December 2010 - Mariemont City Schools

BY MARTY BARTLETTResidents can now view Council meetingsTuesday at 5 pm, Saturday at 3 pm, or Mondayat 7 am. A Time Warner subscriber can watch onchannel 8. With no cable box, channel 14. On yourcomputer go to http://www/icrctv.com/Mariemont.Emergency Council MeetingNovember 4An emergency Council meeting wascalled on November 4 to consider enteringinto a contract with The Ohio Department ofTransportation for a program called Safe Pathsto School, designed to encourage childrenK-8 to bike or walk to school. Mayor DanPolicastro said it would be possible to get grantmoney for infrastructure, like sidewalks andreplacement of signage.Caroline Duffy, representing theMariemont Schools, said the first phase of thestudy has been completed; when it is approvedfunding would be available for a maximum of$500,000 for infrastructure and $100,000 fornon-infrastructure, such as enforcement andeducation. The study proposes three trails toeliminate conflict points between those whowalk or bike with those who are dropped offby parents: the west side of Plainville fromChestnut to Wooster; Wooster in front of theElementary School; and the west side of WestSt. from Wooster to the playground fence.ODOT proposes to restripe Wooster, reducingthe lanes to 12 feet in width as they say thepresent width leads to speeding. They also planto construct curb bulges at the intersection ofWooster and Plainville and Wooster at West,which is also intended to slow traffic. Otherrecommendations are to revise the centermedian at Wooster and West for pedestrianuse; update sign and pavement markingsaround the Elementary School; construct asidewalk on the south side of Wooster nearPark Lane; replace asphalt walk on Murraynear the school; replace sidewalks on streetssurrounding Mariemont Elementary.The study envisions that Fairfax children willenter Mariemont at the intersection of Settle andthe terminus of the Murray Ave. bike trail, or atSettle and Hawthorne. Signage will be installed toalert motorists and to guide children.Uniforms will be purchased for sevencrossing guards. Clerk Paul Tontillo pointedC O U N C I L N O T E SCouncil Meeting Summariesout that Mariemont currently has fourcrossing guards and asked who would pay formaintaining seven after the funds expire at theend of the first year. Policastro said the Villagecould re-apply; Duffy said that might not benecessary as they choose items that should beimmediately fixed. Mr. Tontillo observed thatthe Village currently pays $40,000 for crossingguards; the new plan would cost $70,000.The first year is free, but the Village could berequired to continue indefinitely with seven.That could undo some of the deficit work witha choice we haven’t really discussed. Tontillosaid that Section Three states “should provideample financial provisions as necessary formaintenance of desired project.” Tontillo thinksthe Village would not be allowed to back offfrom seven guards and said he would ratherask for $40,000. Policastro said that once themoney is exhausted, they cannot tell us whatto do. Councilman Dennis Wolter asked if wereverted to four guards, would there be anaffect on future grant applications. CouncilmanCortney Scheeser asked if Ms. Duffy wouldbe available each year to help resubmitpaperwork. Policastro suggested the Villagecould help pay for her services. Imhoff said theschool board would help with the cost.Street Improvements and Traffic FlowJoe Trauth, an attorney representingSpinnenweber Builders, said there is a concernthat West St. is overburdened and asked ifthere was a plan for a traffic light at West andPlainville. Policastro said no, there were enoughproblems with the redesigned traffic light atthe library and Wooster. School SuperintendentPaul Imhoff said the latest draft for the schoolrenovation takes all of the parent traffic off West,so the only traffic there would be school busesfor ten minutes in the morning and ten minutesin the afternoon at the far end of West nearMadisonville . In a subsequent Council meeting,Imhoff said the plans for West St. are still fluid,as the major property owners on Madisonvillehave objected to the buses being so close to thatstreet.Tontillo noted that the Village had beensurprised by cost overruns on the last streetimprovement project and asked if the Villagewould have to pay for anything over $500,000.Engineer Chris Ertel said all funding would goout for bids. Councilman Jeff Andrews referredto Section Two: “total cost of project $500,000in infrastructure and $71,000 for enforcementLPA (Local Public Agency) agrees to pay anycost over and above the maximum provided byODOT.” If the State funds half of the projectsand grants $250,000 the Village will not have tofund the entire project. Duffy said the Villageshould prioritize and ask for money for specificprojects they want to do. Other projects could gointo next year’s application. Policastro said theVillage has the option to turn down any projectand suggested next year applying for lights inthe historic district.Dan Spinnenweber of SpinnenweberBuilders asked how big the bulge at WestSt. would be. Duffy said it would reduce theroad to 12 feet. Spinnenweber then said itwould affect aesthetics and he felt the Villagewould be disappointed in what it looks like.He questioned if snow plows and emergencyvehicles would have difficulty negotiating it.Overall, he concluded, it was a bad idea.Council voted 4-0 to enter into a contractwith ODOT to complete the Safe Route to Schoolproject and to declare an emergency. But analert citizen later pointed out that it requires 3/4of the Council members to be present to passanything as an emergency. As there were onlyfour members present, the resolution had to beconsidered again at the November 22 meeting.Council Meeting November 8It was a short meeting on November 8so everyone could get home for the Bengals-Steelers game. An ordinance to adopt theFloodplain Management Program (FEMA) waspassed as an emergency. Rep. Dennis Wolternoted that there is no cost to the Village, norestrictions, and membership would be usefulin procuring grants.A Public Works report that recommendeda renewal for one year of the current Rumpkecontract for garbage and recycling at a 3%increase was adopted unanimously. Someonesaid that The Center for Local Governmentwas working on consolidating trash pick up for2012. Ms. Sullivan noted there was an error inthe contract, stating it was for two years ratherthan one. Clerk Paul Tontillo will check withRumpke’s on a clarification.Kim Sullivan, chairman of Public Works,asked why the topic of grass cutting had beenreferred to her committee so early. She wasadvised to start now to avoid the rush.The need to clean up the salary scheduleP AG E 1 4M A R I E M O N T T O W N C R I E R