December 2010 - Mariemont City Schools

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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

and job names was referred to Finance, AndyBlack, chair.Councilman Dennis Wolter addressed thecontinuing research on traffic problems inthe north west area of the village. There havebeen two or three meetings outside of Council.Data collected will be collated and brought toCouncil. Homewood Road is being used as thestudy street. If necessary, speed humps will beinstalled. Councilman Joe Miller brought upthe idea of making Murray Ave. one way. MayorDan Policastro said it had been suggestedbefore but would need the cooperation of TheCity of Cincinnati. The next meeting will beheld on Nov. 22 with the Safety Committee.Village Engineer Chris Ertel has been namedas the newest member of the District 2, ODOT,support team.Mayor Policastro brought attentionto the Adopt-a-Unit program, wherein acommunity adopts a military unit. Theprimary people running the adoption activitiesfor the community are generally residentsand not employees. However, the communityauthorities are asked to make a commitmentto the program by signing the AdoptionAgreement form and the Adoption Resolution.Policastro would like the Village to adopt aunit in Afghanistan or Iraq in time to sendChristmas packages to the troops.Leaf pickup ends Monday, December 20.Appointments by third readings ofresolutions: Darla Michaels to The ParkAdvisory Board; Don White as magistrate forthe year 2011.Council Meeting November 22School Facilities Plan On TrackMariemont School Superintendent, PaulImhoff, spoke to Council to give a progressreport on the renovation and rebuilding ofMariemont Elementary School. Imhoff saidthe project is on schedule and on budget. OnJanuary the modules will be brought in forassemblage. In April the students will beginto have classes in the modules and thendemolition of the back part of the school willbegin. In the fall of 2012, the move into thebuilding will begin.Imhoff said that in order to take trafficoff West Street, the school is working with thechurch to allow parents to drive behind thechurch to drop off the children. The drive willbe widened and a retaining wall will be built bythe tennis court. Access to the present parkingC O U N C I L N O T E Slot will be through Madisonville Rd., and the exitto West St. will be closed. The school bus issue isstill pending. There are four buses which woulddrop students off on school property on WestStreet. Major property owners on Madisonvillehave objected to the bus drop off being too closeto their street.Imhoff said that all or the architectsthey could find who live in Mariemont wereinvited to meet with the school architect andgive input. The meeting was very successful,he said. The new aspects of the school aredesigned to look like the building has alwaysbeen there. Imhoff showed drawings of variouselevations of the school. There is not spaceenough to go into detail here, but interestedcitizens can stop by the School Board office onChestnut to see the plans.Safe Route To School PassedThe resolution that was passed at theemergency meeting of Nov. 4 was revisited.The resolution to enter into a contract withThe Ohio Department of Transportation tocomplete the Safe Route to School program waspassed as an emergency, which requires 3/4of Council to be present. Since there were onlyfour council members at that meeting, onlythe first reading of the resolution was legal.At this Nov. 22 meeting, the second and thirdreadings were held, followed by an emergencyclause. The vote was 5-0, and the resolutionwas ratified.MiscellaneousThe Time Warner franchise fee of $11,866has been received. Treasurer Tony Borgerdingsaid the General Fund was holding is own,though some funds may have to be diverted tothe paramedic fund. The General Fund shouldend the year just under $1,000,000. with adeficit of $70,000 or less.Mary Sanker, Mariemont Branch headlibrarian, said the library is getting newequipment, including eight new PC’s. Thelibrary is listed as one of the top ten in thecountry for is size. The library will be offeringhelp with hand-held downloadables.Don Frost of Homewood addressedCouncil about the nuisance of flyers thrownon driveways. Solicitor Ed McTigue said hewill look at the code but thinks it amounts tolittering and the deliverer could be told to placethem closer to the door.Jerry Vianello said Kim Beach hadcontacted him to speak on her behalf insupport of the upcoming vote on the AmericaSupporting Americans. The program arrangesfor a group to adopt a combat unit. Ms. Beachwill be the point of contact; The MariemontCivic Association has agreed to pay the costof postage to mail packages. A resolution tojoin America Supporting Americans passedunanimously as an emergency.There were two verbal reports. CouncilmanCortney Scheeser had attended the HamiltonCounty Recycling Award Banquet and acceptedan award on behalf of the Village for BestCommunity Recycling in a community under10,000 population. The award will be placed inthe cabinet on the first floor of The MunicipalBuilding. Mariemont was second in thecountyfor recycling per citizen. Scheeser said a studyshowed that communities using large volumereceptacles have larger recycling rates. JeffAndrews said his Health and Recreation willmeet in early December to get a jump on pooland tennis items that have been delayed, aswell as repairs at The Tot Lot. Policastro askedabout replacing the fence at the tennis courts,but Andrews felt if would be better to wait andtalk to the schools.The following appointments were madeon third readings of resolutions: named toArchitectural Review Board were LouiseSchomberg and Charlie Thomas; DaveTensi was named inspector for the BuildingCommissioner; Chris Ertel was confirmed asVillage Engineer; Peggy Keyes was named tothe Park Advisory Board; Carl Stich, PlanningCommission; Gretchen Thomas and ScottMcIntyre, Pool Committee.There were two readings of ordinancesto amend the Village code. One was to installa stop sign at Indianview and Rembold; theother to establish the functions of an EconomicDevelopment Committee. An ordinanceto supplement the annual appropriationsordinance was passed as an emergency. ClerkTontillo explained that this would make surewe were not overspending. This would not be anet increase.Council Representative InformationJeff Andrews – jeffcandrews@gmail.comAndrew Black – andy@blackformariemont.comJoe Miller – jmiller1@fuse.netKim Sullivan – sullivank@pwchomerepairs.orgCortney Scheeser – cscheeser@yahoo.comDennis Wolter – dwolter@airmod.comFor full minutes, go online to www.mariemont.org.M A R I E M O N T T OW N C R I E R P AG E 1 5

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