×

Steubenville council prepares for finance workshop

RECREATION ON THE RIVER — Steubenville Councilwoman at large Kimberly Hahn announced Tuesday night at least two businesses are interested in offering kayak and canoe rental services at the Steubenville Marina. City Council voted unanimously during the Sunshine meeting to waive the $350 weekly vendor fee to encourage the businesses to start offering the rentals this fall. Hahn did not identify the potential vendors. - Dave Gossett

STEUBENVILLE — City Council members prepared for their Saturday finance workshop by asking for Utilities Director Chuck Murphy and Street and Sanitation Superintendent Bob Baird to attend the meeting.

Council is set to start discussing the city’s 2017 budget and plans to take a close look at overtime in the wastewater department, modernization in the sanitation department and how many parks the city can continue to maintain.

During a council finance committee meeting prior to the Sunshine meeting Tuesday night, Finance Director David Lewis reported overtime at the wastewater treatment plant “is an area of concern.”

“We have one vacancy in that department and anticipate a second vacancy this year. The problem is we have completed the list for potential candidates. We will have to advertise for the job and re-test to get candidates in place,” explained Lewis.

Fifth Ward Councilman and finance committee Chairman Willie Paul said council already has allotted money for a handrail project at the wastewater plant.

“I am flabbergasted we haven’t fixed the handrailing that has needed to be replaced since 2011. I don’t know if temporary handrail or using a safety harness would work until the permanent handrail is in place. That is probably a 12-foot drop. I don’t understand why we are dragging our feet,” Paul said.

“I had a meeting four weeks ago. The architect on that project had an issue with the design of the handrail. One week ago the contractor was still waiting for parts to be delivered,” City Manager Jim Mavromatis said.

“The other problem is we were talked out of hiring someone earlier this year. We budgeted for the position but it was never filled. The overtime there will soon exceed the salaries. We saw this coming but the vacancy was not filled. We have to limit overtime across all of the departments,” 2nd Ward Councilman Mike Johnson said.

“If you are going over the budget, you should have to go back to the budget authority. Maybe we can move funds to cover the overtime or maybe we can’t,” continued Johnson.

“At some point we all need to be responsible to the budget,” remarked 4th Ward Councilman Scott Dressel.

Lewis said he will need to ask the council for a budget adjustment for the wastewater treatment plant by the end of the year.

Lewis reported the city income tax collection increased in July from the 2015 July collection.

“We saw an 18.5 percent decrease in June but saw a 14.73 percent increase in tax revenue in July. We are 4.86 percent or $253,000 over last year’s revenue to date,” Lewis said.

“Our cash forecast for the general fund for the next five years is not in the greatest shape but relatively stable,” added Lewis.

Several council members also asked about the status of the plan to modernize the sanitation department operations and convert to a four-day sanitation collection schedule.

“We first need to decide where the garbage will be taken and determine the type of truck that can be used in certain neighborhoods. I have been meeting with the sanitation superintendent to review all of these issues. Our city has changed as far as population but we still have the same issues,” responded Mavromatis.

“We are dragging our feet. The modernization plan should have been done by now,” said 6th Ward Councilman Bob Villamagna.

During the council Sunshine meeting, Councilwoman at large Kimberly Hahn said two potential vendors are interested in renting kayaks and canoes at the Steubenville Marina and asked for the council to waive the $350 weekly vendor fee.

“I am asking for the council to vote tonight on my proposal. This will open up new recreation possibilities in the city and connect us to the Ohio River. These are two responsible organizations that will have to fill out all of the necessary paperwork. And the vendors will maintain and clean the marina area,” Hahn said.

“This is an innovative approach. Last year the city issued two vendor permits for the marina,” said Mayor Domenick Mucci.

Council voted unanimously to waive the weekly vendor fee for the rental businesses.

Mucci also credited 3rd Ward Councilman Eric Timmons for asking all council members to wear their favorite high school T-shirts to remind city residents school is starting and everyone should be aware of students going back to school.

“I started this tonight to show support for students, parents and the school staffs and administrations. And both high schools start their football season Thursday night,” said Timmons.

And Mucci singled out Joseph Smarrella and the Valley One Credit Union for buying city property at the intersection of Johnson Road and Sunset Boulevard and removing the overgrown brush and trees from the lot.

“That was dead property and our credit union and managers wanted to buy it and clean it up. Pete Blue and Richard Wells are responsible for the work in transforming that lot,” said Smarrella.

Also during the Sunshine meeting, Paul introduced four pieces of legislation, including:

¯ A resolution to proclaim September as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

¯ An emergency ordinance to amend the city’s codified ordinance to hold a regular council meeting on a weekly basis.

¯ An emergency ordinance amending the city’s table of organization.

¯ An emergency ordinance to adopt the annual Indirect Cost Allocation plan.

(Gossett can be contacted at dgossett@heraldstaronline.com.)

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today