Jefferson Council Adopts Pay Ordinance, Swears In Patrolman, Promotes Tax Administrator

The Jefferson Village Council adopted an emergency pay ordinance, welcomed a new patrolman and promoted a tax administrator Monday, Sept. 21. Every roll call vote was unanimous. Nobody signed up for visitors' comments, and council finished in under 20 minutes. New Patrolman Takes the Oath Mayor Steven Sekanina swore in Patrolman John Cudnik at the start of the meeting. Council voted Sept. 8 to hire Cudnik to the full time detective and patrolman position, pending a physical and background check, according to the unofficial minutes in the packet. Police Chief Chris Mackensen had no report. Emergency Pay Ordinance Passes in One Night Ordinance 26-O-3463 sets pay for salaried, hourly and part time village employees and declares an emergency. Council held the first reading, suspended its rules and adopted the ordinance in the same meeting. The pay schedule is effective Sept. 21. Patrolmen start at $26.01 an hour and reach $27.65 at Step 3. Wastewater Class II operators range from $28.94 to $30.58. Street department working foremen range from $29.24 to $30.34. The administrator, police chief and fiscal officer are paid per contract. The ordinance also pays a $1 hourly premium to non supervisory employees who act in a supervisory role. Employees assigned to a higher pay grade earn the higher rate for that time. The village will pay an amount equal to 10 percent of an employee's regular salary to the retirement system as the employee contribution. Employees cannot take that money as cash. The rule does not apply to volunteer firefighters unless they qualify for the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund. Tax Administrator Job and Promotion Approved Council approved the tax administrator job description as presented. Members then approved the fiscal officer's recommendation to promote Amanda Berkowitz to the position, effective Sept. 28, at Step 2 of the wage ordinance. The new ordinance lists Step 2 for tax administrator at $27.19 an hour. Both motions were added to the agenda under finance. July Report Missing, August Numbers Presented Fiscal Officer Jamie Arcaro told council she did not present a July month end report. She said July overlapped the handoff from the previous fiscal officer, and she could not get the books to balance. A council member asked for a copy once it is finished, and Arcaro agreed. Council accepted the list of checks paid for August. The packet's check report shows $236,502.98 in cashed checks and electronic payments across the general and payroll checking accounts. The August summary shows an ending balance of $4,475,166.14. That is $578,208.17 below the same point last year. Income tax collections total $1,631,829.68 for the year so far, down $76,528.28 from last year. Sewer fee collections are $679,183.27, up $28,093.74. The recreation center fund shows $197,166.20 in revenue, compared with $95,285.55 a year ago. Senior center revenue is $31,240.02, up from $17,439.71. Year to date revenue is $5,102,901.28, and expenses are $5,518,268.41. Council also approved sending Arcaro to the Ohio Auditor of State's fall fiscal officer training Oct. 21 in Akron. The cost is $110 plus mileage. The one day seminar meets annual continuing education requirements under state law. Surplus Snowplows and Equipment Up for Sale Resolution 26-R-3461 passed its second reading. It declares six items no longer needed and authorizes their sale as is to the highest and best bidder. Council held the first reading Sept. 8. The list includes an 11 foot Gledhill snowplow, a 10 foot Fisher snowplow and a 60 inch New Holland power angle plow. It also lists a 48 inch HLA V plow, a Ford three point hitch auger with 9 and 24 inch bits, and a Henderson stainless steel hydraulic salt spreader. The administrator must advertise the sale for two to four consecutive weeks. Cybersecurity Policy and Safe Streets Resolution Advance Ordinance 26-O-3460 passed its second reading. It would adopt a cybersecurity, acceptable use, incident response and disaster recovery policy. A state law that took effect last September requires villages to adopt a cybersecurity program. The administrator developed the policy with Hudson Communications LLC. Resolution 26-R-3462 also passed its second reading. It supports a Safe Transportation Network and sets a goal of eliminating roadway deaths and serious injuries in the village by 2040. The village has been awarded a $120,000 Safe Streets and Roads for All grant from the Federal Highway Administration. A $30,000 local match is required. Fire Training, Air Pack Class and Free Smoke Detectors Interim Fire Chief Joe Edison was absent. The mayor relayed his update. A training burn moved to Friday at 3 p.m. after a delay for EPA approval. The site is just north of Market Street. Jefferson firefighters planned to join other departments, and the mayor said any smoke would come from a planned exercise. Council approved sending Franklin Stone III to a Scott Technician Level 1 class Sept. 25 at the Ashtabula Towns