Ashtabula Council Splits Over Bike Trail, Cuts Finance Bond, Chases Brownfield Grant

Comprehensive plan stalls over bike trail sketch Ashtabula City Council gave first reading Tuesday to an ordinance updating the city's comprehensive plan. The vote on final passage will wait. Ward 2 Councilman Terence Guerriero objected to a section of the draft plan. It maps a proposed bike route through the eastern tree lawn of Harbor Avenue. He called it more than a hypothetical exercise. "I mean, it's pretty clear to me that this is more than a concept," Guerrero said, pointing to a diagram in the document. He said the tree lawns give Harbor Avenue its character. Residents there will not support losing them, he said. "What makes that street nice is those big tree lawns," he said. City Manager Jim Timonere called the plan a guide, not a binding commitment. "Council still has the ultimate say on what projects happen and don't happen," he said. He added that any future project would still need its own vote. Guerrero remained unconvinced. He said he will vote no unless the bike route language changes, and he reminded council of a pledge to oppose the plan if it was not favorable to Ward 2. Council scheduled a special work session for September 14. The session will address concerns before a second reading. It will start at either 4:30 p.m. or 6:30 p.m., depending on the availability of the city's planning consultant. The draft plan would replace a master plan from the early 2000s. An earlier plan dated to 1983. Timonere said the city should update the document every five to 10 years. Brownfield grant targets former City Hall Council also gave first reading to an ordinance authorizing Timonere to seek a State of Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program grant. The grant would fund cleanup of the former City Hall building, with the city expecting to request around $300,000. Officials plan to submit the application Thursday, ahead of a Friday deadline. Timonere said the project would strip the building's interior to the studs. Crews would remove a drop ceiling and interior walls added decades ago. He said original features, including a staircase, crown molding and light fixtures, could be preserved for a future buyer. One party has expressed serious interest in the building, Timonere said. Any sale would still require a formal request for proposals process. "I think we have a great story to tell," Timonere said, citing ongoing investment along Main Avenue. He said the grant is competitive and the city has been passed over for similar funding before. Finance director bond cut from $100,000 to $10,000 Council voted 7 to 0 to cut the finance director's surety bond. The bond drops from $100,000 to $10,000, the figure Finance Director Vladimir Kan requested, and it guarantees repayment to the city if money goes missing through noncriminal error. City Solicitor Cecilia Cooper raised concerns before the vote. She said the change sets a precedent for future finance directors. "We have to be aware of what the next person may decide to do," Cooper said, citing a recent case involving Hamden Township's fire department finances. Council could not find records explaining why the bond was raised to $100,000. Officials believe the increase dates back decades, to when the city combined its treasurer and auditor roles into the finance director position. Two previous finance directors carried the higher bond amount. Council authorizes stipend while assistant finance director contract is negotiated Council held an executive session for a personnel matter. Members then returned and authorized a temporary stipend for an employee already doing assistant finance director work. The rate is $42.88 an hour for 30 days, while a formal contract is negotiated, and the vote passed 7 to 0. Holman said unresolved questions from the closed door session remain. Cooper recommended forming a small group of council members to follow up directly with the finance director. Council opposes Enbridge, FirstEnergy rate requests Council passed a resolution opposing rate increase requests before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. The requests came from Enbridge Gas Ohio and from FirstEnergy for the Illuminating Company. The resolution passed 7 to 0 as part of a consent agenda. That agenda also included the Melnick Concrete and Excavating road repair contract, the brownfield grant application, a supplemental appropriations ordinance of $1,736,904.17 across city funds, and a new income tax penalty amnesty policy. The policy forgives penalties, but not interest, for taxpayers who pay overdue balances in a lump sum within 10 days. Theft at Veterans Memorial Park prompts camera review The Community Development, Economic Development and Parks and Recreation Committee delivered a report. About 30 veteran grave markers and flag holders were stolen from Veterans Memorial Park, the committee said. A police report is being prepared. The parks board has asked the city to evaluate security cameras for Veterans Memorial Park and Cornelius Park. Two cenotaphs were sched