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NEWTON FALLS -- Village council approved by a 3-2 vote Wednesday moving up to $30,000 from the general fund to the park and recreation fund to be used for necessary roof repair work at the community center.
The decision did not meet with approval from some members of council, who indicated taxpayer money should not be being used for work at the center, which should be self sustaining.
Voting in support of the $30,000 for the center were council members John Baryak, Gideon Fetterolf and Tesa Spletzer, while voting against were Kevin Rufener and Julie Stimpert.
Rufener said while he has no problem with improvements being made at the center, the taxpayer money being used is where he has issues.
"I am all for fixing the community center, whether renovating, repairing or upgrading, but not with taxpayers' money. We are now paying $50,000 of taxpayer money on the center. A few months ago we were paying zero," he said.
Heritage Accord, which previously had a lease, was covering costs for the center.
Stimpert said she also is concerned that more taxpayer money is being used and will continue to be used on the center.
Finance Director Sean Housley said the center now belongs to the village and is currently in need of repairs to make it safe for contractors and insurance companies to be able to go inside. He said the center needs attention as the floor is buckling and not safe to be walked on.
He said the $30,000 from the general fund will be moved to the park and recreation fund, along with what is already in the fund from a previous transfer of $20,000 for the roof project.
Village Manager Pam Priddy said the roof project will cost $55,000 and will be covered by the insurance and be placed back in the general fund. She said the transfer of the additional $30,000 will ensure there is enough money to pay the roof contractor as the village waits for the insurance check for reimbursement.
The lease with Heritage Accord has been terminated so the village is in charge of the building and making repairs. The village is seeking Appalachian funds and other grants.
Housley said council may want to consider establishing a separate community center fund separate from park and recreation, which also covers other items and projects.
MEETING MINUTES
In other business, council voted 5-0 to approve amended and updated meeting minutes from a special meeting held Sept. 11.
Clerk Michael Acomb, who was not able to attend the Sept. 11 meeting, said a tape recording was made of the proceedings and provided to him, and in one part of the meeting he was unable to clearly hear what was said.
He said the recording's audio was difficult to hear in some parts and that a part of the meeting was not in the minutes and left out unintentionally.
Acomb said the minutes have been corrected and updated with more accurate information provided.
A lawsuit previously filed by David Lynch, former village manager, indicated that comments made by Ken Kline, former mayor who resigned at the Sept. 11 meeting, were omitted from those minutes.
Law Director Brad Bryan said the minutes have been updated and corrected with what was missing of Kline's comments from the previous prepared minutes. He said the lawsuit was filed prematurely and the matter could have been easily worked out if village officials had been contacted to add the comments from Kline.
He said despite a claim by Kline that was made at the Sept. 11 meeting, it was an "illegal meeting." Bryan indicated it was not an illegal meeting. He said Kline, as mayor, did not have the authority to adjourn the Sept. 11 meeting. Only a majority of council can do that so the meeting was handled by council properly.
Officials said three of five council members were present at the meeting to take action on items. No items were able to be passed as an emergency with only three council members present.