Village has moment of remembrance for Sept. 11, 2001
Peninsula Village Council
By Kim Gravis
Peninsula Village Council and Mayor Michael Kaplan asked all who attended the meeting Sept. 11 to observe a moment of silence in honor of those who lost their lives as a result of the U.S. terrorist attacks five years ago.
Kaplan remarked that Councilman Doug Anderson was not in attendance for the meeting due to his son being deployed to Iraq. Kaplan asked that Anderson and his family be remembered and that all service personnel come home safely.
In other business, Kaplan informed Council the police department would be assisting in the opening and closing of the cemeteries. Keys to the gates would be provided to the police chief.
In the matter of an update to the zoning fee schedule, Kaplan thanked all members for their opinions regarding the increase in the fees. After consideration, council accepted the increases in the schedule, with Councilman Robert Hunker voting against it. The mayor asked the clerk/treasurer to place a reconsideration of the fee schedule on the calendar for next July, adding that the fee schedule should be reviewed every year.
Council approved the salary for Nancy Orhoske, the new clerk of court/police secretary and the mayor’s secretary, at $12 per hour, retroactive to Aug. 1.
Council entered into a discussion regarding the recent completion of the exterior painting project of the village town hall. Former councilwoman Lily Fleder expressed disappointment that the original color was not used and that the building was painted white. She said she felt it should be more of a match to the stone on the village town hall.
Councilman Robert Hunker said the specifications of the project did state that the original “two tone” color should be used.
Councilman Dan Schneider said members agreed to paint the building white.
Hunker said he thought this was incorrect, and he initially voted against Precision Painting doing the job, since their business was commercial spray painting without experience in historic buildings.
After further discussion, the mayor asked Peninsula Village Solicitor Ed Muse to examine the contract, the Council meeting minutes and specifications, then return to Council with his findings.
Under police department business, Council approved the 2002 police policy and procedures manual, with the stipulation that after review by the mayor, solicitor and police chief, further changes would be brought forward to Council for their approval. The police department has been using this document without the proper approval. The current document in place dates back to 1979.
In the road and service department, phases 2, 3 and 4 of sidewalk restoration have begun. Road Service Department Commissioner Roger Robinson said the village inventory of sandstone material is almost depleted and that before any new projects in the historic district are planned, Council may need to seek more materials.
The Valley Fire District facility will be completed by next week, and plans are to move into the building Sept. 23. Fire Board representative Grover Miller said the contractor finished ahead of schedule, and phone installation is the final project this week.
Leaf removal for village residents will take place Oct. 23 through Dec. 1.
The next regular Village Council meeting will be Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. on the second floor of the village town hall, located at the corner of state Route 303 and Akron-Peninsula Road.
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