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Boston Heights Overlook

This is a publication of Boston Heights Overlook. Not an official public document by, of or for the Village of Boston Heights OH.

*[All council members were present except for Paul Palumbo; also present were Mayor Ray McFall, Clerk-Treasurer Carol Zeman, Engineer Steve Schreiber & Deputy Solicitor Ed Muse.]

*[Councilor Terry Slane noted an error in the the minutes of the January regular council meeting: the minutes showed her voting against Resolution B, whereas in fact she voted against Councilor Cheung's amendment to exclude the Zoning Inspector appointment, but for the amended ordinance itself. Councilor Hudson voted against both the amendment and the amended ordinance. The minutes were amended to make this correction, and accepted by Council. Likewise, the minutes were accepted for January's Public Meeting on the new zoning plan.]

*[Clerk-Treasurer Carol Zeman announced that the next deadline for filing application for the 2.5% residential property tax reduction is June 1st, 2003. The forms can be had from the Village Hall, or click here to download "Application for 2½% Percent Tax Reduction" form and print it yourself. There is an additional tax reduction for homeowners 65+ or disabled too: click here to download "Homestead Exemption" form. Ms. Zeman also noted that anyone can look up their county property record on the County website.]

*[Engineer Steve Schreiber stated that he had met with the Summit County Engineer, in connection with the proposed replacement of the Akron-Cleveland Road bridge over the Bike & Hike Trail. The village's plan has been to replace this decaying bridge with an embankment, but the county engineer is now exploring the possibility of refurbishing or replacing the bridge structure. This project is designated SUM CR 16-1.95 by the county.
*[Engineer Schreiber also noted that the long-awaited handicap-accessible restroom project was not yet complete. It was supposed to have been completed in January; while the new upstairs restrooms are functional, the refurbishment of the downstairs facilities continues.]

*[Mayor Ray McFall announced that the Village Park Board would host a Senior Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday, 01 March 2003 12 Noon, at the fire station. Contact the Village Hall for reservations.]
*[Mayor McFall noted that many residents had recently received alarmingly large property tax bills, and that the Village was making available the county's valuation complaint form. Appeals must be filed with the county's Board of Revision by 31 March. On Saturday, 08 March 2003, Solicitor Russ Pry would be at the Village Hall to assist in filling out those forms, and to notarize them upon request.]
*[Mayor McFall reported that the consortium that had purchased the derelict hotel, at Route 8 and Hines Hills Road, was now planning to demolish the building and "start over". Whether they "start over" with another hotel was not clear; note that the property is zoned for any permitted business use.]
*[Mayor McFall re-iterated his communication with Rep. Steve LaTourette's office, regarding the proposed Army Reserve Center: The Army is said to be definitely not building its Center in the village, and a news conference would soon be arranged to make that announcement - "within weeks".]

*["Bob", otherwise unidentified, asked why the village's notice sign was not being updated with current meeting information. The Mayor explained that the letters were frozen in place. (!)]

ORDINANCE D-2003 [First Reading]	AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 509.10(a) OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS, OHIO REGARDING CURFEW AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. [A motion to suspend the rules was defeated 3-2, with Councilors Terri Slane and Jim Hudson nay-saying. Ms. Slane explained that in her view this matter was not urgent enough to warrant fast-tracking the measure. Mayor McFall further explained that the current 11PM-4AM curfew for minors was proposed to be extended to 11PM-6AM; this was triggered by some recent incidents. Councilor Hudson inquired as to the Ohio statute on the matter; Solicitor Muse did not know anything about it offhand.]
ORDINANCE E-2003 [passed as Ordinance 3-2003]	AN ORDINANCE INSTITUTING A 90 DAY MORATORIUM ON THE CLEARING OF TREES WITHIN THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS, OHIO, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. [This measure appears to have been triggered by the recent clear-cutting of the woodland along Boston Mills Road. The Planning Commission is considering recommendations to Council for regulation of tree removal.]
SUBSTITUTE ORDINANCE M-2002 [Second Reading]	AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE COMPREHENSIVE ZONING PLAN CONTAINED IN THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS. SECOND READING [As last month, Councilor Cheung's motion to suspend the rules, dispensing with the 3rd reading of the ordinance, was defeated 3-2. Therefore this ordinance could not be considered for passage at this meeting. Once again Councilors Terri Slane and Jim Hudson objected without stating any position on the matter.]
RESOLUTION D-2003 [passed as Resolution 4-2003]	A RESOLUTION APPOINTING DAVID HIMES AS ZONING INSPECTOR FOR THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS, OHIO. [Councilor Hudson abstained from this vote. Mr. Himes replaces long-time Zoning Inspector Ron Fenn.]
RESOLUTION E-2003 [passed as Resolution 5-2003]	A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CLERK-TREASURER TO ADVERTISE FOR BIDS FOR THE PURCHASE OF TWO POLICE CRUISERS.
RESOLUTION F-2003 [passed as Resolution 6-2003]	A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO WORK IN CONNECTION WITH THE COUNTY OF SUMMIT TO SUBMIT A NOTICE OF INTENT FOR COVERAGE UNDER THE OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY'S GENERAL PERMIT AND TO SIGN A PERMIT APPLICATION FOR STORM WATER PHASE TWO.
RESOLUTION G-2003 [passed as Resolution 7-2003]	A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE VILLAGE OF BOSTON HEIGHTS TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH ORIANA HOUSE, INC., FOR THE PROVISIONS OF COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS SERVICES.

*[Council P-PT Bill Goncy stated that he had reviewed the monthly bank reconciliations for December 2002 and January 2003, as well as the Mayor's Court reconciliation for December 2002.]