AGENDA 1-21-2014

MIDDLETOWN CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
TUESDAY, January 21, 2014
I. BUSINESS MEETING - 5:30pm – COUNCIL CHAMBERS – LOWER LEVEL

1. MOMENT OF MEDITATION/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

2. ROLL CALL

3. PUBLIC HEARING- HUD Program Year 2014 Annual Action Plan

4. CITIZEN COMMENTS, GUESTS, ORGANIZATIONS’ REPORTS

5. CITY MANAGER REPORTS

6. CONSENT AGENDA. . . Matters listed under the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine and will be
enacted by one motion and one vote of consent. There will be no separate discussion of these items. If
discussion is desired, that item will be removed and considered separately.
(a) Approve City Council Minutes: January 7 & January 8, 2014
(b) Receive and File Board and Commission Minutes:
Board of Health- December 10, 2013
Middletown Cemetery Board- December 18, 2013
(c) Confirm Board & Commission Appointments:
Airport Commission - Mike Scorti, Kurt Yearout
(d) Approve Personnel Appointment:
PT Human Resources Specialist – Karen Caverly
Firefighter- Joshua Myers
(e) Accept Board Resignation:
Fred Rentschler from the Planning Commission

7. COUNCIL COMMENTS

II. LEGISLATION
1. Ordinance No. O2014-04, an ordinance establishing a procedure for and authorizing a contract with JW Devers
& Son, Inc., for the purchase of a dump truck body. (2nd Reading)

2. Ordinance No. O2014-05, an ordinance establishing a procedure for and authorizing a contract with the
Community Building Institute. (2nd Reading)

3. Ordinance No. O2014-06, an ordinance establishing a procedure for and authorizing an extension of a contract
with ABL Management, Inc. for jail food service. (2nd Reading)

4. Ordinance No. O2014-07, an ordinance establishing a procedure for and authorizing contract with Harrell’s for
the purchase of golf course chemicals and declaring an emergency.

5. Ordinance No. O2014-08, an ordinance authorizing the submission of an Application for Federal Assistance, a
Consolidated Plan and a Projected Use of Funds, under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act
of 1974, as amended for fiscal year 2014. (1st Reading).

III. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Under the authority of O.R.C. 121.22 (G) (1) To consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline,
promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee or official; and under the authority of O.R.C.
121.22 (G) (4) Preparing for, conducting, or reviewing negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees
concerning their compensation or other terms and conditions of their employment. 

I had my first opportunity to watch the new, five-member city council in action last evening (a replay of the 1-21-2014 meeting).

When Doug Adkins described the bids for the Manchester Inn property, one of the things he mentioned was that one bid included a plan to “restore the streetscape along Manchester Avenue to what it looked like in 1922" and that they ask the City “to participate in creating that”. Both bidders seemed to be asking us citizens to pick up the costs of things like their feasibility studies, temporary roof repairs, and the like, until the final decisions are made. At least that is what I understood Mr. Adkins to say. I hope that I am wrong. I am unsure exactly what to “restore the streetscape…to what it looked like in 1922” entails, but I would imagine it means such things as phony gas street lamps (which NEVER existed ANYWHERE in Middletown), cobblestone paving, hitching posts, and the like. At some point, we need city leaders who understand that we should look back to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past and that we should look to the future to prosper. We cannot afford to enable the playgrounds of those who wish to live in the past with our limited public resources. Those who desire such--and wish to do so with their own money--more power to them, but they should not look to the rest of us to finance their dreams. Ms. Hamet seemed to say that this process involved a “public/private team” that was “part of the community”!!! I am unsure who was involved that represented the average citizens of our community…probably no one. If they want someone to do so, I publicly volunteer here and now!!!

I also noticed that we have hired a new firefighter. While I am not against this, I am confused. I thought that we were going to have to lay off several firefighters in the near future due to budget constraints. If so, why are we hiring a new one now???

Apparently, this council is continuing in the path of past councils as regards to meeting with city staff in violation of City Charter requirements that mandates that all dealings between City Council and city staff go through the City Manager. New Councilperson Bronson stated that she had met with Doug Adkins regarding the pending contract between the Community Center and the CBI. Further to this matter, kudos to Ms. Scott-Jones for standing her ground. The current contract (on which everyone else seemed to want to adopt) wasn’t even specific on the yearly amount ($100K versus $115K) now that the liquor license was not to be included!!! Boo to Mr. Picard, Vice Mayor Mulligan, Mr. Adkins, and Law Director Landen for not recognizing this!!! (So much for the value of the attorneys in attendance!)

Bottom line: The meeting moved along somewhat quicker with only five council members, but I certainly think some of the questioning of the powers that be was lacking. This is to the detriment of we citizens. If this is any indication, I would be in favor of bringing back SEVEN council members!!!

Bottom line: The meeting moved along somewhat quicker with only five council members, but I certainly think some of the questioning of the powers that be was lacking. This is to the detriment of we citizens. If this is any indication, I would be in favor of bringing back SEVEN council members!!!


A LITTLE DIFFERENT TWIST TO THIS MIKE......

IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME HOW MANY COUNCIL PEOPLE WE HAVE....5?....7?....10?

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME IS THE QUALITY, CONTENT AND CHARACTER OF THE COUNCIL PEOPLE.

AS IT STANDS NOW (AND HAS FOR DECADES), NONE PASS THE TEST.

NEED A GOOD HOUSE CLEANING, BOTH WITH COUNCIL AND IN THE CITY BUILDING, WITH TOTALLY DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES WHO CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY AT HEART WHILE IGNORING THE COURT JESTER ROLE CONTROLLED BY THE MMF'ERS AND HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF DIRECTING THIS CITY ALONG THE RIGHT PATH FOR A CHANGE WITH SOME COMPETENT PRIORITIZATION, FRUGAL MONEY HANDLING AND INSTILLING DECISIONS MADE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE. THE DAYS OF SPECIAL INTEREST SHOULD BE ABOLISHED. MIKE HAS POINTED OUT IN THIS SEGMENT THAT THESE POTENTIAL PURCHASERS OF THE MANCHESTER ARE BEING TREATED AS SPECIAL INTEREST AND THAT JUST DOESN'T FLY, ESPECiALLY WHEN THE PURCHASERS WANT TO USE OUR MONEY FOR THEIR OWN GAIN. JUST DOESN'T CUT IT ANYMORE FOLKS. WHOEVER APPROVES THIS SHOULD BE THROWN OFF COUNCIL. A PRIVATE PARTY BUYS IT, THEY OWN IT. NO TAXPAYER HELP THIS TIME. JMO

I saw in to days paper they are going to name a wing in Cinn. state after Perry Thatcher. I'm glad. I'm really glad it doesn't have Judy G. Name on it. That's what she thinks SHE deserves. She keeps trying to take credit for so much of Cinn. state coming to town when it was a vision long before she ever got here. Judy Bober and Bob Fairchild were the driving forces to see his dream come true and for her to try to take credit sickens me. Sorry, on my soap box again.

Wasn't the goal of harbinger Perry Thatcher for the Manchester to partner with Cincinnati State's culinary school?In my line of work, we call this "scope creep." Journal seems to enjoy ramping up saint status, DS, BA, PT, who is next on list.  

 Acclaro - Wasn't the goal of harbinger Perry Thatcher for the Manchester to partner with Cincinnati State's culinary school?
In my line of work, we call this "scope creep." 
Journal seems to enjoy ramping up saint status, DS, BA, PT, who is next on list.  

Acclaro
Yes, Perry Thatcher wanted the Manchester Inn to partner with Cincinnati State so the Inn could remain open.
Then after the Manchester closed and City Hall purchased all the downtown Thatcher buildings we heard the reason for this purchase was that CS was going to purchase the Manchester and invest millions of dollars.
When this deal failed we were then told that maybe CS would open a smaller version of the culinary school in the old senior citizen's building. Then they changed their minds again with just a CS Bakery School would be in the old senior citizens building. Bottom line.....City Hall gave Cincinnati State a 350,000 dollar building for no reason what so ever and the tax paying citizens of Middletown footed the bill.
This was an act of pure desperation by City Hall