By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com

The Galion utilities department will be welcoming a new office manager in the next few months after City Council approved ordinance no 2013-76, albeit only on a first reading. A motion to suspend the rules, allowing for the law to take immediate effect, was voted down. Central to the discussion of this ordinance was whether this position was necessary. A motion to table the ordinance and return it to the finance committee was first made and then withdrawn by council member Andy Daniels.

“A lot of people ran on the concept of not adding to the government, and we’ve added a little to the government,” Daniels said. “I want to see if it’s justified.”

Daniels was speaking in particular about conducting a study of similarly sized municipalities and the operations of their utilities departments. How much they spend, how many they employ, and if this is something necessary for a city similar to Galion’s size and scope.

Mayor Tom O’Leary noted that going back at least 40 to 50 years, meaning before the charter was enacted, this department has had a manager. Under the old charter the assistant finance director had as his or her “main job” the managing of the utility department. O’Leary maintained that this is a necessary position to be filled and would not constitute creating a new role.

“This notion that we’re adding a position, I’m not going to accept that,” O’Leary said.

Councilman Richart added to the discussion that he was “unaware” of how the office ran before the charter, and that while he was in favor of reducing spending, “We’ve spent far less than the charter has.”

The motion to suspend the rules failed, lacking the required six votes, but passed on the first reading. It will be back on the table at the next regular meeting of council

This discussion was juxtaposed to public comment provided by Diana Beachy, of McDonald Street, who reported her second $400+ electric bill in the last several months. She is not alone in her frustration at having estimated bills, and simply asked, “When will this meter position be filled?”

O’Leary clarified that first the meter crew leader position had to be filled, and now that that has been accomplished they can work on returning the meter reading staff to its full level of three.

“When you’re down one in a three-man department, it puts you at a disadvantage,” O’Leary said.

He advised to her contact the utilities department, as 30 to 40 others have done, and they will come out for a reading and make the necessary adjustments.

It was asked for the rules to be suspended for Resolution No. 2013-11, this time successfully, as the city looked to clean up some long overdue payments. Total expenditures of $440,753.65 that the city has incurred and not paid for, some reaching back as far as November of 2012, were approved to be rectified. The large chunk of this money is owed to Didado for the work they have done on the electric distribution center expansion.

O’Leary called this one of the “worst examples of contract administration I’ve seen,” and expressed his gratitude and amazement that the firm had not left the job. The previous administration’s handling of this situation led O’Leary to say, “This is a low point in our business operations as a city.”

With the resolution passed on a final reading the city can now work to clean up these outstanding payments.

The safety/service director was authorized to work through the CHIP Grant to obtain $130,000 in funding for the Church Street overpass maintenance. The City’s share on this project, which O’Leary said has “community-wide benefit” will be $100,000.

Appointees to the new Zoning Commission were confirmed as Sharon Baldinger, term expiring October 8, 2015; Eric Kent expiring October 8, 2017; and Kent Gimball expiring October 8, 2019. Kate Strickler was also named to the Galion Health Board to replace the outgoing Terry Gribble.

The meeting concluded with an executive session to discussion the current elections litigation and the 598 widening project litigation. More will be forthcoming on these issues when they are brought to the table in regular council meetings.