agencies, treated and not transported or cancelled. Year-to-date, the department has responded to over 1,000 calls.
- A fire department spokesperson reported 19 fire calls during the month that included five accidents, six fires, seven alarms and one EMS assist. A total of 203 calls are currently logged for the year. Council also approved the appointment of Jordan Ledger to the department.
- Mayor Hershberger reported October Mayor’s Court financials. A total of $1,179 in fines were received of which $848 was retained by the village, $317.50 was remitted to the state and $13.50 to Belmont County.
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The next meeting of village council will take place Monday night at 7 p.m. A copy of the agenda may be viewed here.
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