Redenbaugh appointed to fill vacant Greenfield council seat; village employees to get 1-percent raise
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
Greenfield Village Council has appointed former council member William Redenbaugh to fill a council vacancy, after only two people ran for three open seats on council. Redenbaugh did not run for re-election in 2011 after serving one term on council. His time in office had ended on Dec. 31.
In a separate discussion, council endorsed the issuance of a one-percent raise for some Greenfield employees.
Council held their first regular session of the year Tuesday, during which they voted to go into executive session "to discuss personnel in review of applicants for the vacant village council seat." Council members Betty Jackman, Bob Bergstrom, Brenda Losey and Chris Borreson were in attendance. They were joined by city manager Betty Bishop and law director Brian Zets and were in session for 15 minutes. They reviewed approximately three applications.
When council entered back into executive session, at the direction of Zets, Jackman made an official declaration that the council seat was empty, and she opened the floor to motions on making the appointment.
Redenbaugh had not sought re-election to council, and neither did council member Harvey Everhart.
Zets said the appointment, officially, was to fill the seat for the remainder of the term, "which is essentially the full term, minus three days."
Redenbaugh was not in attendance, but Jackman said that she had recently spoken to him and that he was receptive to the appointment. Zets said that Redenbaugh could be sworn in to office at any time.
In other business, some city employees will be receiving a one-percent raise at the recommendation of Bishop.
During her report to council, Bishop noted that legislation passed last year gave members of the Fraternal Order of Police a one-percent raise each year for three years and that non-union employees received a one-percent raise for one year. Greenfield ordinances allow the city manager to give raises up to one-percent per year, for effective evaluations."
"I am willing do to that, since all of the evaluations were very good," Bishop said.
Bishop told council that she first wanted their thoughts on the raises, and if they wanted her to enact them, or if they wanted it to be an act of council.
Bergstrom said that he felt it was Bishop's call, and other council members agreed. Bishop said that she would "take care of that first thing (Wednesday) morning," and that the raises would be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2012. The increase will impact 15 employees in the cemetery, street, water and sewer departments, as well as administrative support staff, and police administration.
Finance director Carolyn Snodgrass gave a preliminary report on the final numbers of 2011. She said that numbers have not been finalized, except for payroll, but they are close. She reported that year-to-date total funds was $5,018,955, with year-to-date expenses at $4,842,909. There was an unexpended balance of $1,406,472.
Carryover in the general fund from 2011 to 2012 was $506,172.
While the numbers are still subject to change, Snodgrass said, "We think we did pretty well. We closed everything we thought we could close."
Council president Betty Jackman said, "We are very pleased."
Bergstrom said," "We still have to keep a tight rein on everything, with the economy the way it is, but if everything keeps growing, we'll be doing good."
Bishop also reported to council that work is continuing regarding funding for Greenfield's railroad project. Greenfield received a commitment letter from the Ohio Department of Development of a $500,000 award for crossing improvements, but that she is concerned about some of the wording. The total estimated cost for the railroad project is $3.6 million, she said, with $1 million in state matching funds. The letter inaccurately states that $3.6 million will be used for railroad crossings, and Bishop said she wants to get the matter clarified before they proceed further, and she will have a phone conference on the issue on Wednesday. Additionally, Bishop reported that Greenfield is working on an application with the Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission for the federal Economic Development Administration for the remaining funds for the railroad projects. The remainder of the matching funds is coming from several sources, Bishop said, and all those who are contributing needs to be recognized and thanked because, "they stepped forward, and they did not have to do that." Contributions include $10,000 from the village of Leesburg; $10,000 from the Highland County Board of Commissioners; $23,000 from the Highland County Engineer Dean Otworth's Office; a $2,300 grant and a $5,000 loan from Candle-lite; a $2,500 grant and a $5,000 loan from Huhtamaki. Bishop said that, "Johnson Control's expansion is being used as in kind also." Legislation on the project will be brought before council on Jan. 17.
• Council voted 4-0 to accept a memorandum of understanding with the FOP for Greenfield Police Department union member contracts.
• After having its third reading, council voted 4-0 to pass a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an amendment to the ReLTEK service agreement for the management of the Greenfield Railroad property.
• Council heard the second reading of a resolution to accept the amounts and rates as determined by the budget commissioner and authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the county auditor.
• With its second reading pending, council voted to table a resolution to authorize the city manager to apply for a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture for funds for a solid waste management program.
• Bishop reported that Pat Hays and member of Greenfield's cable franchise committee has agreed "to allow the village to use money from their funds to use in the general fund for day to day operations." Bishop said she did not have an exact figure, but that it was "in the thousands."
Greenfield Village Council has appointed former council member William Redenbaugh to fill a council vacancy, after only two people ran for three open seats on council. Redenbaugh did not run for re-election in 2011 after serving one term on council. His time in office had ended on Dec. 31.
In a separate discussion, council endorsed the issuance of a one-percent raise for some Greenfield employees.
Council held their first regular session of the year Tuesday, during which they voted to go into executive session "to discuss personnel in review of applicants for the vacant village council seat." Council members Betty Jackman, Bob Bergstrom, Brenda Losey and Chris Borreson were in attendance. They were joined by city manager Betty Bishop and law director Brian Zets and were in session for 15 minutes. They reviewed approximately three applications.
When council entered back into executive session, at the direction of Zets, Jackman made an official declaration that the council seat was empty, and she opened the floor to motions on making the appointment.
Redenbaugh had not sought re-election to council, and neither did council member Harvey Everhart.
Zets said the appointment, officially, was to fill the seat for the remainder of the term, "which is essentially the full term, minus three days."
Redenbaugh was not in attendance, but Jackman said that she had recently spoken to him and that he was receptive to the appointment. Zets said that Redenbaugh could be sworn in to office at any time.
In other business, some city employees will be receiving a one-percent raise at the recommendation of Bishop.
During her report to council, Bishop noted that legislation passed last year gave members of the Fraternal Order of Police a one-percent raise each year for three years and that non-union employees received a one-percent raise for one year. Greenfield ordinances allow the city manager to give raises up to one-percent per year, for effective evaluations."
"I am willing do to that, since all of the evaluations were very good," Bishop said.
Bishop told council that she first wanted their thoughts on the raises, and if they wanted her to enact them, or if they wanted it to be an act of council.
Bergstrom said that he felt it was Bishop's call, and other council members agreed. Bishop said that she would "take care of that first thing (Wednesday) morning," and that the raises would be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2012. The increase will impact 15 employees in the cemetery, street, water and sewer departments, as well as administrative support staff, and police administration.
Finance director Carolyn Snodgrass gave a preliminary report on the final numbers of 2011. She said that numbers have not been finalized, except for payroll, but they are close. She reported that year-to-date total funds was $5,018,955, with year-to-date expenses at $4,842,909. There was an unexpended balance of $1,406,472.
Carryover in the general fund from 2011 to 2012 was $506,172.
While the numbers are still subject to change, Snodgrass said, "We think we did pretty well. We closed everything we thought we could close."
Council president Betty Jackman said, "We are very pleased."
Bergstrom said," "We still have to keep a tight rein on everything, with the economy the way it is, but if everything keeps growing, we'll be doing good."
Bishop also reported to council that work is continuing regarding funding for Greenfield's railroad project. Greenfield received a commitment letter from the Ohio Department of Development of a $500,000 award for crossing improvements, but that she is concerned about some of the wording. The total estimated cost for the railroad project is $3.6 million, she said, with $1 million in state matching funds. The letter inaccurately states that $3.6 million will be used for railroad crossings, and Bishop said she wants to get the matter clarified before they proceed further, and she will have a phone conference on the issue on Wednesday. Additionally, Bishop reported that Greenfield is working on an application with the Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission for the federal Economic Development Administration for the remaining funds for the railroad projects. The remainder of the matching funds is coming from several sources, Bishop said, and all those who are contributing needs to be recognized and thanked because, "they stepped forward, and they did not have to do that." Contributions include $10,000 from the village of Leesburg; $10,000 from the Highland County Board of Commissioners; $23,000 from the Highland County Engineer Dean Otworth's Office; a $2,300 grant and a $5,000 loan from Candle-lite; a $2,500 grant and a $5,000 loan from Huhtamaki. Bishop said that, "Johnson Control's expansion is being used as in kind also." Legislation on the project will be brought before council on Jan. 17.
• Council voted 4-0 to accept a memorandum of understanding with the FOP for Greenfield Police Department union member contracts.
• After having its third reading, council voted 4-0 to pass a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an amendment to the ReLTEK service agreement for the management of the Greenfield Railroad property.
• Council heard the second reading of a resolution to accept the amounts and rates as determined by the budget commissioner and authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the county auditor.
• With its second reading pending, council voted to table a resolution to authorize the city manager to apply for a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture for funds for a solid waste management program.
• Bishop reported that Pat Hays and member of Greenfield's cable franchise committee has agreed "to allow the village to use money from their funds to use in the general fund for day to day operations." Bishop said she did not have an exact figure, but that it was "in the thousands."
[[In-content Ad]]