6/28/2012 - South Side Leader
     

NEW FRANKLIN — New Franklin officials are considering creating the city’s own land bank program.

At the June 20 New Franklin City Council meeting, legislation was introduced to adopt and implement procedures set forth in Ohio Revised Code sections 5722.02 through 5722.15 to facilitate the effective reutilization of nonproductive land in the city.

According to Law Director Tom Musarra, the procedure effectively creates a land bank, but it does not conflict with the county effort because it has a different focus.

Musarra said New Franklin’s program is aimed at nonproductive land, whereas the county’s program is aimed at vacant, blighted and derelict properties. The city’s program is a land reutilization program that fosters either the return of such nonproductive land to tax revenue-generating status or the devotion of such land to public use, according to the legislation.

Council decided to take more time to review the proposed legislation before voting on it.

Council did vote to adopt a procedure for a new special event permit process.

That process includes filing an application for events such as races, walks, parades, carnivals, festivals, concerts and car shows. The permit would cost $50, and the application is due at least 90 days in advance of an event. The new permit process will take effect Sept. 1.

City officials stressed the permit would not be needed for activities that take place at the Akron Rotary Camp, Craftsmen Park or Portage Lakes State Park, or activities on school properties, churches or other parks.

“The purpose of the special event permit is to provide the city with adequate information and time to provide for appropriate emergency provisions or other municipal support if needed,” according to the legislation. Those emergency services are geared mostly to the city’s fire and police departments, according to city officials.

The legislation gives the mayor the authority to waive the application fee, and also states that an application can be denied with 30 days’ notice to the applicant.

Council also approved an amendment to the Summit County Intergovernmental Memorandum of Understanding for Job Creation and Retention and Tax Revenue Sharing. The change adds Joint Economic Development Districts (JEDD) and JEDD zones.

Jason Dodson, chief of staff for Summit County Executive Russ Pry, attended the meeting to speak about the agreement, and he said 21 of the 31 communities in the county have agreed to sign the document and several others are preparing to. Those that have decided not to participate include Norton, Green and Stow.

Mayor Al Bollas stated the agreement is worth participating in since it gives 5 percent in bonus points to communities applying for Ohio Public Works Commission grant funds, and this year, that program could help the city obtain $400,000 for the South Turkeyfoot Road/Point Comfort realignment project.

Also at the meeting, Council approved some amendments to the 2012 annual operating budget.

In other financial business, Finance Director Susan Cooke announced city officials will need to make about $600,000 in cuts to the 2012 budget to match total appropriations to the certificate of estimated resources. A special meeting to discuss the matter in more detail is set for July 10 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 5611 Manchester Road.

In new business, Councilman Harry Gehm told city officials he would like to see Council members pay a portion of their health care costs. Currently, Council members receive free health care from the city, he said. He added the change could take effect after the elections for the at-large Council members in November 2015.

“I would like to see us pay in the range of 10 percent,” he said. “It would be a good bargaining tool for negotiation with other employees.”

Bollas announced the Portage Lakes fireworks will take place July 1, with a rain date of July 3.

The next regular Council meeting, which falls on July 4, has been canceled due to the holiday. The next meeting will take place July 18 starting at 6 p.m. for committee meetings and at 7 p.m. for the regular meeting at City Hall.

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