CITY OF ATTICA
FEBRUARY 11, 2002
The Common Council for the City of Attica met on the 11th day of February 2002 at the hour of 7 p.m. at city hall. Those present: Mrs. Valarie Maus, Mr. Larry Grant, Mr. Bill Craft, Mr. Curt Phelps, Mrs. Kay Gustus, Mr. Tom O’Connor, and Mr. Deon Swift.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Phelps made a motion to approve the minutes of the January 14, 2002 council meeting, seconded by Mrs. Gustus.
CITIZENS PETITIONS
Mayor Swift said the city has received a request from Mr. Jerry Myers to have approximately 18 acres of land, adjacent to the Badlands rezoned from agriculture to business. Mr. Phelps made a motion to send the request to the Zoning and Planning Commission, seconded by Mrs. Maus. All ayes.
A concerned parent of elementary school children was present to express her concern to the council about the crosswalk on Highway 41. She said there were no signs declaring it was a school crosswalk. There are also no speed signs of a twenty-mile an hour school zone. Police Chief Snoeberger reported that the city would have to go to the state to request a change in the speed limit since it’s a state highway. Mr. O’Connor said the school had requested the city to purchase a hand-held stop sign with flashing lights for the crossing guard. This would cost $170. Mayor Swift informed the parent he would look into the matter.
DEPARTMENT HEADS
Mr. Robert Smith, Director of Public Works, reported that a forester from the Department of Natural Resources told him early in the year of 2000 that a harvesting of trees needed to be done in Ravine Park. The older, aging trees were overshadowing and depriving the younger trees from receiving adequate sunlight and rain they needed. He said the younger trees were growing on their own so the city doesn’t have to purchase and plant new ones as long as the conditions were right for them to grown. Mayor Swift said the DNR would choose the trees to be harvested; the city would not be involved. Mr. Smith was going to inform the Park Board of the situation.
Mr. Smith presented a remonstration from his employees regarding raises to their salaries. He asked the council why they did not receive the full $.50 per hour raise to their salary beginning January 1, 2002. Mayor Swift explained the council had directed that the raise was not to be an automatic full raise. This conversation was held last fall at a meeting when the council approved pay raises. There was to be an evaluation of each employee and a raise would be given based on performance as determined by Mr. Smith. Mr. Phelps said there should be merits, evaluations and reasons for the raise and not just because it was available. The employee had to earn the potential raise. Both Mayor Swift and Mr. Phelps said that any raise had to be based on job performance. Mayor Swift said he wanted all present to know that the city employees were good workers.
Police Chief Snoeberger presented to the council the statistics for the police department end of the year report for 2001. He also gave the council comp time sheets to show them the amount of overtime accumulated by the officers. The reasons for this was two armed robberies in two drugstores in August 2001; two weeks later there was a check scam, fraud, burglary, and theft cashing ring that came to town. Since the first of 2002 there has been a homicide. These were not routine investigations, but ones that required a great deal of follow-up and investigation. Consequently, comp time rapidly accumulated.
Chief Snoeberger told the council he would like to establish an Anti-Crime Fund, with $1,500 allocated from the Deferral and Diversion Fund. Mrs. Gustus made a motion to approve a resolution to transfer $1,500 from the Deferral and Diversion Fund to an Anti-Crime Fund, seconded by Mrs. Maus. All ayes.
Fire Chief Ed O’Farrell presented his year-end report of 2001 to the council. He also informed the council that our city and the city of Williamsport were working together to aid each other on fire runs.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Mayor Swift swore in Mr. Jeff Troike to serve on the Police Merit Board. Mr. Troike is replacing Mr. Ken Olsen who retired from the board after twenty-two years of service. Mayor Swift thanked Mr. Olsen for his service and noted that Mr. Olsen was the last charter member to serve.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Mayor Swift informed the council that two representatives from the Department of Commerce would meet with him, Mrs. Mitchell, and Mr. Smith on February 27 for a site visit. This is regarding the city’s request for a grant for the North End Water Project. All council members and the public are invited to attend.
NEW BUSINESS
Mayor Swift presented a new Personnel Policy to the council members for their perusal. It’s the council’s responsibility to approve and/or make any changes. They are to present it at the April council meeting.
MISCELLANEOUS
Mrs. Mitchell said the Historic Landmarks is having a Garden Tour on Saturday, June 22. They are requesting permission to reserve McDonald Park and to close Short Street by the Cottrell Buildings for an arts and crafts exhibit. The council gave approval.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to be brought before the council, Mr. Phelps made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mrs. Maus.
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Deon H. Swift, II, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Nancy Jo Mitchell, Clerk/Treasurer