Council Minutes Archives

COUNCIL MINUTES
City of Harrison
March 4, 2008

 
Council met in regular session with Mayor Joel McGuire presiding.  Members present included:  Mrs. Deborah Acra, Mr. Tony Burkart, Mr. Matt Hiatt, Mrs. Judy Kercheval, Mr. Bill Neyer, and
Mr. Jim Robertson.   Mr. Bill Deters, Law Directors, was also in attendance.   Mr. Randy Shank was not in attendance
 
The meeting opened at 7:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.
 
Mrs. Kercheval made a motion, seconded by Mr. Burkart to approve the Council meeting minutes for February 19, 2008.   
Mr. Neyer made a motion, seconded by Mr. Hiatt to approve the Purchase Orders.
Roll Call:  All – yea.
 
Barb Kugler of Marie Court and Chairperson of Harrison Residents for Responsible Development(HRRD) addressed Council to announce that HRRD has closed their bank account due to recent developments in the Wal-mart issue.  She reported that the committee members of HRRD agreed to donate the balance of the account to the Harrison Mayor’s Fund.   Ms Kugler presented Mayor McGuire with a check in the amount of $110.34.
 
Police Chief Chuck Lindsey introduced the Police Department’s newest officer, Chris McMurdo.  Officer McMurdo is a graduate of Harrison High School and one of the department’s first Police Explorers.    He is a graduate of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Academy and previously served as a Sergeant with the Arlington Heights Police Department.  Chris began serving the Harrison Police Department on February 25.  Mayor McGuire presided over the swearing-in of Officer McMurdo.
 
Mr. Robertson made a motion, seconded by Mr. Burkart to approve an ordinance authorizing the transfer of funds from the General Fund to the Police Pension Fund.  Roll Call:  All – yea.
(Ordinance #16 – 2008).
 
Mr. Neyer made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Kercheval to approve a resolution approving a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Harrison, Ohio and the United Steelworkers #1858.  Roll Call:  All – yea.  (Resolution #2 – 2008).
 
Mayor Report
Mayor McGuire thanked all the participants along with Councilman Hiatt for participating in the annual Mayor’s Fund 5K Run/Walk held on February 23.  The Mayor reported the Harrison Mayor’s Fund Executive Board met and is initiating a Silver, Gold, and Platinum Donation level system.   The Mayor explained that all the details with regards to the Executive Board meeting will be explained in The Harrison Press, but he reiterated that there will not be a cap on what is given to the needy as determined by Love, Inc.  If there is any surplus at the end of the year, those funds will be considered for scholarships for needy, meritorious high school students who are involved in the community.
Law Director Report
Mr. Deters had no report, but asked for an executive session for the purpose of discussing litigation and personnel matters
 
Mr. Neyer made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Acra to enter into an executive session for the purpose of discussing litigation and personnel matters.  Roll Call:  All – yea.

Council – Committee Report
Mr. Neyer reported that the President of the Planning Commission has requested that each member  bring a list of their ten top priorities to be addressed by the Commission to next week’s Planning Commission meeting.   The members will work with these lists to develop a Top Five, which will be the action items the Commission will work on independently in addition to their regular Planning Commission responsibilities. 
 
Mr. Neyer announced the Storm Water Committee will meet on March 6 at 6:00 p.m.   
 
Mr. Hiatt reported the Harrison Recreation Commission will hold their annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 22.  The commission will bag candy for the event on March 20 at 7:00 p.m.  Volunteers are welcome.
 
Mr. Hiatt reported the Economic Development/Resource Committee is continuing work with the new website designers.  He thanked all the city department head for sending in information with regards to their department.
 
Mrs. Acra announced the WESTJAD Board will meet on March 13 at 5:30 p.m.
Mrs. Acra reported on the following items from the February 20 meeting of the Police Committee:
Officers Bastion and McMurdo attended a 2 hour training session on Missing Persons Investigations.; Lt. Wilson attended a 16 hour course on Cyber Investigations.; The committee discussed the proposed Harrison Police Department Wellness Program.  The goal is to have the obstacle course taken place in April.  Officer Yeager is enrolled in the OPATA Physical Fitness Instructors Course. ;  The committee reviewed the monthly Crash Analysis Report as presented by Chief Lindsey as well as the Stop Sign Compliance Program update to help alleviate speeding thru individual neighborhoods. ; Police Car 306 has received minor damage due to striking a deer.;  FOP negotiations will take place in the near future.  The next meeting of the Police Committee is scheduled for March 19 at 5:30 p.m.
 
Mrs. Acra, member of the Mayor’s Fund Executive Board, reported she is pleased to serve on the Board and wanted the community to be reassured that the Mayor’s Fund is still committed to serving the needy of the City of Harrison.
 
Mrs. Kercheval reported the city took delivery of the new fire apparatus toady, Quint 57.  Next week driver training will begin, followed by training at Colerain Fire Tower.  The Chief is looking for the Quint to be in service towards the end of March.  Mrs. Kercheval announced the next meeting of the Fire Committee will be held on March 25 at 6:00 p.m.
 
Mrs. Kercheval announced the Law Committee will meet on April 3 at 5:00 p.m.  The committee will continue to work on a timeline for the various tasks.  Some members of the Law Committee will be attending the two meetings of Boards and Commissions that currently do have Council representation.  Mr. Burkart will attend the Board of Zoning Appeals meetings and Mrs. Kercheval will attend the Civil Service Commission meetings.   She announced the next Civil Service Commission meeting is scheduled for March 24 at 12:00 noon.
 
Mrs. Kercheval reported that she attended the Northern Cincinnati Convention & Visitors Bureau quarterly meeting today and the annual meeting is scheduled for March 5 at 3:30 p.m. at Dave and Busters in Springdale.
 
Finally, Mrs. Kercheval announced that House Bill 9 Training (New Records Training) will be held on June 17 from 1:00 to 4:15 p.m. in Greenhills.
 
Mr. Robertson (in Mr. Shank’s absence) reported the February tax deposits totaled $188,344.73, plus penalties, interest, and funds from the JEDD made for a total of $192,775.38.  This represents a 5% increase from February 2007.   Mr. Robertson reminded residents the mandatory filing deadline for City of Harrison income tax is April 15. 
 
Mr. Robertson announced the Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services is sponsoring a drop off site for Household Hazardous Waste collections at 4650 Spring Grove Ave.
 
Mr. Robertson announced the City of Harrison along with Harrison Township has tentatively scheduled a Spring Clean-up for April 26.
Mr. Robertson announced he will attend the annual Tax Incentive Review Meeting along with Gayle Grubbs on March 10 in Norwood.
 
Mr. Burkart reported on the following items from the February 26 Board of Zoning Appeals meeting:  The members had a work session led by Dan Brooks.;  The board held a public hearing on the signage requests for the new Staples store.  The Staples store will be an anchor store for several smaller stores.  The Board agreed on the monument sign at the entrance, two signs on the Staples building, two signs on the other corner tenant.  The Board approved six foot satellite dishes that will need to be screened from view. 
 
The Board recommended the Planning Commission review the zoning on the West Road property across from Hickory Flats.;  The Board also recommended that Council review the Sign Ordinance.
 
Mr. Burkart reported on the following items from the Civil Defense Committee:  Representatives from the Hamilton County General Health District were in attendance to answer questions regarding POD(Point of Distribution).  This refers to a point of distribution for inoculations and/or medications recommended by the state of Ohio due to an incident.  The POD has three basic needs: communication, security, and volunteerism.  Steve Placke of the Harrison Fire Department is the city’s point of contact with the Health District.
 
There being no further business, Council entered into an executive session.
 

ATTEST: Joel McGuire, Mayor            Carol A. Wiwi, Clerk

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