Trending
WHAT: Village Council meeting Thursday
PRESENT: William Blue, Carl Hornung, Scott Klein, Kaitlyn Arganti, Richard Seyer, village solicitor Luke McConville, fiscal officer Nick Giardina, administrator and economic development coordinator Leslie Gambosi-McCoy and Mayor Ben Garlich
ABSENT: Sam Morrow
Council:
• Passed as an emergency a resolution approving health insurance by Love Insurance Agency;
• Passed as an emergency an ordinance approving vision and dental benefits with Delta Dental Plan of Ohio Inc.;
• Passed as an emergency an ordinance approving payment of a monthly car allowance to the village administrator;
• Passed as an emergency a bid from Grade Line Inc. for the well No. 3 raw water main transmission line, in an amount not to exceed $1,197,668.25;
• Authorized the payment of bills totaling $589,768.54. Garlich said the water well project was one cause of it being a little higher than normal;
• Put into third reading an ordinance establishing the annual salary for Middlefield mayor effective Jan. 1, 2024. The village wanted to give qualified candidates better financial incentive to pursue the role of mayor. Council looked over a chart that states the mayor's salary would be raised yearly based on cost of living increases. Under the new pay scale, the village mayor would be paid $13,000 for the first year of service, and then would receive the prior year's rate plus cost of living allowances (COLA) every year thereafter. According to the chart, the mayor would be paid $24,000 after five years of service and $36,000 after nine, with the COLA rates added to each year;
• Heard from Giardina the village's finances are very good, considering that expenses have gone up and the economy is slowing;
• Middlefield Fire Captain Tony Yeropoli reported that March had 81 runs, and there have been a total of 258 runs of service to date. The Middlefield Fire Department and University Hospitals collaborated on medical training for area law enforcement. The fire department also did continuing training with Geauga Medical Center, and the paramedics fulfilled their two-year requirement of course work and hands on training;
• Heard from Gambosi-McCoy that she has had a favorable involvement with area businesses, including site planning and expansions. The Storefront Improvement Program has done very well and is at $16,000;
• Heard from street superintendent Joe Tucholski that general repairs have been made to water and sewer plants, a water leak on North Thompson has been fixed, and cemetery workers have begun working in the cemetery. The Mineral Lake foot bridge has been reconstructed, and a new ramp has been put on the back of the Girl Scout Lodge. The hardwood floors in the lodge were able to be sanded and resealed after the old carpet was removed. New concrete walkways, windows, paint and lights all will be added as well;
• Gambosi-McCoy reported that spring soccer has begun, and baseball and softball will begin soon. The Huskie Locker is doing well assisting families with needed items for children participating in sports programs. Involvement in the sports programs are about the same as recent years. Softball 8U has been moved to the Pee Wee team;
• Heard the Metzenbaum Center, which is operated by the Geauga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, has seen growing numbers and a good budget. There are about 185 employees on site and in the field. The center receives about $14 to $16 million a year;
• Passed an ordinance authorizing an agreement for the village to pay the Cardinal Local School District $55,000 to operate the Middlefield and Cardinal recreation department. The village will pay Cardinal Schools to be the lead director of the program, while the village will assume all financial intake.