Middleport Council holds first meeting of the year

MIDDLEPORT – Middleport Council met January 9, 2017 for their first meeting of the year.

The council organized for the year adopting the rules of council and electing a council president. Mayor Sandi Iannarelli asked council member George Hoffman if he would accept the nomination to be council president. He declined, but nominated council member Emerson Heighton. Heighton accepted the nomination and was unanimously elected council president for 2017.

The council approved several appointments including to continue retaining Richard Hedges as village solicitor and Linda Warner as magistrate. The finance committee will be in addition to Heighton, council members Doug Dixon and Shawn Rice. The insurance committee for the year will be Hoffman, Dixon and Rice. Other appointments for committees will be made at the next meeting according to Mayor Iannarelli.

Building Inspector Michael Hendrickson addressed council concerning the health savings account for village employees. Hendrickson said there were substantial increases to the deductible for employees. The deductible for single coverage went to $6,000 and the family coverage is $12,000. Hendrickson asked for the health savings accounts to be increased. Village Clerk Sue Baker was asked how many employees took advantage of the health savings accounts. Baker said six people used it last year. The council voted unanimously to approve the increase in the health savings accounts to $3,000 for single and $5,000 for family.

Hendrickson also reported that he was in contact with Habitat for Humanity and will be sitting down with the new homeowner of the Habitat house being built in the village to discuss village rules concerning the home. It is part of a component of bringing a person into the community for Habitat for Humanity program.

Mony Wood, assistant police chief and Middleport Jail administrator, informed the council the jail staff were in the process of closing out the year. He said the various village administrators have begun having monthly meetings with Mayor Iannarelli. He said he felt the meetings were productive and positive. He also thanked council for his the Christmas bonuses. Assistant Police Chief Wood said he believed the bonuses helped with morale. The mayor thanked Wood and the employees for the things they did at Christmas with the inmates answering Letters to Santa and having an opportunity for children to have their picture taken with Santa Claus.

Representatives to the Volunteer Firefighter’s Dependents Fund were made with council members Dixon, Rice and Heighton to serve on the board.

Other business conducted by the council included approving minutes from the December 12, 2016 meeting along with the minutes from the December 20, 2016 meeting. The payment of bills was approved in the amount of $4,914.80. The 2016 Income Tax Report was approved along with the December Mayor’s Report.

Permission was also granted the fiscal officer permission to pay the utilities,postage, and payroll withholding throughout 2016 as they come due without requirement of waiting for council’s vote including: American Electric Power; Columbia Gas; Frontier; Verizon Wireless; Verizon Business; Suddenlink; Middleport Post Office; health/vision/dental insurances; U.S. Treasurer; Ohio State Treasurer; R.I.T.A.; child support; wage garnishment; and Bureau of Worker’s Compensation.

The council voted to continue membership in the Ohio Purchasing Co-op for 2017 with the fee for membership being $100.

Resident Lawrence Powell addressed council with his concerns about Rumpke trash removal at his residence. He also asked for the amount of the Christmas bonuses. According to Baker the total amount for the Police Department was $3,973.33 and the total amount for Public Works employees was $2,431.75.

In addition to the mayor, council members attending the meeting were Heighton, Hoffman, Rice, Sharon Older, and Dick Vaughan. Council member Dixon was absent and his absence was excused by council. Fiscal Officer Baker along with Wood, Hendrickson, Village Solicitor Hedges and Village Administrator Joe Woodall were also present at the meeting.

The mayor also mentioned a new business coming to the village which can be read in detail here.