CITY
OF PICKERINGTON
FINANCE
COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD
THURSDAY,
FEBRUARY 16, 2006
REGULAR
MEETING
7:30
P.M.
1. ROLL CALL. Mr. Wisniewski called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M., with roll call as follows: Mr. Wisniewski, Mr. Hackworth, and Mr. Fix were present. Mr. Smith was absent. Others present were Judy Gilleland, Lynda Yartin, Linda Fersch, John McGory, and others.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF January 26, 2006, Regular Meeting. Mr. Hackworth moved to approve; Mr. Fix seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Hackworth, Mr. Fix, and Mr. Wisniewski voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
3. FINANCE DIRECTOR:
A. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance amending the 2006 appropriation ordinance 2005-98. Mrs. Fersch stated she had no appropriation requests at this time.
B. Finance Director’s Report: Mrs. Fersch stated we received an upgrade in our general credit rating from an A-2 to an A-1, and our note issue will be sold on Tuesday. Ms Gilleland stated if anyone would like to review the information discussed at the Council Work Session regarding debt structure, etc., or if they would like another work session, just let her know.
C. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance authorizing the City Manager to approve settlement arising from Fairfield County Common Pleas Case No. 2005 CV 354. Ms Gilleland stated the Committee received a draft ordinance along with a memorandum outlining the settlement agreement. She stated this is a settlement of some of the properties at the northern terminus of Diley Road. Ms Gilleland stated if there were questions regarding specifics of the negotiations it might be better to discuss that in Executive Session. Mr. Wisniewski stated that would be fine and an Executive Session would be appropriate at the end of the meeting.
4. PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT:
A. New Employee Update. Mrs. Fersch stated the Personnel Appeals Board certified the top six candidates for interview for the Parks Administrative Assistant. She stated further they will review the questionnaire and job description for the Deputy Municipal Clerk.
5. DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT: Update. Mr. McGory stated he is continuing to meet with Equity to discuss their project and there are some issues with regard to the TIF, etc., that they are continuing to work on. He stated they are continuing to meet with the Township and Canal Winchester discussing the JEDD or a CEDA and he felt they were going to take a step back and look at this, get together again with all of the communities, and talk about it to see where we want to go. Mr. Fix stated they have tried to separate the issues, and there are five issues that Canal is very interested in trying to resolve with the City, and we were going to work on those with them on a separate tract. He continued that, at the same time, the three priorities the group has established are to, at some point in the near future, come to a conclusion on whether or not we can or how we would participate in the existing CEDA; to put together some type of short term agreement that will protect everyone’s interests in the area; and, in the long term go from the Franklin County line all the way down to Lancaster and have an agreement with all of the parties involved. Mr. Fix stated they will meet next on March 2, 2006.
Mr. McGory stated they have also been meeting regarding the Dozer Development on Wright Road and he understood the residents were not happy with that. He stated he felt the developer was still going to go forward and try to get water and sewer services from the City. Mr. Hackworth stated there were several residents who attended Service Committee on this issue, and the developer’s attorney, Mr. Mahalski, also addressed Service Committee. Mr. McGory stated the reality is Diley Road will be a five-lane road, and you see commercial development along most five-lane roads in central Ohio. Mr. McGory stated he felt everyone has to be realistic on what will be happening, and it will be incumbent upon the City to take a look at that Diley Road corridor. Ms Gilleland stated she met with the developer to talk further about the development and to also let him know this is a quality office park and there are currently areas in the City where this development could go into without any questions. Mr. McGory stated there are numerous issues involved with this one little development, if it is right for the Diley Road corridor, annexation to the City, etc. Mr. Hackworth stated the unfortunate part of this is that the zoning is in the Township and it is bound on three sides by the City, and that makes it difficult to deal with.
Mr. McGory stated he is continuing to work on a guide for business owners to use so they know the processes they have to follow.
Ms Gilleland stated she would be bringing Mr. Arcari and Mr. McGory’s contract forward at the next Finance Committee meeting.
6. CHAIRMAN: Mr. Wisniewski stated he would like to know where we stand with funding any of the items on the contingency list. Mrs. Fersch stated she had provided a report on all of the funds, and Mr. Wisniewski stated that was correct, he was just asking where we stood on funding any of the contingencies. Ms Gilleland stated she and Mrs. Fersch had discussed this issue and a police office is at the top of our list and a Finance Clerk. Ms Gilleland stated she felt we could fund a police officer and Mrs. Fersch stated that would take an appropriation change. Mr. Wisniewski requested that appropriation change be ready for the March Finance Committee meeting because the hiring process takes some time and we would not have to fund the position for an entire year.
7. OTHER BUSINESS: No other business was brought forward.
8. MOTIONS:
A. Motion for Executive Session under Section 121.11(G)(1)(b), Matters involving an employee’s or public official’s employment, Section 121.22(G)(2), Purchase or sale of public property, Section 121.22(G)(3), Conference with law director regarding pending or imminent court action, and Section 121.22(G)(4), Matters involving bargaining sessions with public employees. Mr. Wisniewski moved for an Executive Session under Section 121.11(G)(1)(b), Matters involving an employee’s or public official’s appointment, and Section 121.22(G)(2), Purchase or sale of public property; Section 121.22(G)(3), Conference with law director regarding pending or imminent court action; Mr. Hackworth seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Fix, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mr. Hackworth voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
Finance Committee went into Executive Session at 8:06 P.M. and reconvened in open session at 8:45 P.M.
Mr. Fix moved to approve and forward to Council the legislation authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement settling claims arising from Fairfield County Common Pleas Case No. 2005 CV 354; Mr. Hackworth seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Hackworth, Mr. Fix, and Mr. Wisniewski voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
9. ADJOURNMENT. There being nothing further, Mr. Wisniewski moved to adjourn; Mr. Fix seconded the motion. Mr. Hackworth, Mr. Fix, and Mr. Wisniewski voted "Aye." Motion carried, 3-0. The Finance Committee adjourned at 8:53 P.M., February 16, 2006.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
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