1/18/2023 - Kent City Council - Observer Corps Report

1/18/2023 - Kent City Council - Observer Corps Report

Type: 
Blog Post

Meeting Observed: Kent City Council Regular Meeting

Date of Meeting: 1/18/2023

Format: Virtual

Meeting Summary:

Minutes approved: Dec. 14, 2022 and Dec. 21, 2022

Committee of the Whole:
The following were kept on Council's Pending List:

  • Sustainability Commission to come up with 10 action items to fend off global warming
  • Explore Senior Center Advisory Committee
  • Review and Discuss unattended vehicles idling in the city
  • Design Guidelines reorganization
  • Discussion with Franklin Twp. on sidewalk snow shoveling and/or plowing
  • Parameters for low-frequency noises
  • Proactively dealing with racism
  • Flag Committee
  • Changes in Fireworks Law

Removed from the Council's Pending List:

  • Conflict of Interest for Boards and Commissions
  • Review of noise ordinance and recommendation
  • Animal control equipment discussion
  • Yard waste site policies

Health & Safety Committee:

  • Send a Letter to Governor Mike Dewine requesting he vetoes HB 513
  • (letter not sent, Governor vetoed this bill on 1/5/23)

Streets, Sidewalks and Utilities Committee:

  • 2023-001 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF KENT TO SUBMIT AN EQUIPMENT GRANT APPLICATION REQUEST FOR $10,000.00 TO THE OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (OEPA) AND TO ACCEPT THE GRANT, IF AWARDED, AND EXECUTE THE SUBSEQUENT GRANT AGREEMENT WITH CORRESPONDING APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS, FOR PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY -- Unanimously approved.

Finance Committee:

  • 2023-002 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR HIS DESIGNEE, TO RENEW THE AGREEMENT WITH QUALITY IP AND THE CITY OF KENT TO HELP THE CITY’S TRANSITION TO MICROSOFT OFFICE 365, WAIVING COMPETITIVE BIDDING, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY -- Unanimously approved
  • 2023-003 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SETTLEMENT & RELEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF KENT AND FIORITTO CONSTRUCTION, LLC, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY -- Unanimously approved.

The big news of the night, however, was Councilmember Garret Ferraro's announcement that he was not going to run for reelection in Ward 1. He had been first elected 24 years ago. Council gave Ferraro a standing ovation. Mayor said he was shocked, Turner said he was "stunned" and "heartsick" about Ferraro's decision. Kuhar, who often voted with Ferraro, said he would be missed. In his announcement, he encouraged all interested to fill in the various petitions and run for office.

The Council then adjourned. Personnel from the fire department then gave a report on the mill fire. Showing photos and video of the event, Capt. Lynn (first on the season) and fire chief William Myers. Among the high points of the presentation were: assistance from some 20 other depts; assistance from 9 other agencies; the use of three drone units to help locate where the fire was still burning; three million gallons of water. The presentation also noted that in July and September before the mill fire, the Kent fire dept. went thru a ladder training class (by an expert from Boston, Mass.) For a full account of the presentation, see the following YouTube link, beginning at about 21:23

Which members of the board/council were present: All present:  Garret Ferrara, Ward 1;  Jack Amrhein, Ward 2;  John Kuhar, Ward 4; Heidi Shaffer Bish, Ward 5; Tracy Wallach, Ward 6; Gwen Rosenberg, At Large; Michael DeLeone, At Large; Roger Sidoti, At Large;. Robin Turner, Ward 3.

Was there a public notice of the meeting that included the time and place of meeting: Yes

Was an agenda of the meeting or handouts available to visitors: Yes

Are minutes from previous meetings posted/available: Yes

https://www.kentohio.org/737/Agendas-and-Minutes

Observer: Kathleen Endres

League to which this content belongs: 
Kent

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