5/24/2012 - South Side Leader
     

NEW FRANKLIN — Anyone wishing to host a public event in New Franklin may soon be required to obtain a permit from the city.

New Franklin City Council is reviewing legislation that seeks to establish a special event permit procedure to address various safety issues that have arisen during past events. According to the legislation, a special event is defined as any event that a sponsoring individual or organization wishes to conduct and/or promote in the city. Such events would include races, walks, bicycle events, parades, carnivals, festivals, concerts, car shows and more.

“This permit process is needed for the safety of our residents and our guests,” said Mayor Al Bollas at the May 16 Council meeting. “It will also help us prepare for events.”

The permit would allow city officials to gather adequate information and give them timely notice so that they can plan for necessary safety services such as police and fire, according to the legislation.

Bollas said both police and fire chiefs would review proposed plans of such events for safety issues such as traffic flow, the availability of fire extinguishers and fire lane parking. In addition, any permit granted could contain conditions required of organizers in order to allow such events to take place.

The permit will require a minimum 90 days notice and a $100 fee. Applicants also will have to pay for the use of safety services.

According to Bollas, many of the event organizers already do hire police to help with traffic and activities.

“We are getting a lot of use of our police cars and personnel, and it is getting out of hand,” he said.

According to Bollas, some events, such as the Portage Lakes Fourth of July fireworks, draw thousands of residents to the area and require extensive use of police and fire personnel, with the cost borne by the city. Last year, that event cost the city $7,600 in personnel charges, and the Portage Lakes Fireworks Association donated $1,500 toward those costs, according to Bollas.

Council members discussed the need to give the mayor some latitude in waving the application fee under various circumstances, and city officials are considering making some amendments to the legislation to address that issue.

In other business, Council adopted three items of legislation regarding employee pay and benefits, including:

• an increase from $11.87 per hour to $12.25 per hour for the police secretary, which will cost the city $299 this year;

• a one-time stipend of $450 to 13 full-time nonbargaining unit employees, which will cost the city $5,850 this year; and

• an increase in annual sick leave incentives of $450 for full-time employees who use no hours of sick leave, $350 for those who use up to eight hours and $250 for those who use between nine and 16 hours. Also approved were longevity pay increases of 0.5 percent to 1 percent for five years of service and 1.5 percent after 10 years; and five weeks of paid vacation after 20 years instead of 21 years of service.

In other personnel business, Bollas announced Fire Chief Perry Surgeon will retire June 23 after 36 years of service. He also said he is accepting in-house applications for the position.

Legislation to enter into a three-year service agreement with Physio Control for four new cardiac monitors and one old one at a cost of $15,636 was placed on time to give Council more time to review the request.

Legislation to vacate a portion of Rawlins Avenue, first introduced Jan. 4, was withdrawn by the mayor due a lack of presence and input by proponents at meetings discussing the matter.

Bollas also told Council the police department is working on new protocols in response to the Summit County Sheriff’s Office’s new policy regarding not accepting inmates that may be having a psychotic episode or have a blood alcohol content of .25 or more.

Bollas also announced the Portage Lake Boating and Fishing Swap Meet will take place June 2 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Tudor House. The entrance is through Portage Lakes State Park, 5031 Manchester Road. Bollas said last year the event drew about 1,000 people, despite bad weather.

The event will include an opportunity for people to purchase and sell boating and fishing equipment, as well as: Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Watercraft’s Phil Hillman, who will talk about fishing in the Portage Lakes at 10 a.m.; Bass Pro Shops’ Carl Bachtel, from the “Outdoors With Big Daddy” show, at 11 a.m.; Portage Lakes Bait and Tackle’s Ron Slater and his tournament board and trailer, who will talk about Alabama rig and fishing techniques at noon; and Dustin Bounce, of Hadley’s Archery, who will teach archery techniques at 2 p.m. In addition, students from Portage Lakes Career Center in Green will display their hand-built, rough-sawn lumber, 17-foot canoe and paddles. Raffle tickets to win the canoe, with proceeds to fund the purchase of materials for next year’s project, will be sold.

Admission to the event is free and those wishing to sell a boat or fishing equipment must pay $20 for the space, with all proceeds benefiting the Tudor House Franklin Park Civic Center. For details, contact the city at 330-883-4324.

The next Council meeting will take place June 6 beginning at 6 p.m. with committee meetings and at 7 p.m. for the regular meeting at City Hall, 5611 Manchester Road.

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