Monday, March 7, 2016

March 7, 2016 - Council of the Whole meeting

North Canton Residents and Anyone Having Interest in the Business of North Canton City Government

Pasted below is a link to a video of the North Canton City Council meeting held on Monday, March 7, 2016


 
Description of Video:
 
March 7, 2016 – Committee of the Whole meeting: 
The video covers a Committee of the Whole meeting for the City of North Canton that lasts nearly one hour and eighteen minutes.  
The video starts two to three minutes after the meeting is gaveled to order. Not recorded in the first few minutes of the meeting was a vote to excuse Councilmember Marcia Kiesling who was absent. This is Councilmember Kiesling’s second meeting absence this year as she was also absent at the February 8, 2016, meeting of City Council. 
The meeting agenda listed two items for discussion:  
The first agenda item was proposed legislation by Councilmember Stephanie Werren to seek bids to possibly outsource the City’s Dispatch services for Police, Fire, and EMS. This issue has been discussed in great depth numerous times in recent years and each time City Council has found no significant savings to proceed.  
The second agenda item is proposed legislation for additional funds in support of the City’s share for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. This is a program to continue a buyout of homes located in or near the Zimber Ditch that have experienced repeated flooding. 
The video begins moments after Councilmember Mark Cerreta begins a presentation of the City’s Master Plan to City Council.  
29:32 minutes into the video, Plain Township resident Randy Smith joins Mr. Cerreta in the presentation of the City’s Master Plan. The presentation and discussion of the City’s Master Plan concludes at 37:30 minutes. 
37:30 minutes into the video, Councilwoman Stephanie Werren presents her proposal to seek bids to possibly outsource the City’s Dispatch services for Police, Fire, and EMS.  
40:15 minutes into the video, Councilmember Cerreta speaks to Werren’s proposal and suggests to Mrs. Werren that the City needs to proceed with caution. Mrs. Werren responds to Mr. Cerreta’s urge for caution on her proposal stating she has information that supports outsourcing the City’s Dispatch Department and repeats her position on this throughout the meeting. 
41:45 minutes into the video, Law Director Tim Fox injects himself into the discussion on Werren’s proposal, as if he is a co-sponsor of her proposal. 
44:10 minutes into the video, Mr. Cerreta states “…he does not want to collaborate on the Werren proposal just to collaborate.” Mr. Cerreta is clearly reluctant on Werren’s proposal stating that the proposal “…would have to be cost effective and maintain the same services.” Councilmember Foltz follows up with similar remarks about the proposal to outsource the City’s Dispatch Department. 
48:30 minutes into the video, City Administrator Mike Grimes is asked for his thoughts on the proposal by Council President Peters. Administrator Grimes is critical of Mrs. Werren’s proposal. Mr. Grimes concludes his remarks on the Werren proposal at 52:30 minutes. 
52:30 minutes into the video, Law Director Tim Fox, holding what he believes is his dual role as a City Councilmember, and forgetting that no one asked him for a legal opinion, weighs in on the discussion, as he continually does. 
54:00 minutes into the video, Mayor Held points out that City Administrator Grimes has examined, on three or four occasions in recent years, the merits of outsourcing the City’s Dispatch Department. Mayor Held placates (my interpretation) Mrs. Werren by stating that in spite of the fact that the City has examined this proposal on numerous occasions, it will re-examine her proposal yet again. 
1:02:20 minutes into the video, Council member Dan Griffith discusses proposed legislation for additional funds in support of the City’s share for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (described earlier). 
1:04:00 minutes into the video, Councilmember Foltz asks that Council to amend the agenda to discuss issues related to Dogwood Pool. 
1:16:18 minutes into the video, the meeting was adjourned.  
The video was continued after adjournment to document the absence of Councilmember Marcia Kiesling for viewers. The video ended at 1:17:51 minutes. 
 
Thank you,
Chuck Osborne
 
 


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