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Resident voices concerns about selection process |
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Wednesday, 03 September 2008 |
By MARY BARGDILL
Staff Writer
MINSTER — For new Village Councilor Nicole Clune, her first Village of Minster Council meeting was a rocky one.
Shortly after being sworn in by Council President Rick Schwartz, village resident Peggy Bensman voiced her displeasure of the process in which Clune was selected for the seat, including submitting her name as a potential candidate one day after the Aug. 28, deadline.
“I’m concerned about the process you used,” Bensman said. “Isn’t 89 signatures enough to elect Connie Schafer?”
Bensman noted Schafer had previously been named Citizen of the Year. She said her grievance was not with Clune but with the process in which she was chosen for the position.
“I have nothing against Mrs. Clune, I wish her the best of luck,” Bensman said.
Councilor Steve Kitzmiller said this was the first he had heard of a petition of 89 names.
“There were a lot of qualified candidates,” Council President Rick Schwartz said. “It was a tough decision to make.”
In other business, councilors tabled a discussion on adding handicap parking on Fourth Street in front of the Minster Eagles Aerie 1391.
The required number of parking spaces is based per capita, but is usually in a parking lot as apposed to on street parking.
Councilors also discussed the cracks and holes that have occurred in some of the village’s water pipelines. Village Administrator Don Harrod said Ductile Iron Pipe Research of Beaver, Penn., had determined the holes were not caused by foundry sand as had first been suspected. In some pipes, rocks have also been found.
“There have been others where we’ve had no foundry sand as well,” Harrod said.
When Clune inquired if the erosion was occurring from the inside or outside of the pipes, Harrod responded they did not know.
Kitzmiller suggested hiring another company to research the problem.
“It might not be a bad idea to spend some money to get to the root of the problem,” he said.
Jeff Puthoff of Choice One Engineer said he would look into companies that might be used for the project.
The Village of Minster Electrical Department was presented with the American Public Power Association 2007 Safety Award for no injuries or lost time.
Council members also
• Approved the third and final reading of an ordinance establishing the salary administration plan providing for consideration of the increases in compensations on an annual basis.
• Approved the third and final reading of a resolution authorizing the village administrator to prepare and submit an application to participate in the Ohio Public Works Commission State Capital Improvement Program.
• Declared an emergency and passed an ordinance designating public lands under O.R.C. 1724.10
• Declared an emergency and passed a resolution approving the amounts and rates determined by the Budget Commission and authorizing the inside 10 mil limitations and certifying this to the County Auditor.
• Awarded the 2008 Minor Street Resurfacing Program to Barrett Paving of Dayton for $128,136.05. Freisthler Paving of Sidney placed a bid for $128,853.50. The village project was estimated at $129,262.
Under new business, the village set Trick or Treat Night from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 30.
Harrod said he wanted to remind village residents to place their weekly garbage in the area between the street and sidewalk.
instead of in the street.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 08 September 2008 )
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