City Council Minutes

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Call to Order

Mayor Ronald A. D’Epifanio called the Regular Meeting of Fairfield City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Fairfield Municipal Building, 5350 Pleasant Avenue.

Roll Call

Clerk Morsch called the roll of Council.  Present Councilmembers were Tim Meyers, Marty Judd, Mike Snyder, Mike Oler, and Steve Miller.  Councilmember Miller, seconded by Councilmember Judd, moved to excuse Councilmembers Mitch Rhodus and Tim Abbott.  Motion Carried 5-0.

Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance

Councilmember Mike Snyder led in prayer followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Special Presentations and Citizen Comments

Mayor D’Epifanio presented a proclamation to Sergeant Joseph Armstrong in recognition of his service in the United States Army.  Sgt. Armstrong thanked the City for the recognition and stated he would be returning to Afghanistan to help those who are injured during combat.

Ann Fiehrer-Flag, Butler County Solid Waste District, presented a $6,000 check to the City of Fairfield for recycling efforts during the 1^st and 2^nd quarters of 2007.  She stated Fairfield recycled 903 tons and is only second to Oxford in the waste recycled in Butler County.  Ms. Fiehrer-Flag stated Fairfield recycled 10.4% in 2007.  She discussed several green initiatives with Council and offered her assistance as the new Environmental Resources and Community Forest Commission is established.

Approval of Minutes

The minutes from the Regular Meeting of September 24, 2007 were approved as written.

OLD BUSINESS 

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE

Water, Sewer and Subdivision Regulations:  Councilmember Judd, seconded by Councilmember Miller, moved to amend the following ordinance pursuant to Planning Commission’s recommendation of September 26, 2007.  Motion Carried 5-0.  Councilmember Judd presented the second reading of an ordinance amending Chapters 921.02 (b), 921.02 (d), 921.04 (a), 921.05 (f)(1), 925.03 (b), 925.03 (d), 925.03 (e), 925.03 (j), 925.03 (k), 925.05 (j)(2) and (3), 1109.06 (a), 1109.12 (b), and 1109.14 of Ordinance No. 166-84, The Codified Ordinances of Fairfield, Ohio,  relative to water , sewer, and subdivision regulations. Councilmember Judd, seconded by Councilmember Miller, moved for suspension of the rules requiring three readings of the ordinance. Rules Suspended 5-0.  Councilmember Judd, seconded by Councilmember Oler, moved for adoption.  ORDINANCE NO. 128-07 ADOPTED 5-0.

PARKS, RECREATION & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE

Community Forest Commission Name Change:  Councilmember Meyers presented the first reading of an ordinance amending Sections 170.01 and 170.02 of Ordinance No. 166-84, the Codified Ordinances of Fairfield, Ohio to change the City of Fairfield Community Forest Commission to the Environmental Resources and Community Forest Commission.  Councilmember Meyers, seconded by Councilmember Miller, moved for suspension of the rules requiring three readings of the ordinance.  Rules Suspended 5-0.  Councilmember Meyers, seconded by Councilmember Meyers, moved for adoption.  ORDINANCE NO. 129-07 ADOPTED 5-0.

NEW BUSINESS 

PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMITTEE

Reading’s (2) by Title Only:  Councilmember Meyers, seconded by Councilmember Miller, moved to read the following two resolutions by title only.  Motion Carried 7-0.

Renewal of NPDES Permit:  Background – Acting City Manager Mike Dickey stated it is necessary to authorize the City Manager to file an application with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to renew the City’s National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant.   He explained the permits are issued on a five (5) year permitting cycle, with the current permit scheduled to expire in 2008.  Legislative Action – Councilmember Meyers, Vice Chairman of the Public Utilities Committee, presented the first reading of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to file an application with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for renewal of a permit under the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) for the Wastewater Treatment Plant and declaring an emergency.  Councilmember Meyers, seconded by Councilmember Judd, moved for suspension of the rules requiring three readings of the resolution.  Rules Suspended 5-0.  Councilmember Meyers, seconded by Councilmember Judd, moved for adoption.  RESOLUTION NO. 19-07 ADOPTED AS AN EMERGENCY 5-0.

Summer Irrigation Credit:  Background – Acting City Manager Dickey recommended approval of a resolution extending the season for the summer irrigation credit to include the month of October 2007.  He stated that currently, the season only extends from April through September.  However, with the extreme drought conditions in southwest Ohio, lawns and landscaping are suffering.  By extending the irrigation credit through October, residents who chose to water through the end of October to recover landscaping and lawns prior to the onset of winter.  Legislative Action – Councilmember Meyers presented the first reading of a resolution extending the season for the summer irrigation credit to include the month of October 2007 and declaring an emergency.  Councilmember Meyers, seconded by Councilmember Miller, moved for suspension of the rules requiring three readings of the resolution. Rules Suspended 5-0. Councilmember Meyers, seconded by Councilmember Miller, moved for adoption. RESOLUTION NO. 20-07 ADOPTED AS AN EMERGENCY 5-0.

FINANCE & BUDGET COMMITTEE 

Reading’s (3) by Title Only:  Councilmember Miller, seconded by Councilmember Judd, moved to read the following three ordinances by title only.  Motion Carried 5-0. 

Change to Income Tax Ordinance:  Background – Acting City Manager Dickey recommended a change to the City’s income tax ordinance which would require employers and payroll companies to file electronically.  He noted electronic filings would cut down on the amount of time Income Tax employees are spending in processing withholding payments.  Legislative Action – Councilmember Miller, Vice Chairman of the Finance & Budget Committee, presented the first reading of an ordinance to amend Chapter 181, Income Tax, of Ordinance No. 166-84, the Codified Ordinances of Fairfield, Ohio, relative to the City of Fairfield Income Tax.  Ordinance approved for first reading only.

Wage & Salary Ordinance:  Background – Acting City Manager Dickey stated Council action is requested to add the Engineer classification to the ordinance establishing salaries for the City’s exempt and salaried positions due to the January retirement of John Belanger. He requested the emergency provision be enacted so that the new position can be filled at the earliest possible date in order to allow the person hired to work with Mr. Belanger before his retirement.  Legislative Action – Councilmember Miller presented the first reading of an ordinance establishing salaries for certain exempt and salaried employees of the City of Fairfield, Ohio and repealing previous ordinances and declaring an emergency.  Councilmember Miller, seconded by Councilmember Meyers, moved for suspension of the rules requiring three readings of the ordinance. Rules Suspended 5-0.  Councilmember Miller, seconded by Councilmember Meyers, moved for adoption.  ORDINANCE NO. 130-07 ADOPTED AS AN EMERGENCY 5-0.

2007 Budget Amendment (Non-Contractual Items):  Councilmember Miller presented the first reading of an Ordinance to amend Ordinance No. 1-07 entitled “An ordinance to make estimated appropriations for the expenses and other expenditures of the City of Fairfield, Ohio, during a period beginning January 1, 2007, and ending December 31, 2007.”  Acting City Manager Dickey stated this ordinance appropriates$25,000 for asphalt material needed for roadway repairs; $7,911 for miscellaneous furniture, fixtures and equipment for the Fairfield Green/South Trace Golf Course Club House Project; $81,000 for the purchase of a water line on Magie Avenue (between River and Pleasant) from the City of

Hamilton; and $24,000 for a new voice mail system.  Councilmember Miller, seconded by Councilmember Meyers, moved to suspend the rules requiring three readings of the ordinance.  Rules Suspended 5-0.  Councilmember Miller, seconded by Councilmember Meyers, moved for adoption.  ORDINANCE NO. 131-07 ADOPTED 5-0.

Meeting Notices

   Monday, October 22        Council-Manager Briefing, 6 PM; Regular Meeting, 7 PM

   Monday, November 12    Council-Manager Briefing, 6 PM; Regular Meeting, 7 PM

 *Monday, November 19    Council-Manager Briefing, 5:30 PM; Regular Meeting, 7 PM

 *Monday, December 3       Council-Manager Briefing, 5:30 PM; Regular Meeting, 7 PM

 *Monday, December 10     Council-Manager Briefing, 5:30 PM; Regular Meeting & Public Hearing (2008 Budget), 7 PM

   Monday, January 7           Special Meeting (Adoption of 2008 Operating Budget); 6 PM

                * Council-Manager Briefing Topic:  Review of 2008 Operating Budget

  Normal Meeting Schedule Resumes

  Monday, January 14          Council-Manager Briefing, 6 PM; Regular Meeting, 7 PM

  Monday, January 28          Council-Manager Briefing, 6 PM; Regular Meeting, 7 PM

Adjournment

Councilmember Miller, seconded by Councilmember Judd, moved for adjournment.  Motion carried 5-0.  The meeting adjourned at 7:29 p.m.

ATTEST:

Ronald A. D’Epifanio, Mayor
Dena C. Morsch, Clerk of Council

Date Approved:  October 22, 2007

Last updated: 04/23/2008