THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 2007

REGULAR MEETING

7:30 P.M.

1. ROLL CALL. Mr. Smith called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M., with roll call as follows: Mr. Sabatino, Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Fix were present. No members were absent. Others present were Lynda Yartin, Linda Fersch, Tim Hansley, Ed Drobina, Cathy Young, and others.

2. A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF May 17, 2007, Work Session. Mr. Sabatino moved to approve; Mr. Fix seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Fix, Mr. Sabatino, and Mr. Smith voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 4-0.

B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF May 17, 2007, Regular Meeting. Mrs. Hammond moved to approve; Mr. Fix seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Sabatino, Mr. Fix, Mr. Smith, and Mrs. Hammond voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 4-0.

3. FINANCE DIRECTOR:

A. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance amending the 2006 appropriation, Ordinance 2006-164. Mrs. Fersch stated the Committee had received a draft appropriation ordinance this evening. She stated under General Fund, Planning and Zoning, she was requesting $20,000 to cover the demolition of two homes, one of which is the house on Steiger Court that was condemned due to mold. She stated further under Transfers she was requesting an increase of $105,862.12 for the Diley Road house purchased through the SIB. Mrs. Fersch further stated under Sewer Plant/Line Construction Contractual Services she was requesting an increase of $375,000 for the engineering contract for the sewer plant. Mr. Smith moved to approve and forward to Council; Mr. Fix seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Fix, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Sabatino voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 4-0.

B. Finance Director’s Report: Mrs. Fersch stated she had provided a written report and she would answer any questions.

Mrs. Fersch stated the next four items are all four of our TIF issues that are due in September. She stated in order to have three separate readings she was bringing these forward now. Mrs. Fersch stated she is in the process of talking with U.S. Bank as they have taken our issues for the next several years, but she has not received a final confirmation as yet. Mrs. Fersch stated she should have that by the time these are at Council for a first reading, however, and if necessary any changes can be made at that time.

C. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance providing for the issuance of not to exceed $393,000 of revenue notes by the City of Pickerington, Ohio, for the purpose of renewing revenue notes previously issued for the purpose of paying part of the cost of constructing (I) street improvements on Hill Road and Blacklick-Eastern Road, including widening streets, constructing sidewalks, curbs and gutters and installing traffic control devices, and (II) street improvements known as the Hill Road Connector, including constructing streets, sidewalks, curbs and gutters. Mrs. Fersch stated we will not be paying any principal on these notes at this time.

D. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance providing for the issuance of not to exceed $2,200,000 of revenue notes by the City of Pickerington, Ohio, for the purpose of renewing revenue notes previously issued for the purpose of paying part of the cost of constructing street improvements in the Windmiller/Diley areas, including constructing widening and turn lane improvements for State Route 256 to establish an exist point for the realignment of Diley Road. Mrs. Fersch stated we will be paying $50,000 principal on these notes.

E. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance providing for the issuance of not to exceed $218,750 of revenue notes by the City of Pickerington, Ohio, for the purpose of renewing revenue notes previously issued for the purpose of paying part of the cost of constructing street and traffic signal improvements in the State Route 256/Stonecreek Drive area. Mrs. Fersch stated we are paying $43,750 in principal on these notes.

F. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance providing for the issuance of not to exceed $645,000 of revenue notes by the City of Pickerington, Ohio, for the purpose of renewing revenue notes previously issued for the purpose of paying part of the cost of constructing street improvements in the Cycle Way area. Mrs. Fersch stated this ordinance will be corrected as $5,000 is listed on principal and we will be paying another $200,000 because the money that was left from Marcus was designated in the budget to go toward Cycle Way. She stated that will bring these notes down to $445,000 and that correction will be made to this ordinance.

Mr. Smith moved to forward the four note issue ordinances to Council with the correction in the amount of Item F. to $445,000 in lieu of $645,000; Mr. Fix seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Fix, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Sabatino voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 4-0.

G. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance to authorize the City Manager to write off uncollectible water, sanitary sewer, and stormwater charges. Mrs. Fersch stated we have never written off anything on our utility accounts. She stated maybe some people have moved out and the funds are uncollectible, bankruptcies, or if there are just a few cents on an account, and we would like to clear up these accounts. Mrs. Fersch stated we have hired an agency that collected some bad debts, however, with collection you need a social security number and we do not require that when accounts for utilities are opened. She stated further the only accounts we have deposits on are renters. Mr. Sabatino inquired if we could require a social security number when the account is opened. Mr. Drobina stated we have discussed developing an actual application to be filled out when utility accounts are opened and we would have a blank on the application for a social security number. He stated there are many people who will fill in the information on an application, but if you just ask them for their social security number, they will refuse to give it. Mrs. Hammond stated she did not think we could legally require they provide their social security number. Mr. Fix inquired how much money we were talking about writing off, and Mr. Drobina stated it varies. Mr. Drobina stated we have accounts that are 17 years old, and the accounts that are three years and newer we want to collect. Mr. Fix stated then, accounts under 36 months past due we are still making an effort to collect, and everything past 36 months we want to write off. He stated he just was interested in how much money we were talking about. Ms Young stated from 1991 to 1999 she thought the amount was something around $34,000. Mr. Sabatino inquired if staff was looking for this to be a standing authorization or a one-time deal. Mr. Drobina stated he would think it would be standing because if you have an account with a balance of $.50 and the person has moved away, we want to have a mechanism to write that off rather than keep it on the books for several years. Mr. Sabatino stated he did not think this should be a standing authorization and he would suggest that we deal with whatever we have now, and then look at it again in two or three years or perhaps bring it to Finance Committee on an annual basis. Mr. Drobina stated he would be fine with that, he just felt we needed a mechanism to handle this. Mr. Sabatino stated he just has a problem with giving a blanket authorization. Mr. Smith stated he agreed with Mr. Sabatino on this. Mrs. Hammond stated perhaps we could have a policy setting a dollar amount at which it could be automatically written off. Mr. Smith stated he didn’t see a problem with coming to Council every year or couple of years. He stated it has apparently taken many years to get to this point, so we can clear the books off now, and do it again in a year or two or whatever. Mr. Sabatino stated he agreed with Mr. Smith, take a single action now to clear up the books, and then when the need arises or set up a review schedule to bring it back, then it will be simple each time. Mr. Drobina stated he felt it would be best to set up an annual review policy, and Mr. Smith and Mr. Sabatino stated that would be fine, they just wanted Council to approve it each time it was done. Mr. Drobina stated for 2006 we have $3,042 outstanding and our annual billing is over $1,000,000. Mr. Fix stated then we have a 99.7 percent collection rate, which is very good. Mr. Fix inquired if the Committee could get a total amount that was being written off, and Mr. Smith stated he felt the ordinance should be clarified as to what years were being written off and the amount that is being written off. He stated then it can be dealt with on an annual basis. Mr. Sabatino questioned if the Committee could have the clarified ordinance with the years and total amount at Finance Committee next month to review prior to forwarding it on to Council. Mr. Drobina stated he would work with the law director and have that information for the July Finance Committee meeting. Mr. Smith stated he would continue this item on the agenda.

4. PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT:

A. Personnel Director’s Report. Mrs. Fersch stated she had provided a written report and she would be happy to answer any questions. Mrs. Fersch stated she and Mr. Drobina have completed the interviews for the Service Worker position and will be making an offer of employment for that position.

Mr. Sabatino ascertained that in view of things that have been reported in the news lately, in dealing with off-site backups, our tapes are transferred to the Building Department on a daily basis where they are stored in a safe. He further clarified an employee physically takes the tapes to the safe where they are kept for 30 days and we do not have any City employees that take any type of back up tapes home.

B. Review and discussion regarding Updated Employee Manual. Mrs. Fersch stated she would like to have discussion on this item when Ms Gilleland is present and when we have our consultant, Clemons Nelson, attend the meeting as well. She stated she has provided a copy of the draft to the FOP and to AFSCME, both of our unions, and they are reviewing it as well. Mr. Smith stated he thought it would be beneficial to have the consultant come to a work session before full Council so everyone can have a chance to get their questions answered. Mrs. Fersch clarified that a work session could be scheduled for either the first or second Council meeting in August.

5. DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT:

A. Development Director’s Report. Mr. Hansley stated he had provided a written report to the Committee and he would answer any questions. Mr. Hansley stated he has spoken with Mr. Fix regarding the impact fee waiver clarification and staff is reviewing the entire impact fee ordinance at this time.

B. Review and discussion of proposal by Violet Township on Wright Road property. (TABLED, 03/15/07)

C. Review and discussion regarding Windmiller Office Condo and Barnyard Primitives, Inc., appeal of Impact Fees. Mr. Hansley stated Mr. Ricketts has requested this be continued on the agenda for the next meeting.

D. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance establishing and enacting Title 4 and Chapter 1448 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Pickerington, Ohio, entitled “Cable Service and Competitive Video Service” to facilitate a competitive marketplace for broadband services. Mr. Hansley stated he would request this item also be continued on the agenda for the next meeting as there are still some details being discussed on this issue.

6. CHAIRMAN:

A. Review of Legal and Engineering services invoices. Mr. Smith ascertained there were no questions on the invoices.

B. Review of draft City of Pickerington Fee Schedule. Mr. Smith stated this item will be removed from the agenda as the ordinance is at Council level.

C. Review and discussion regarding Mayor’s Court – House Bill 154. Mr. Smith stated everyone had received a memorandum from our law director explaining House Bill 154. He stated it does not appear there will be any action by the full legislative body for the next couple of months and he would like to continue this issue on the agenda for the next meeting when Ms Gilleland can be present.

7. OTHER BUSINESS: No other business was brought forward.

8. MOTIONS:

A. Motion for Executive Session under Section 121.22(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. Smith stated there was no need for an Executive Session this evening.

9. ADJOURNMENT. There being nothing further, Mr. Fix moved to adjourn; Mr. Sabatino seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Smith, Mr. Sabatino, Mr. Fix, and Mrs. Hammond voting "Aye." Motion carried, 4-0. The Finance Committee adjourned at 8:10 P.M., June 21, 2007.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

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Lynda D. Yartin, Municipal Clerk