Minutes of the Special Meeting of Council

July 9, 2007

These minutes are unofficial and must be formally approved by Council at the next meeting.

The Council of the City of Sylvania, Ohio met in special session on Monday, July 9, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. with Mayor Craig A. Stough in the chair. Roll was called with the following members present: Dr. Read Backus, John A. Borell, Jr., Keith M. Haddad, Doug Haynam, Mark Luetke, Todd R. Milner, Barbara R. Sears (7); absent: (0).

Mayor Stough led the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America.

Ms. Sears moved, Dr. Backus seconded, to add agenda item 6, authorize the clerk to advertise for bids to replace the signal heads along Sylvania Avenue; roll call vote being: Backus, Borell, Haddad, Haynam, Luetke, Milner, Sears (7) yeas; (0) nays. The motion carried.

Mayor Stough said that City Council, at its June 18 meeting, voted to set the special meeting to take action on the fire levy initiative petitions prior to the deadline, and to hear from the fire consultant. Law Director James Moan explained the steps needed to place the issue on the ballot. He also asked that Council approve the insertion of AA full and complete copy of the initiative petition is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.@ as the last sentence of Section 1 of proposed Resolution No. 10-2007.

There was discussion on the uncertainty of the consequences of the levy passing in the City, but not in the Township. A few citizens offered questions and comments.

Dr. Backus presented and read aloud by title only, proposed Resolution No. 9-2007, a written copy of same having been previously furnished to each member of Council, AA Resolution of the Council of the City of Sylvania rejecting the initiative petition presented to the City of Sylvania on June 4, 2007; and declaring an emergency.@ Dr. Backus moved, Mr. Haddad seconded, that Council dispense with the Second and Third Readings of said Resolution; roll call vote being: Borell, Haddad, Haynam, Luetke, Milner, Sears, Backus (7) yeas; (0) nays. The motion carried.

Dr. Backus moved, Mr. Haddad seconded, that Resolution No. 9-2007 be enacted as an emergency measure as declared therein; roll call vote being: Haddad, Haynam, Luetke, Milner, Sears, Backus, Borell (7) yeas; (0) nays. The motion carried.

Mr. Brown presented the Mayor with a letter dated July 9, 2007 from the Committee on Behalf of the Petitioners, requesting that the issue be put on the November 6 ballot. Mr. Moan read it in its entirety.

Dr. Backus presented proposed Resolution No. 10-2007, and Dr. Backus moved, Mr. Milner seconded, to modify Section 1 as recommended earlier by the Law Director; roll call vote being: Haynam, Luetke, Milner, Sears, Backus, Borell, Haddad (7) yeas; (0) nays. The motion carried.

Dr. Backus read aloud by title only, proposed Resolution No. 10-2007, as amended, a written copy of same having been previously furnished to each member of Council, AA Resolution of the Council of the City of Sylvania providing for the submission of the initiative petition to the electors of the City of Sylvania at the next regular election of November 6, 2007; and declaring an emergency.@ Dr. Backus moved, Mr. Luetke seconded, that Council dispense with the Second and Third Readings of said Resolution as amended; roll call vote being: Luetke, Milner, Sears, Backus, Borell, Haddad, Haynam (7) yeas; (0) nays. The motion carried.

Dr. Backus moved, Ms. Sears seconded, that Resolution No. 10-2007, as amended, be enacted as an emergency measure as declared therein; roll call vote being: Milner, Sears, Backus, Borell, Haddad, Haynam, Luetke (7) yeas; (0) nays. The motion carried.

Mr. Luetke moved, Mr. Haddad seconded, that Council supports the principles contained in the initiative petition, and it is Council=s intention, if permitted by the City Charter, to collect the tax only if the levy passes in both the City and the Township; roll call vote being: Sears, Backus, Borell, Haddad, Haynam, Luetke, Milner (7) yeas; (0) nays. The motion carried.

Consultant William Kramer, Kramer & Associates, presented the results of the study determining the feasibility of creating a municipal fire department. He also distributed the full report to Council. Mr. Kramer answered questions of Council members and a few citizens. It was noted that the report will be available on-line. Mr. Milner moved, Mr. Haddad seconded, to refer the report to the Safety Committee for further study; roll call vote being: Backus, Borell, Haddad, Haynam, Luetke, Milner, Sears (7) yeas; (0) nays. The motion carried.

Mayor Stough presented the Service Director=s request. Mr. Milner moved, Mr. Haddad seconded, to authorize the clerk to advertise for bids for the Sylvania Avenue Traffic Signal Improvements; roll call vote being: Borell, Haddad, Haynam, Luetke, Milner, Sears, Backus (7) yeas; (0) nays. The motion carried.

There were no further items for consideration. Ms. Sears moved, Mr. Luetke seconded, that this meeting adjourn; all present voting yea (7); (0) nays. The motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.

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Clerk of Council Mayor