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Description |
Minutes of Meeting |
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Date |
9/17/2009 |
Location |
Commissioners
Session Room |
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Time |
Speaker |
Note |
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9:00:17 AM |
Call Meeting to
Order
Pledge of Allegiance
Opening Prayer
Roll Call Attendance – All present |
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9:01:08 AM |
Resolution
2009-835 Approve Minutes of September 14, 2009 |
Commissioner Barnaby
made the motion and Commissioner Genter seconded the motion.
Motion carried unanimously. |
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9:02:06 AM |
Resolution
2009-836 Approve Agenda As Presented or Amended |
Commissioner Short
made the motion and Commissioner Genter seconded the motion.
Motion carried unanimously. |
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9:02:35 AM |
OLD BUSINESS:
Resolution 2009-837 Approve Payment of Bills |
Commissioner Barnaby
made the motion and Commissioner Genter seconded the motion.
Motion carried unanimously. |
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9:03:00 AM |
·Review Monthly
Permissive Sales Tax Report |
Commissioner Short
noted that the figures are down 5.63% for the month, 8.93%
year–to-date, a total of $279,519.14. |
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9:04:10 AM |
·Discuss Possible
Sales Tax Increase
Resolution
2009-849 Declare emergency to increase the rate of the
existing County Sales Tax for the county’s General Fund to the
rate of one and one-half per cent pursuant to 5739.021 of the
ORC |
Commissioner Genter
stated that public hearings have been held and there are now 2
options available. A sales tax can be placed on by passing as
an emergency or by regular resolution. Mr. Hall explained that
an emergency would require a unanimous vote and would still
require a 65-day advance lead time to the tax commissioner
before the effective date. Mr. Hall provided the Board with ORC
§5739.21 regarding additional sales tax levied and §305.31
regarding procedures for referendum. He explained that within
30 days after the passage of the legislature, referendum must be
filed with the county auditor, which requires 10% of those that
voted in the last gubernatorial election.
Commissioner Short
noted that they held the 2 required hearings and added an
additional hearing in the evening to make sure that the
residents could voice their opinions. Commissioner Barnaby
stated that since he voted no 2 years ago, it has been a rough
road. Even though money was coming in, the budget had
fluctuated to the point where now they have to right the ship.
He said that when he voted no he didn’t want the county to
suffer, but the county is now at that point and that there must
be an increase in the sales tax. He stated that it was 1972
when the first 1/2% was put on, the 2nd 1/2% was
imposed in 1987 and it has since been 22 years. Since 9-11 of
2001, they have had really had to make adjustments to the budget
and in these time where sources of money have fallen through the
floor, he finds it necessary to pass the ½% as an emergency
measure for 3 years. Commissioner Barnaby made the motion and
Commissioner Genter seconded the motion.
Commissioner Short
asked for discussion on the plan. Commissioner Genter stated
that they have various options available. He stated that one
that he is not in favor of is shortening the days of business.
He is in favor of initiating a furlough program and a 3 year
freeze of employee salaries. He stated that the goal in this
whole process is to use the $1.4M estimated from the increase in
sales tax to fill the $800K hole that is estimated for next year
along with building carryover.
Commissioner Short
stated that the governor signed the 80 hour furlough into law
and he agrees that it is something that needs to be looked at in
detail.
Commissioner Genter
stated that this wasn’t just a process that started last year.
Since 2001 they have done a good job at holding expenses and
were able to do so with stable revenue, however when revenues
start to drop off the chart as they are now, they cannot
continue to provide the services that the residents expect to
have.
Commissioner Short
went through the plan and stated that initially they proposed a
½ cent on the dollar increase, with a 3-year automatic
expiration. They have asked the budget commission to take a
look at the levies to see if any could be rolled back. A 3 year
freeze of all general fund wages, with no balloon at the end.
Mandatory furloughs. The possibility of offering the early
retirement incentive into 2010 and reviewing hours of
operation. He stated that he knows that they will be forced to
continue to reduce costs and make further cuts as this will be a
continual process.
Commissioner Genter
stated that it will be the 1st of the year before it
can be put on. Mr. Hall stated that one of the requirements is
that it must be filed with the tax commissioner no later than 65
days before the effective date, which by his math is January 4,
2010. 65 days before that will take us to the end of October
2009. There is a period of time before it is collected and
returned to the county which will probably be the end of the 1st
Quarter before any revenue is received.
Commissioner Short
stated that this is not something that they wanted to enact.
Due in large part to the extremely difficult economic climate
they are forced to make decisions that they would not otherwise
make. They realize that every family, in some way, shape, or
form will be affected by this increase and for that they are
sorry, but their duty as county commissioners is to ensure the
integrity of Fulton County and unfortunately this sales tax
increase is one of the items that should be done.
Roll call vote:
Barnaby, yes; Genter, yes; Short, yes. Motion carried
unanimously. |
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9:14:01 AM |
Execute WPCLF
Agreement |
The Board previously
authorized the Board President to Enter Into the WPCLF agreement
for the replacement of Septic Systems through the Health Dept.
Commissioner Short executed copies. |
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9:15:03 AM |
·Review Dog Warden
Report for Week Ending 9-12-2009 |
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9:15:25 AM |
·Review Letter from
Ohio Dept of Agriculture Regarding Ag Easement
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9:17:07 AM |
NEW BUSINESS:
· Review Fulton County Commissioners Furlough Plan
Resolution
2009-850 Adopt Furlough Plan for Fulton County
Commissioners |
Vond Hall, County
Administrator, presented the Board with a draft of the Mandatory
Cost Savings Days Plan, also known as furlough. He stated that
the Board now has State authorization granted by legislators to
impose furlough. They however must adopt a formal plan.
Commissioner Genter stated that with the furlough, they have the
option of 10-days unpaid. Holidays can be used or days can be
picked. A percentage across the year can be done. With many
holidays falling toward the end of the year, to lessen the
financial strain on the employees, it is thought to be better to
use a percentage over the year. He asked Andy Votava,
Organizational Development Director, what percentage has been
figured. He stated that beginning October 10, 2009 through the
end of the State Fiscal Year, June 30, 2010 the percentage
equates to 5.26315%, which is the maximum allowable by the law.
The law is based on the State Fiscal Year, which, if there were
a full 26 pay periods available, the percentage would be 3.84%.
Mr. Hall stated that this plan would be for their employees and
would be made available to the other elected officials to adopt
the plan as well. Commissioner Short encouraged the other
elected officials to adopt the plan. Commissioner Barnaby made
the motion to adopt the 3.84% and Commissioner Genter seconded
the motion. Motion carried unanimously. Commissioner Short
stated that this amount shall be taken out of the Commissioners
salaries as well. Commissioner Barnaby stated that he also
encourages the other elected officials to follow suit.
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9:23:27 AM |
· Resolution
2009-838 Approve Flu Shots for County Employees
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Commissioner Barnaby
made the motion and Commissioner Genter seconded the motion.
Motion carried unanimously. |
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9:25:01 AM |
· Resolution
2009-839 Accept the Amounts and Rates As Determined by
the Budget Commission and Authorizing the Necessary Tax Levies
and Certifying Them to the County Auditor |
Commissioner Barnaby
made the motion and Commissioner Genter seconded the motion.
Motion carried unanimously.
It was noted that
the Budget Commission met on August 18, 2009 and the bond levies
were looked at for various schools:
For Archbold
Schools: It was decided that the 2.6 mill bond levy was dropped
by .75 mills to 1.85 mills. The 1.0 mill bond levy was dropped
by .1 mill to .90 mill.
For Evergreen
Schools: It was decided that the 1.15 mill bond levy be dropped
.15 mills to 1.00 mill and the 6.0 mill bond levy be dropped .25
mills to 5.75 mills.
No action was taken
at this time on Fayette Schools and PDY. |
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9:27:13 AM |
· Resolution
2009-840 Enter Into Contract 2009-119 with CourtView
Justice Solutions, Inc. for Software Maintenance
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Commissioner Barnaby
made the motion and Commissioner Short seconded the motion.
Motion carried unanimously. |
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9:28:31 AM |
· Resolution
2009-841 Enter Into Contract 2009-120 with Dan Baker
Auctioneer for Auction Services |
Commissioner Barnaby
made the motion and Commissioner Short seconded the motion.
Motion carried unanimously. |
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9:30:10 AM |
· Resolution
2009-842 Establish Line Items and Appropriations for
ARRA Funding |
Commissioner Barnaby
made the motion and Commissioner Short seconded the motion.
Motion carried unanimously. |
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9:30:50 AM |
· Resolution
2009-843 Approve Draw Down of Funds No. 199 for
Neighborhood Stabilization Grant |
Commissioner Genter
made the motion and Commissioner Barnaby seconded the motion.
Motion carried unanimously. |
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9:32:36 AM |
· Resolution
2009-844 Transfer Funds for Department of Job and Family
Services for Mandated Shares |
Commissioner Short
made the motion and Commissioner Genter seconded the motion.
Motion carried unanimously. |
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9:33:36 AM |
· Resolution
2009-845 Transfer Funds and Appropriations for Various
Departments |
Commissioner Barnaby
made the motion and Commissioner Genter seconded the motion.
Motion carried unanimously. |
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9:34:03 AM |
· Resolution
2009-846 Approve Legal and Authorize Advertisement of
Generator for Senior Center |
Commissioner Short
made the motion and Commissioner Barnaby seconded the motion.
Motion carried unanimously. |
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9:35:23 AM |
· Resolution
2009-847 Approve Then and Now Purchase Orders
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Commissioner Barnaby
made the motion and Commissioner Genter seconded the motion.
Motion carried unanimously. |
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9:35:39 AM |
· Resolution
2009-848 Approve Purchase Orders and Travel Requests
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Commissioner Short
made the motion and Commissioner Genter seconded the motion.
Motion carried unanimously. |
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9:36:43 AM |
Adjourn |
Commissioner Barnaby
made the motion and Commissioner Short seconded the motion. |
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Joseph D. Short
Dean Genter
Paul Barnaby
Attest:
Jennifer L. Connors, Clerk
A signed copy of the minutes or a
recording of the meeting in it’s entirety can be obtained in the
office of the Clerk of the Board at 152 S. Fulton St, Ste 270,
Wauseon, Ohio 43567. |
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