Meeting Observed: Kent City Council Regular Meeting
Date of Meeting: 2/1/2023
Format: Virtual
Meeting Summary:
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Proposed change to the Revolving Loan Fund (RLF): This involves the composition of the RLF Loan Review Board. Five members compose the RLF Review Board: Three members who are commercial lenders, one attorney, and one real estate agent. There are currently two openings: one for a real estate agent and the other for an attorney. There is currently a challenging case before the board. One of the commercial bankers had to recuse himself, leaving the board without a quorum. Motion to change the parameters of the board members. Unanimously approved.
Boards and Commission Interviews: Patricia Lowry applied for the Load Review Board (see above on the difficulties with that board). She has a Master’s and Business in Business and is an attorney, who practices and lives in Kent. She also has a finance background. Council will vote at the next meeting, but her appointment will solve the issues outlined in the Loan Review Board above.
Update on new city hall: Steel and cranes arrived in mid-January. Lots of progress.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE:
Haymaker Farmers Market Sublease: The city has a 15-year lease with the railroads but the Famers Market has a year-to-year sublease. The City Council unanimously approved the renewal of the sublease to the Farmers Market at the same rate ($1 per year)
HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY:
Health Dept. PEP grant opportunity: Joan Seidel, Kent City Health Commissioner, testified about security issues associated with the health dept The plan is to install two panic buttons in case of an emergency. The buttons cost $1,896 and the PEP grant would be $1,000. She’s applied for the grant but needed the approval to accept the grant and payback for the panic buttons. Council unanimously approved.
Ohio First Responder Grant Opportunity: The city fire and police depts. have a $102,500 grant for an employee health program for first responders. This program allows for an annual mental health wellness check for all first responders; a cell phone application base wellness and training (a four-hour training for common mental illness issues. This is a two-year ARPA program. Asked for approval to accept the grant and appropriate the funds – City Council unanimously approved it.
STREETS, SIDEWALKS & UTILITIES COMMITTEE:
Freedom-Portage Bike and Hike Trail Construction, Maintenance and User Agreement with the Summit MetroParks. This concerns the connection on Middlebury Road. Summit Metro Parks will pay for the connection between the two trails and maintain that connection, Kent will give them the right of way. This sparked a spirited discussion on the dangerousness of that potential connection as it is currently. The measure was unanimously approved but Jim Bowling was a little vague on when this would begin and be completed.
FINANCE COMMITTEE;
NOPEC Event Sponsorship Grant. They got a $3500 grant, which will be given to Kent Skates, unanimously approved
Budget Appropriation Amendment. Unanimously approved by City Council.
Executive Session to discuss board and commission appointments.
Which members of the board/council were present: Jack Amrhein, Ward 2; John Kuhar, Ward 4; Heidi Shaffer Bish, Ward 5; Gwen Rosenberg, At Large; Michael DeLeone, At Large; Roger Sidoti, At Large, and Robin Turner, Ward 3. Absent was Garret Ferrara, Ward 1 and Tracy Wallach, Ward 6.
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://kentoh.portal.civicclerk.com/
Observer: Kathleen Endres