[1:13] Pre-Council meeting to order for the City of Ashe, tabula. Today is Monday, September 21st, 2026. Would you please call the roll? Mr. Roskiewicz. Here. Mr. Simeone. Here. Mr. Dakota. Mr. Guerrero. Here. Ms. Holman. Present. Mrs. Mills. Here. Mrs. Di Jocomo. Mr. Timonier. Here. Mr. Cooper. Here. Mr. Khan.

[1:43] here. Okay, very good. We are pre-confirmating. It's nice to be here at 6 o'clock. Our next

[1:54] council meeting is October 5th at 6 o'clock, so write that down and I'll announce that

[2:04] again. But other than that, I don't think we have anything, I don't think I have anything

[2:11] the report, so we will go right to the City Manager's report.

[2:17] Thank you, Mr. President.

[2:18] So just a few ordinances to ask for tonight first.

[2:22] We need to amend the contract with Amandola Engineering, the mixing zone studies, and

[2:27] other necessary work related to the relocation of outfall 001.

[2:31] In the amount of $50,000 for a total cost of the contract not to exceed $166,000.

[2:37] And that's to be paid from the Water Pollution Fund 504.

[2:41] For these are extra requirements and equipment that the EPA is requiring of our mixing zone studies as we move forward.

[2:50] We've done two of them so far.

[2:51] They've asked for additional meetings.

[2:53] They've asked for some of this additional work to be done, so we do have to amend the contract to satisfy the EPA.

[3:01] So that's what that increases about.

[3:04] The next is an ordinance to dispose of an obsolete and unneeded vehicle in the police department.

[3:09] Just another one of the chargers that is no longer in service.

[3:14] This one was late ad, so I do apologize for that, but we had the loader have a malfunction at the end of last week and we were able to receive quotes this today.

[3:25] So I've tried to get it on here because it's such a distance between the next council meeting, and it's a loader that we do need.

[3:31] So requesting an ordinance to enter into contract with Petro Services.

[3:35] They're out in Geneva to make repairs to the case loader for the public works department in an amount not to see $12,540 and that'll come out of the public works fund.

[3:47] And then I would like to reappoint this just I'll just need a voice vote on that and I believe we can do that during this meeting just need a voice vote to reappoint Maria Fowler to the Board of Health retroactive to September 1st with a term to expire on September 1st, 2031.

[4:03] I will move we reappoint where we are followed to the Board of Health.

[4:10] I'll second.

[4:12] There's a motion in a second.

[4:14] All in favor?

[4:16] Aye.

[4:17] Anyone opposed?

[4:18] We will reappoint Ms. Fowler by a 5-0 vote.

[4:22] Okay, it's hard to believe, but leaf bag pickup curbside.

[4:26] The leaves are starting to fall, so that has begun this week we're in the harbor area.

[4:31] Next week will be in the wards and it'll rotate on and off like that until November 23rd.

[4:37] The schedule is on the website under the quick way to get to it is just quick links.

[4:42] And then the leaf bag pickup schedule drop down.

[4:45] You can click on that to get to there.

[4:48] Mr. President, it's all I have from my report right now.

[4:50] Mr. President?

[4:51] Yes.

[4:52] I have a couple things for the city manager.

[4:56] Street lights.

[4:58] 1812, West 11th.

[5:02] And I think right around the corner on Pennsylvania, there's one too.

[5:09] Do you have an address for the one in person?

[5:10] I do not, I can get it though, but that's someone call that in for me.

[5:18] Okay.

[5:19] If you can get the address, we can put it in the website for you.

[5:23] Thank you.

[5:24] Mr. President.

[5:25] Yes.

[5:26] Well, on the topic of street lights, what's Mr. Terminary, what is the pattern?

[5:31] Is it opposites, they go opposites, or is it all on the one side, or what's the pattern of the design?

[5:40] That is a luminated company design, not a city design.

[5:43] So typically it's every other poll, and typically it's on the same side of the street.

[5:48] Now there are some larger wider roads where they then stagger and

[5:53] they go across the street up and down, but typically it's every other poll.

[5:58] and on one side of the street like in the neighborhood areas but on like I'm

[6:04] thinking of Lake Avenue it's staggers it jumps back and forth across the street

[6:07] same thing on Route 20. What about in the neighborhoods and I'm specifically

[6:11] thinking about we had the movie night on West 38th Street Park and I don't know if

[6:16] it's intentional that they're not lights in the park area to deter activity

[6:20] after dark or but I was wondering what is the pattern and why aren't why isn't the

[6:25] the park more lit up.

[6:27] Well, typically we don't have lights in the parks.

[6:29] I think just on the streets, if there's not an already a light there, that's just the way it was made by the illuminating company.

[6:42] So all of the lights are actually owned by the illuminating company.

[6:45] They service them, but we pay the street light fee to have them on.

[6:50] Mr. President, could I pick you back on that?

[6:52] And I had to investigate, I had to investigate one the other night on East Second.

[7:00] So I'm assuming the new ones are LEDs, where the old ones are.

[7:05] Well, because there was one installed there, but way higher than other lights.

[7:12] I don't know, the guy that called me showed me and it's, his problem is it's too bright.

[7:21] I mean, it's like not his whole backyard, you know, shining through his bedroom window, and I was like, I mean, that's just a streetlight.

[7:29] It is up pretty high.

[7:30] I just want to deserve uniform height.

[7:33] That's kind of it.

[7:34] That's also a tree clad.

[7:37] Right.

[7:37] I'm assuming they put it up high enough to get over there.

[7:39] I'm ready to get over the canopy.

[7:40] Over there.

[7:41] No, there's not.

[7:42] I mean, again, when we request repairs to lights or anything like that, they just,

[7:47] There's the contract that we have with the Illuminating Company now.

[7:52] If there's a light out, when they go out to repair it, they're to replace the head with an LED.

[7:58] You remember, it was a while ago that we had the Illuminating Company here explaining that whole process to us.

[8:04] Now, they have blamed supply chain issues and everything else where sometimes they've had to go out and just put new bulbs in them or change the photo cells because they've been out of the LED lights.

[8:15] But we keep track of those and make them go back as best as we can.

[8:20] But we do have this link on our website as well.

[8:23] It's the same one we use so we don't get any special treatment when we call it in versus anyone else.

[8:29] There's a link to the illuminating company's website.

[8:31] So if you have something on your street in front of your house that the street lights out, all you do is put the address in there.

[8:37] Give a brief description of the area.

[8:39] You don't have to have the poll number and then you can report the street lights.

[8:43] That's that's what I'll do with the with with what you would you include around the

[8:48] I don't know if there's an address near the 38 Street Park. I'll take a look at what's down there

[8:53] But I mean if there's not a light already up there

[8:58] There's a there's a high cost for them to install lights on poles that we have to cover

[9:04] So as far as we know are they all the ones that we have are they're all supposed to be on they are all supposed to be on we

[9:11] We pay for them whether they're wrong.

[9:12] I do see some others out.

[9:14] There are quite a few out, and we've been for years going around with the illuminating company about their response time to fix lights and then the amount that it is.

[9:25] Because even I'm six feet by the lift bridge, there's, yeah, it's like I said, we just either people can report them, we can report them.

[9:34] Typically when we get night shift to start in the winter time, if it's not smelling, they don't have other jobs to do, we'll have them start riding around.

[9:41] on writing down addresses and poll numbers if they have them and then submitting them to the office that we send in the aluminum name company.

[9:47] All right, would you look into that at night, I don't know.

[9:52] Just see if there is lights on the polls.

[9:55] Yeah.

[9:56] Okay.

[9:59] Mr. President.

[10:00] Yeah.

[10:01] Can I ask Mr. Manager a couple things?

[10:05] On this, I was curious on this case loader repair.

[10:09] Do we do we use Petros quite a bit or we've started using him lately lately quite a bit. Yes. Okay. I just was was was that right that the labor was 8,000.

[10:21] Mm-hm. Yes.

[10:24] I'm in the right. I'm in the wrong business. Okay. Yes. The lot of the the bucket on the front and the arms for the bucket were damaged. Okay. A lot of.

[10:36] I thought it was like 4,000 parts, 8,000.

[10:39] Okay.

[10:40] I have a follow-up question about those.

[10:43] Did that go to bid?

[10:45] Did that go to bid?

[10:46] Yes.

[10:47] It did go to bid.

[10:48] We had another bid for close to 19,000 was the next closest.

[10:52] And you said it was the EPA's regulation that caused the increase.

[10:58] Extras.

[10:58] Yes, and what's our process to find out what those EPA regulations are so that they're included in the original bid?

[11:10] Can you so that they're included in what was the last part of that the original bid?

[11:16] Whatever whatever the the thing that they said needed to

[11:20] being done that caused

[11:24] $50,000 increase in the contract amount.

[11:27] Oh,

[11:33] Mr. Manager, because I wasn't done when she was asking that question.

[11:37] I think she's back on the mixing zone study, not the case loader repair.

[11:43] One, and two.

[11:45] Which I was going to see if was the summer one completed in past.

[11:50] Yes.

[11:51] Okay.

[11:51] So now we're on the fall one.

[11:54] If you look at the attached, if you look at the attached update from Amidola, it tells

[12:04] you the task that they have, update, wanted to require.

[12:09] It's in their, it's in the, the proposal.

[12:12] And the reason I brought it up was thinking that yes, they won the bid, they came in lower.

[12:19] And then the EPA said that there's these other things that needed to be acquired, required,

[12:23] which caused them to say, hey, we need some more money for the contract.

[12:27] Instead of, after the fact, my thinking is, if we knew from the EPA on the front end what was acquired.

[12:31] We wouldn't have known from the EPA and the front end because these came in after the first study was done.

[12:37] They said, oh, by the way, we'd like to see this in the data next time.

[12:40] We'd like to see that in the data next time.

[12:43] And we had extensive discussions with them before the first mixing zone study started about everything that they wanted to see.

[12:51] This is not unusual with the EPA.

[12:53] I wouldn't be surprised that when the data for the second one gets turned in, they come back and say, oh, by the way, in the fall,

[12:59] All we'd like to see you do this and this and this and this.

[13:01] After the fact.

[13:03] Yeah.

[13:06] Mr. President.

[13:07] Yeah.

[13:08] Yes, Mr. Manager.

[13:09] Any paving updates?

[13:11] No.

[13:12] I think right now they're just finishing adjusting manholes.

[13:16] Okay.

[13:17] And we're pretty much going to be wrapped up with that.

[13:20] We had a meeting with UIC and the ODOT about Collins Boulevard.

[13:26] We're still waiting for some numbers.

[13:27] First they want to accelerate that project so that we can get asphalt down by the end of October, which could cost us a little bit more money, and there's extra sidewalk work that we would like to see done as well, but we're working out what is, what cost savings have been in the, in it right now and what other expenses to see where that's going to flush out, but we'd like to have asphalt down by the end of October, and then I think their contract is open until December.

[13:56] But obviously you can't pave once it gets that cold, so.

[14:00] Yeah, yeah, depending on whether an appellation grant, I mean because things are looking really good.

[14:07] Yeah, we're really close to being closed out.

[14:08] It looks like the materials we've been waiting for for the street lights on main avenue have come in.

[14:15] So it looks like later this week they're going to try to get all the street lights hooked up.

[14:20] We still have to put the signs in on the road.

[14:22] Not we, the company has put the signs in on the road, but that will be wrapping up soon and a lot, a lot of

[14:27] facade work is being done right now. It's really looking, it's really looking nice.

[15:00] You know, we had those, you know, because I'm sure, you know, we all got numerous calls and, you know, we just, I always tell people just, don't assume your neighbor, somebody has called it in, you know.

[15:11] Any time the power goes out, we ask that people report that on the Illuminati Company website so they know that their power is out. It's not just assumed. But, yeah, I mean, unfortunate to vehicle accents took out a lot of polls. We have some real concerns with the accident on Woodman.

[15:26] And I think they've pretty much identified a single source failure that took out the entire city.

[15:34] So we have some questions for them of what is going to be done so that, I mean, it's a, that's always been a dangerous curve there.

[15:44] Any events, something would happen again to the grid so that the entire city doesn't go out again when you have that.

[15:51] But, you know, that line goes from the Sanborn Road Substation east to the Jefferson Road Distribution and that, or Jefferson Avenue Distribution and then when it crosses Woodman, it goes north south and runs down into the city. So I believe that was a 33 K line there. So a ton of power on that poll. Those polls.

[16:13] Yeah, because I kept thinking, oh my gosh, if it was like thunder and lightning or they couldn't go up to fix it or whatever this could have been this could have been days, so, okay. Thank you.

[16:27] In Jim, my work, we're just talking about things which is good, you know, Main Street, we're doing all this upgrade, you know, and so forth.

[16:37] with, is there any contact, I'm sure there is, with JCI, because that

[16:44] curliable building, something has to happen with it, because, you know, we could

[16:48] fill every other storefront on Main Street, and it's still going to look like-

[16:53] Yeah, so we've had some discussions with them about plans.

[16:57] They do have it from what I understand listed right now with a realtor, but, you know, we're

[17:03] having discussions with them about what the future is going to be.

[17:06] You're trying to sell it now?

[17:08] I think so.

[17:09] Who's going on?

[17:10] Well, again, this was what really through the whole plan of that was when the state legislator,

[17:18] which they still haven't given an answer why they did this.

[17:21] You used to be able to put light tech funds on top of historic tax credits, which were,

[17:26] which worked wonders in downtowns like ours where you had historic buildings that you wanted to put housing in.

[17:32] And that's been the wave of what's been going on in all these downtowns.

[17:35] Apparently some state legislator didn't like the fact that these things were being stacked on top of each other to give developers an advantage to get housing in their own communities.

[17:49] And so they said you couldn't stack those two on each other, well that single handedly killed the Carlisle project.

[17:56] So they have lobbied, they had a lobbyist trying to get that changed and apparently there are some people instead of Ohio that didn't want to hear it.

[18:04] I mean, we wrote letters of support, you know, because that, even not just for the call out building, but the second and third floors of a lot of those buildings down there could have really helped.

[18:14] So we're watching that one really closely.

[18:18] Is it as best as free?

[18:20] Didn't they get the edge?

[18:21] So the beauty is a lot of grants have been received by them.

[18:24] So the buildings are pretty much cleaned out and we just took down the back portion of the concrete building through a grant through the land bank.

[18:31] So the site, whether it's to demolish the rest of it or to rebuild it, is pretty much a clean slate.

[18:39] But the numbers are just not jiving to make it profitable.

[18:44] Yeah, you got a one, yeah, yeah.

[18:46] All right, well, thank you.

[18:51] Is there anything else for the manager,

[18:56] finance director?

[18:58] Thank you, Mr. President.

[19:00] We still have the two items from the last session.

[19:04] Yes.

[19:05] That's Kerala and Sheldon's updated employment agreement and Shuritee-Bahn's.

[19:12] Okay.

[19:13] And the contract has reflect, reflects now a lot of the concerns that you had heard.

[19:21] And so there should be addressed and then the Shuritee-Bahn, I think we're on our second reading

[19:27] for that.

[19:28] Okay.

[19:29] Thank you, Mr. Kahn.

[19:31] Mr. Cooper.

[19:35] So Mr. President, I don't have, there's no new litigation, no new civil actions, no

[19:43] new huge forfeitures, things continue to move apace and municipal court when we have

[19:51] power.

[19:53] Speaking of which, a reminder to the citizens of the city of Ash to Bula, when there's no

[19:59] power, and you come to a stop light, a street light that's not on, it automatically becomes a four-way stop.

[20:09] Which means every car has to stop regardless of what lane you're in, and you have to wait your turn to go through.

[20:17] That doesn't mean you pass the car that stopped and fly by, I had that happen to me.

[20:23] It doesn't mean you pull in front of the car as you're trying to turn because you think you

[20:32] It's not that hard

[20:34] Stop the car. Yeah, so I have that

[20:37] The other thing I have is when you're riding a bicycle

[20:40] Thought we're dark clothes

[20:44] That's just bad planning on your part where something that people can see

[20:49] Mr. Timonier, you were going to say something about the laws.

[20:52] Mr. President, yes, just to piggyback on the solicitors comments.

[20:56] The other thing, when we have road clothes signs out and we have cones all the way across,

[21:00] don't get out of your car and move those cones and move those.

[21:03] I literally saw that happen on Lake Avenue where the poles were down, nobody was getting through.

[21:08] So I got out of their car, moved cones to try to go down Lake Avenue where it said, clearly said road clothes.

[21:13] I mean, it means you as well, it's not just there for certain people, it's not a suggestion.

[21:24] And Mr. President, I was asked at the last meeting or at some point, maybe in an email

[21:32] to do some research, so just some basic information on official bonds.

[21:42] And the cost of an official bond on average for a $10,000 bond is between $250,000 and $500.00.

[21:53] A $100,000 bond is between $2,500 and $5,000.

[21:57] It depends on a lot of factors, so you have to actually go through the application process to get a final answer.

[22:03] But those fees are paid by the city, so there's that.

[22:08] I also tried to do some comparison research in terms of how much other municipalities have requirements for their fiscal officer.

[22:20] That is a task harder than you would think, because nobody collects that data.

[22:24] So you have to go either look at each city's ordinances or look at their audits that might have it, and that just was not working well.

[22:33] So, I went to the Ohio revised code and the next highest political subdivision that does have requirements for their fiscal officers in the code is a township.

[22:46] And assuming our budget is generally about $6 million, maybe a little more,

[22:56] just the entire budget.

[23:00] Okay, so then if we were a township with a budget more than $10 million, the fiscal officer would have to have a bond of $220,000.

[23:19] So just for comparison purposes, that's what other, what townships in the state require of their fiscal

[23:30] officers. Again, just for informational purposes, we're not a township. I understand that, but

[23:38] anyway. Thank you, Mr. Conn. Yes, thank you, Mr. President, and thank you, Ms. Cooper.

[23:45] We also did some research on this subject.

[23:50] It's true that those amounts exist, but

[23:53] municipalities don't usually follow them, because surety bonds are required by the Ohio

[23:59] by the vice code, but the amount of security bonds is determined by the legislative authority.

[24:08] So from my conversations with other finance directors, I'm not the only one who feels

[24:16] uncomfortable with this amount being personally responsible for because the bonds are required

[24:26] by the Ohio revised code, there is a lot of professionals in the industry feel uncomfortable.

[24:34] Municipalities started buying an additional insurance that can replace or reduce that bond.

[24:43] I believe it's allowed by the Ohio 42's office. There is only one type of insurance that can

[24:53] and replace surety bonds, not completely, but for public officials that are through the

[25:01] meat term, are eligible for transfers, some of that liability to that blanket additional

[25:12] coverage.

[25:14] So Mr. President, I would be curious if the finance director has bought an amount for other

[25:22] They're similarly situated municipalities in Asheville County or in the state as a whole

[25:28] since he's talked to other fiscal officers.

[25:31] Yes, so there is a counterpart in a different community who I talked to.

[25:39] Their chart dictates similar or close amounts, but they just don't follow it.

[25:46] They are covered by blanket bonds or additional coverage.

[25:50] So, basically, this is what I think happened here in the past.

[25:57] One of the finance directors had a bond of like $10,000 only, so that was what we found

[26:08] out from the high-revised code and what is eligible based on the State Auditor's Office.

[26:17] So should it, should it bonds can be replaced?

[26:21] With other insurance, as I said, no, no, I'm sorry, no, it's called faithful performance bonds.

[26:28] And it is something that is provided on the state level by certain organizations.

[26:34] But it's only available for certain elected officials.

[26:38] For instance, when I was at the prosecutor's office, I didn't have to post a bond.

[26:42] They had a faithful performance insurance through this state program.

[26:48] But I don't know that municipal finance directors are permitted to have a faithful performance insurance.

[26:57] And that would certainly not be consistent with our ordinances.

[27:01] Nor would I suggest that the city in any way shape or form not follow the charter because that puts us in a problem.

[27:10] If something were to happen, and we had to go to insurance and say we need repaid, well,

[27:17] okay, where's the faithful performant, the official bond that your ordinances say he

[27:22] has to have?

[27:23] We decided not to follow that.

[27:25] Well, you just wooded your insurance policy.

[27:27] Yeah.

[27:28] And may I add something?

[27:30] So I can only assume that it was not followed in the past when it was purchased for $10,000.

[27:37] So that's why we want to keep the process transparent and we want an official approval by the City Council to reduce it to $10,000 rather than not following the charter.

[27:51] And the policy that Ms. Cooper mentioned called actually employee dishonesty and faithful performance of duty coverage in conjunction with general property and liability insurance.

[28:03] That's a more comprehensive and administratively appropriate method of protection for the city,

[28:10] which I mentioned in my memo for our August FNP meeting.

[28:16] Okay.

[28:17] Mr. President.

[28:18] Yes.

[28:18] I'm just, I got to say, I'm getting a lot of this thrown at me here, that I did not do the

[28:24] research, and I'm very uncomfortable on voting on this today.

[28:29] Are you saying, Mr. Connett, if we don't have the bond, there is another bond that we can get?

[28:36] Is that what you said?

[28:38] Because this bond technically makes me personally reliable for the high cost of bond.

[28:45] I guess what your objection is to the one we have now, but what about, we have to be covered?

[28:52] can we get this other thing in place first and then drop the, the, the, the, the Sury.

[29:03] I mean, I think that that's something that we need to explore before we just,

[29:08] I mean,

[29:11] is this a, I mean, is this something that has to be done this month?

[29:15] I mean, I don't know.

[29:16] Is this an emergency?

[29:18] I, I really, I really think we need to reach the, the paper work on this new thing

[29:22] And before we just drop your bond, you know, Larry, based on what she just said about the townships,

[29:31] granted cities are different.

[29:35] I mean, there's a reason why they have that number of the cheap posts that is way more than we have now.

[29:41] I can email the old back up documentation for the additional coverage.

[29:47] You know, they will all shoot at the bonds.

[29:48] Mr. Conn, can I ask, so is it in charter or maybe for Miss Cooper that we, that the director must?

[30:00] But maybe the numbers not set. So because I didn't know something of this insurance versus a bond. So what is exactly? So that we ask that. So let me look at the charter real quick so that we make sure that we're. So we also don't waste time research something if it's something that's not in. In law to follow up on.

[30:40] Because generally you have to post the bond.

[30:42] Before or at the time you take office

[30:56] also good bonds the council shall fix by ordinance the salary and rate of compensation for all officers and

[31:03] Employees of the city entitled to compensation except as otherwise provided in the charter

[31:10] Temperate employees who shall receive such compensation

[31:14] Council may require any officer or employee to give a bond for the faithful performance of his duty in such an amount as it may

[31:21] determined, and it may provide that the premium thereof shall be paid by the city, which is

[31:27] pretty much consistent. That's consistent with Geneva's ordinances and some of the other

[31:33] chargers I looked at. Because we're a charter city, the statutes, the revised code will not

[31:42] provide us a number. That's simply by operation of law. There's no number. It's set by city

[31:50] council. So, if city council wants to look at what townships require who are

[31:58] similarly financially situated, you have the right to do that. The performance

[32:03] insurance, I want to say it's through the Council, the Association of County

[32:11] Commissioners. So, I'm going to have to look into that before I even know if we

[32:18] would qualify for it. But if we qualify for it, then no.

[32:27] I mean, well, so the only thing

[32:30] you would be able to do is you would have to remove the requirement that the fiscal

[32:36] officer provide a bond and instead allow him to provide insurance, which would then make

[32:44] Make the fiscal officer, what's the matter, that it says may require any officer or employee to give a bond for

[32:54] a fiscal performance of his duty.

[32:55] So they would have to remove the requirement that the fiscal officer provide a bond at all and

[33:01] instead allow for insurance, which then also takes the fiscal officer off the hook personally for

[33:10] Or anything other than crimes in office?

[33:17] Mr. Condo, do you know of any other fiscal officers that have that?

[33:22] So when she researches, is that she's going to find out that we're allowed to do it, right?

[33:26] Right, I talked to the previous finance director, who had her charity bond at $10,000.

[33:35] So she just recently changed her community.

[33:39] But she worked for Bowling Green and she mentioned that they also have a set amount in their charter but they don't follow it because they rely on blanket bonds and general liability property insurance.

[34:02] And did they say why?

[34:04] Why?

[34:05] Did they say why?

[34:06] Because a lot of professionals in the industry are not comfortable with being personally

[34:11] reliable for that.

[34:12] And when I talk to the bond agent, it's not only like direct like notorious financial crimes.

[34:21] It can be any findings for recovery by the state auditors.

[34:26] It can be as little as an invoice paid out of a wrong fund.

[34:33] And the bond agent told me that there has been a community here in Northease, Ohio,

[34:42] where the state audit is found out that an invoice was paid out of, let's say,

[34:48] enterprise fund instead of general fund.

[34:51] And they made, like the finance director who was on vacation at that time.

[34:56] and the payment was approved by someone else, but it was defined as director who was personally liable for

[35:04] embarrassing that amount.

[35:09] Just as history wise, 2008 was when the change was made to 100,000.

[35:16] We could not find much conversation in finance minutes or anything where it was discussed.

[35:23] But in 2008 is when that bond went up to 100,000 per ordinance.

[35:28] And then that also was before, that's when you still at an auditor's office and a

[35:36] Treasurer's office, so

[35:39] Ever since it was combined into the finance department

[35:44] There's still kind of some workiness there. You're on Mr. Timonier's 10,000 correct and Miss Cooper's is 10,000

[35:52] But if he also, yeah, I mean, I can't, so I mean, you can still be like, you know, somebody can still like come in, like sue you for something that happens at the court or that doesn't, that's different.

[36:08] That would not be covered by my mom.

[36:10] Yeah, so the bond is only like I think about Mr. Timonero.

[36:15] He handles a lot of money, a lot of different funds.

[36:17] We can't do anything over 10 grand, a lot of grants and so forth.

[36:21] We can't do anything over.

[36:22] I don't push the button to pay anybody.

[36:25] He doesn't have the authority to spend more than $10,000 at a time.

[36:30] So how about if we had approved that $50,000 thing

[36:35] had been approved by the voters?

[36:36] And I would strongly spur you to increase his bond to $50,000 so it maxed his spending on that.

[36:42] But at the same token, I still can't get to the money or go to the bank and

[36:48] take out a withdrawal or send a check that still comes out of the finance department.

[36:53] Mr. Conner, there's some other checks and balances for your role.

[36:56] Yes, thank you, thank you, Council Hallman.

[36:59] And one of Miss Cooper's concerns was that allegedly, with a click on my mouse, I can

[37:08] technically transfer $17 million anywhere, including overseas.

[37:16] However, that's technically not possible because any wire and ACH transaction requires two

[37:25] levels of approval.

[37:26] Even if I really wanted to do it unilaterally from my account, that wouldn't be possible because a second person needs to approve that.

[37:37] It's either assistant finance director, Carolyn Sheldon, or someone else who has also the same level of permissions in the online banking.

[37:48] And it's not possible for one person to transfer ACH or Y transfer with a click on my mouse.

[37:59] So they both work for the finance director and are trained by the finance director and

[38:04] are answerable to the finance director.

[38:08] So it's all self-contained in that department.

[38:11] I don't understand what the problem is if everybody is trained properly and there are all

[38:19] these checks and balances in place, why we're so worried about whether we'll have to enforce

[38:23] a $100,000 bond against a $30 million budget.

[38:31] As I mentioned earlier, only because there are examples that is bond agent brought to my

[38:37] attention. Technically, my position depends on seven people. If three people on the council

[38:46] decides to have a trigger, my surety bond is going to go through. So, because like, today

[38:55] we have one set of city council members, like in five years, they can be a different set

[39:02] of the City Council members, so technically I depend on, on

[39:10] selling people that my

[39:11] trigger the bond.

[39:13] I'm sorry, did you say that, maybe I misunderstood you, that three people on council could, why

[39:20] would we have anything to do with triggering the bond?

[39:26] If I'm not mistaken, it would be your, so if it was recognized that funds were missing

[39:31] or there was something done, it would be counseled that triggers the bond okay yeah but there

[39:42] would have to be you couldn't just say tomorrow we'd like to trigger the bond because we think

[39:46] something happened you'd have to have evidence that right there's been wrong doing we don't have

[39:53] access to that level of the books to know that if there was something going on you you would probably

[40:00] We have to launch an investigation to find that.

[40:04] Mr. President, the level of where the bond would be enforced,

[40:12] it invoked would be a finding on an audit that money was missing.

[40:18] A finding after a criminal investigation, that money was gone, and

[40:24] somebody was indicted, for instance, the assistant fire chief or whatever he is over in Geogga County.

[40:29] They're going to invoke his bond because they've indicted him.

[40:33] So there would be either an audit finding of significant issues or a criminal investigation

[40:39] that led to charges against somebody that would give you the authority to invoke the bond.

[40:46] So there would be an investigation by people waste-mortar with money and no more whole lot more

[40:54] accounting then I do for sure before it would even be recommended that you invoke the bond.

[41:02] So based on my conversation with our bond agent it can be as simple as just like you know regular

[41:11] audit and finding out that like an invoice was paid from it from a different fund.

[41:18] Well, Mr. President, I would personally would like a couple of things.

[41:22] One, I would like some comparable bonds with other county people,

[41:29] specifically county on Geneva and probably Bill Jefferson.

[41:35] And I also, I'd like to know if we qualify for this other thing before we go change in anything.

[41:46] because I think that we need to be covered.

[41:48] And I agree with you, Mr. Conn, we're the ones that hired you, you're our guy, we're happy.

[41:53] But future councils might not be, and that is an issue, but they have to renew your contract.

[41:59] I mean, if they don't like you, they're just going to non-renew you.

[42:05] I just, we do need to be covered, though, until we vote on this, I think.

[42:10] And then if we're voting on it, you know how long I'm going to have to vote until we figure that information out.

[42:17] Mr. President.

[42:19] Yep.

[42:19] Madam, so sir, I have a question and I want to make sure we're not comparing apples and oranges, but when you gave the number of 220,000 for the fiscal officer of the township, was there also numbers that you could share with us for comparable positions in the city.

[42:35] No, like I said, nobody compiles a list of how much fiscal officers for a city or a village have to have in a bond.

[42:49] There's no central location for that.

[42:52] So what I'm going to have to do is, and I tried looking just generally and it's not in any of the chargers, it's not in any of the ordinances I found online so far.

[43:02] So I will reach out to the law director for Geneva, the law director for Conyon, the law director for Jefferson and see if they will send me their ordinances requiring bonds and how much those bond amounts are.

[43:22] I can check with the villages as well if you'd like but those are the.

[43:28] Just so we can have comparable information because sharing it's 220,000 for the fiscal agent and not knowing what it is for the other positions is kind of hard to make the same comparison because we already know the numbers for you all right and the difference and I will find out if they can tell me how much their budget is their total budget so I can make sure that we're comparing

[43:55] Comparables, yes, ma'am, because like I said, the most comparable I can find was the township, but I understand what you're saying.

[44:04] Mr. President.

[44:05] Yes.

[44:05] So are we also investigating the cost of this insurance and what that cover coverage is compared to?

[44:12] I'll need to know how it would replace the bond and then to ask those questions of the insurance company.

[44:20] Okay, how that works to see if there could actually be a savings that way for, I mean, I have no idea.

[44:28] Okay, so when we get to those items on the agenda, we can table them because they're up for a second reading.

[44:39] So we will just, when we get to those two items, we could table them and then deal with them at the next meeting.

[44:51] Okay, Ms. Milberg, do you have anything for us this evening?

[44:54] I don't have anything, Mr. President.

[44:55] Thank you.

[44:56] Community development and economic development, I believe.

[45:00] Tell us something we don't know. Thank you. Finance and personnel, we did have a meeting on Friday. I do have a very brief report, and it is here. Okay. Very briefly. Finance and personnel, the committee met. It was a small meeting short meeting. Basically, we discussed, for the month of August,

[45:30] I guess we collected $678,000 in income tax, which is $8,000 more than we have the previous year and there have been the auditor, the Attorney General's Office is anticipating in excess of $350,000 in their efforts to collect other taxes that are due to this city.

[45:54] So those are certainly good things, everything else seems to be doing well, we are still waiting

[46:07] on our second half taxes from the county.

[46:09] This is very late, you know, we're in September, almost October.

[46:15] And so that is because we haven't received our taxes from the county, we are still dealing

[46:21] The following was some deficits on certain line items in anticipating these funds to be reconciled once that money is given to us.

[46:35] They are working on, at this time of the year, they start working on the 2027 budget.

[46:42] There was a caveat that our funds are going down between our fund 101 decline

[46:50] from $6 million to $4 million between 2025 and 26, and next year the preliminary budget shows even a greater decline.

[47:01] So we need to be very careful about the money we have on reserve and the money that we will be spending.

[47:10] So things are going to be getting tighter.

[47:15] So we need to be aware that we also are aware of what's happening.

[47:20] with the national economy, things, you know, interest rates are going up, the economy is

[47:25] slowing down and so we don't know how that will impact us either.

[47:30] But other than that, we, I think we did pretty good, there was not much else discussed.

[47:37] We are moving along, we are, you know, reconciling the sanitation fund, the paving fund and so

[47:46] forth. Like I said, a lot of those need to wait until we get our county money.

[47:51] Other than that, we will meet again on October 16th at 8.30.

[47:58] Thank you. Public works.

[48:03] Yes, thank you, Mr. President.

[48:06] We're going to meet, strange how this worked out, but

[48:09] tomorrow morning here at 8.30 AM.

[48:12] Okay.

[48:15] And then safety forces.

[48:17] Yes, Mr. President, I do have a report, the meeting was September 10th, and Chief Stell from the Asheville Police Department reported that August statistics were consistent with typical seasonal patterns.

[48:39] And July was really busy, August kind of settled down to normal service calls.

[48:47] He did note that the detectives made several significant arrests apprehending the three to four people believed to be responsible for a large amount of the criminal activity in the city, including several auto thefts.

[48:59] I asked about the status of the previously discussed traffic enforcement detachment.

[49:05] and chief still confirmed that the unit had been delayed due to staffing shortages over the summer.

[49:14] But with overtime costs, it wasn't going real smooth.

[49:18] But now with vacations tapering down, the units are on track to begin operating this month, which I'm sure they are.

[49:29] And chief canon of the fire department continues to tell us that there's an upward trend of prior to the last three years.

[49:39] on their service calls, but most of those are EMS calls, and we do receive compensation for those.

[49:45] He also reported that the newly hired firefighter has completed probably four or five shifts by now, and it's performing well, and he brings to the Fire Department to full staff.

[50:00] And we're going to be sending some people to Chicago to, I'm assuming they already went, is that true, Mr.

[50:07] Mr. Manager, to this great late term firefighting task force.

[50:11] I think,

[50:17] I want to say it might have started today as a matter of fact.

[50:22] So as we speak to there, and the emphasis on this training is passenger cruise ship fire scenarios,

[50:30] which should come in handy if we start getting this cruise ship coming to Azure Bill at any time.

[50:35] So, that would be great.

[50:38] We have, under the City Manager's report, two candidates pass the police civil service

[50:45] examination and are currently enrolled in the police academy and we're expecting them

[50:49] to be done in 10 to 11 months in which case they'll have to train with us.

[50:56] But we do have a couple of people lined up and the good news is that on September 29th,

[51:04] the city manager and several fire department staff are going to travel to the manufacturer to inspect the progress of the new ladder truck,

[51:13] which is supposed to be 65 to 70% completed by maybe even a little more now, that was at the time of the meeting.

[51:20] And the delivery remains on track for October, so everybody obviously in the safety forces committee is excited about that because we've been

[51:29] agreed diligently for the new truck and with that in mind, everything else seems to be going normal.

[51:37] We don't have any equipment issues.

[51:39] We did get a grant from molded fiberglass for new fire department radios, which I think we're voting on tonight.

[51:47] Is that what we're voting on to accept that and everything else is running smooth.

[51:53] Thank you.

[51:54] Thank you, Mr. Grerole.

[51:58] Mr. Clerk, have you had much conversation around use of our bike lanes or parking of motorcycles

[52:09] or bikes on sidewalks?

[52:14] I had conversations.

[52:15] I'm wondering if you all have had conversations.

[52:17] Oh no, not at the safety forces, meaning we did not.

[52:20] No.

[52:20] Okay.

[52:21] Okay, so some of this dubpails with your report, Ms. Cooper.

[52:29] The bike lanes, Mr. Timner, where is some literature on that?

[52:35] Because I've gotten a couple of complaints that vehicles are actually traveling on the bike lanes while bikers are riding.

[52:43] So the only bike lane that we have dedicated is West Avenue?

[52:46] Yep, okay, no, they should not be riding on that.

[52:50] But it's actually the Metro Parks, the Asheville County Metro Parks that has a map of that on their website of the bike lane, the bike path.

[52:59] So I'm wondering how we can better communicate to our motorists that whether they like it or not, the bikers do have it the right way and can bike and we want everyone to be safe.

[53:12] And I know we have paint as a demarcation, but I'm just sort of wondering how we can ensure.

[53:18] Yeah, I mean it would be enforcement of seeing anything like that out there, of person right there, with the amount of rhetoric in the community about the bike lane, I don't think anybody doesn't know it's there.

[53:32] There are also groups ground into the concrete and the asphalt that if you go over it, I mean you know you are now into the bike lane.

[53:44] So, you know, barring, putting up a wall all the way down West Avenue, you know, the

[53:53] pains out there, the rumble strips are out there, actually I think there's two sets

[53:58] of rumble strips that you hit.

[54:03] Is that something our police enforce that they see car vehicles in it?

[54:07] Absolutely, yes.

[54:08] And the other question is, I'm wondering how I can better communicate either in my

[54:16] That parking is not allowed on the sidewalks for motorcycles and things like that.

[54:21] We get a lot of front yard parking, parking on tree lawns, parking on sidewalks.

[54:27] The best thing to do is to call the non-emergency line at the police department so that they can go and address it.

[54:35] A lot of times, emailing or calling the council person and the council person emailing or

[54:39] go calling me, by the time it's seen and all those different things,

[54:43] the potential for that person to be gone.

[54:46] It's a much easier to call the non-emergency line at the police department and say,

[54:51] hey, there's a motorcycle or a car parked on XYZ at this address.

[54:55] They can then go there and address it.

[54:58] It is something we address frequently.

[55:00] So yes, no, you have to park on an approved surface,

[55:04] meaning a driveway that has concrete asphalt or a gravel.

[55:08] You cannot park on your front lawn, you cannot park on your tree lawn, and you cannot park on the sidewalk.

[55:17] And most of the time when we go enforce it, we get, it's my property, I'll do whatever I want with it.

[55:22] Kind of things, and eventually if it's still there, we tell it.

[55:27] Are there any friendly reminder postcards or something that we could-

[55:33] No, I say that towing in the worst case scenario, but nine times out of time when we approach and say, look, you can't do this, they will move the vehicle.

[55:41] There are people that habitually do it, and that's when we start the heavier enforcement.

[55:47] And without having to get it escalated, are there just some paper, literature or postcards or something, because I'd be happy to do it.

[55:55] A lot of time is, well, when we see it, it's knock on the door and say, hey, look, you can't do this, would you mind moving the vehicle?

[56:02] Yeah, what I'm saying is there's something simpler than calling our police officers out.

[56:09] Yeah, I mean unless they just wanted to go next door and say, hey, you're not supposed to do that, which I don't think they're going to do.

[56:18] I think it's easier if they call us and let us handle it.

[56:22] And like I said, we will, we're not going to come down with a hammer.

[56:25] First time we're at somebody's place.

[56:28] We typically just ask, hey, would you mind moving it?

[56:30] But if it's something habitual, then yes, they can be cited or the vehicle can be towed.

[56:34] Again, I just think some folks just don't know or just aren't aware, and sometimes a friendly reminder will go a long way.

[56:44] Okay, thank you.

[56:47] There are two other reports of the Planning Commission.

[56:50] They are scheduled to meet October 1st, and I think they're having a combined meeting for September and October 1st.

[57:00] I haven't received the agenda yet, but I believe there's a couple items.

[57:03] the Historic Preservation Committee last, or two weeks ago,

[57:09] losing track the time.

[57:10] Well, yeah, and they approved another townhouse duplex,

[57:17] whatever they're called, for West,

[57:22] third in Franklin Avenue in the harbor.

[57:26] So there will be another townhouse being built in that area.

[57:29] The ones they built on Fort Street

[57:31] have been rented and sold, rented, and so they're going to continue on, as long as I guess they see a need for that.

[57:41] So they'll be, that was approved once again, the two builders work very well with the architectural review board.

[57:49] They go back and forth, they have concern, we don't want these windows this or that, so there's some cooperation going on there.

[57:57] And then the only other thing, they approved the demolition of an old house on West Third Street, that is beyond repair.

[58:04] So okay, we are like two minutes from our regular council meeting.

[58:12] So what we will do is we will start our council meeting and then, before we approve the agenda, we will do, we have three items to finish, new business, old business.

[58:26] this in council ideas for the good of the order.

[58:29] We will come back to those after we begin our regular council meeting, and then we will

[58:37] do the approving of the agenda and then go on with our business, okay?

[58:45] So I think we have one or two minutes to go there.

[58:47] The

[58:54] mics are on.

[59:48] I'm gonna make it work.

[59:57] I'm gonna make it work.

[1:00:37] Oh, and then people, look through them like at the lake.

[1:00:50] We

[1:00:56] are going to call the regular meeting for the City Council of Ashe de Buella to order.

[1:01:03] Today is Monday September 21st, 2026.

[1:01:07] At this time, if you would please, this comment, you have the prayer and the pledge.

[1:01:13] If you would please stand for the prayer and the pledge.

[1:01:16] Heavenly

[1:01:22] Father, we ask you to let your inspiration proceed this council's actions and all present

[1:01:29] here today and your assistance further us so that every word and work of ours may take its

[1:01:36] beginning from you and so begun may through you reach its completion. Amen. I pledge allegiance to

[1:01:47] the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation

[1:01:54] under God and indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

[1:02:03] Thank you.

[1:02:04] Miss Milberg, would you call the role?

[1:02:08] Ms. Holman.

[1:02:09] President.

[1:02:10] Mrs. Mills.

[1:02:11] Here.

[1:02:11] Mrs. DiJacamo.

[1:02:14] Mr. Dakota.

[1:02:16] Mr. Guerrero.

[1:02:18] here. Mr. Cimeone, here. Mr. Rosquivitz, here. Mr. Timineer, here. Mr. Cooper, here. Mr. Khan.

[1:02:29] He's here.

[1:02:33] May I have a motion to excuse Mr. DiJacamo from tonight's meeting?

[1:02:38] Second.

[1:02:41] Ms. Holman moves, Mr. Guerrero seconds. Any discussion? All in favor?

[1:02:49] All opposed, she will be excused by a five to zero vote.

[1:02:52] May I have a motion to excuse Mr. Decola from tonight's meeting?

[1:02:56] So moved.

[1:02:58] Second.

[1:02:59] Second by Mrs. Mills, motion by Ms. Holman, any discussion?

[1:03:05] All in favor?

[1:03:06] Aye.

[1:03:07] All opposed, he will be excused by a five to zero vote.

[1:03:11] Thank you.

[1:03:12] We are doing our sunshine law requirements.

[1:03:15] Okay, before we read the legislation, we will go back to our pre-console agenda.

[1:03:20] Is there any discussion of new business or proposed legislation?

[1:03:25] Mr. President?

[1:03:27] Yes.

[1:03:27] I wanted to bring up back discussing the cell phones for counselors.

[1:03:35] So, not sure in the process, but I did email the solicitor's office.

[1:03:42] And I did talk with the finance director and the clerk and I did email the city manager.

[1:03:48] So, I know that there has to be an ordinance and there would have to be a policy.

[1:03:55] I didn't know if, do we need to start by going back to finance and

[1:04:05] a person now for like going through a policy or like, I'm not sure where what direction that might need to go first.

[1:04:18] The idea has been, the idea has surfaced on a couple of occasions, but I don't think we've ever had actual like legislation to look at.

[1:04:30] So maybe the thing would be to have legislation drawn up for

[1:04:35] for the next Finance and Personnel Committee, and then from there it would come to the full council.

[1:04:41] Does that sound appropriate, Ms. Cooper?

[1:04:45] Yes, sir.

[1:04:45] Okay, so Mrs. Mills, we will put that on the agenda for the Finance and Personnel Committee meeting on October 16th, whatever that of October 16th, I think it is.

[1:05:03] Yes, yes, is that okay?

[1:05:06] And then at that time, I believe you have already requested from the solicitors office that legislation being drawn up regarding that.

[1:05:17] And then at that time there should be able to have some financial data included with that.

[1:05:25] Yes, and she was looking at a policy as well, but she kind of wanted to do work on the legislation first because it could be something could be incorporated in the budget since we're in that span and it would go through the council budget because it's not like it's an emergency that something has to be done right now to where you're going to pull this from.

[1:05:50] You know, gather the data if it went on the budget and we'd vote on it and then have a policy, so it kind of

[1:06:00] Streamline through the process

[1:06:04] Okay, so we will add that to our

[1:06:07] Miss Milberg, where you do that added to our next month agenda finance and personnel. Thank you

[1:06:15] Ordnance regarding cell phones. Mr. President. Yes

[1:06:19] For those folks who have been attending meetings know that I have brought this up since the very beginning of my council tenure.

[1:06:29] And I've also always wondered why was it so, why has it been so difficult to understand that counselors who have to conduct city business should have a city phone.

[1:06:44] And then it was brought to my attention, and please correct me if I'm wrong, Madame Solicitor, that administrators currently have cell phones through the city.

[1:06:56] I know that I have a cell phone through the city, but I'm on call 24-7 for the police department.

[1:07:02] So do all administrators, and maybe you're not the one to ask for the question, Mr. Timner, do all administrators-

[1:07:08] Not all do, no.

[1:07:09] So is there currently a policy already in place for when folks get a city device?

[1:07:21] My policy with employees will be different than what you guys want to develop for yourselves.

[1:07:31] And why is that?

[1:07:33] Because you are legislators and you're determining your policy for your council and I'm in charge

[1:07:40] the administrative range of it, so we have, we will have our policies for those different

[1:07:45] types of things.

[1:07:47] So Madam Solister, is it council who offers any ideas or suggestions or questions before

[1:07:56] that policy is put in place, or do you go ahead and drive one based upon your legal expertise

[1:08:01] and then bring it to council and then we provide feedback?

[1:08:04] back. So I think Catherine is working on a policy right now based on her experience at

[1:08:11] the county and what experience she has here in the city. My personal policy is unless

[1:08:18] it's work related or a dire emergency. I don't use my work phone. There have been occasions

[1:08:25] where I've had to use my work phone like I stupidly left myself out of the car last week and

[1:08:30] my phone was in the car, so I had to use my work phone to call for a key, but other

[1:08:36] than that kind of emergency, the only e-mails or calls or text messages on my work phone

[1:08:44] are work related.

[1:08:46] Of course.

[1:08:47] So would there be similarities drawn up?

[1:08:49] I would think it would be very similar to that, yes.

[1:08:52] That might expedite the process.

[1:08:54] Thank you.

[1:08:55] Thank you.

[1:08:57] Well, I was going to ask if ordering pizza would qualify, but I know that you brought it up, but I wasn't going to frame that.

[1:09:06] Yeah, I get it. You should have.

[1:09:10] Unless you're working late and you're getting it for your fellow council or committee members, then sure.

[1:09:17] But the other thing to remember is that anything on the work cell phone is subject to public record.

[1:09:25] So, that kind of edits yourself when you know anything on your cell phone can be seen by anybody in the universe.

[1:09:37] Thank you.

[1:09:39] In this moment, I think it'll be pretty simple, and then Council can look at it.

[1:09:45] They think something needs to be fine tuned or tweaked, and it's in the realm that Catherine says, but then it'll be.

[1:09:53] And it could be that maybe somebody wants to keep using their landline or their personal cell,

[1:10:00] but we'd like to budget seven phones, but I'm thinking maybe not everybody wants to use one,

[1:10:08] but I think for ease of records reviews or anything like that, it's nice to keep business on one,

[1:10:14] and pleasure on the other, and then it's just simple.

[1:10:18] and then when we're done and we're not employed here anymore that you turn it back in for the next set of councillors.

[1:10:27] I mean I personally if we're going to go that route I think that whatever the city issue phone should be your phone.

[1:10:36] I don't think it should be an option like I want to keep my I want to keep my old number in play.

[1:10:43] If we go to city-issued phones, I think that that should be your city-issued number.

[1:10:51] Well, that could be a conversation as well.

[1:10:57] I personally think everybody should have that separate number, but and it makes it easier

[1:11:02] if somebody wants a review than just here's one of my phone calls.

[1:11:05] Well, yeah, you would have your own phone number, but they all might be one digit apart.

[1:11:14] So it's a good start.

[1:11:25] Okay, let's go on to our next item.

[1:11:30] Anything else?

[1:11:31] Any old business or legislation for second reading?

[1:11:36] I believe we have a couple items on, I'm sorry, okay.

[1:11:43] Yeah, we're still finishing up the pre-council.

[1:11:47] We have a couple items for second reading, and I believe the, after some discussion,

[1:11:52] We may be tabling those.

[1:11:54] Is there any discussion for the good of the order?

[1:12:02] Okay, seeing none, we will go to our regular council agenda at this time.

[1:12:07] Ms. Milberg, will you read us tonight's legislation?

[1:12:12] Ordnance number 2026-159 in ordinance authorizing the city manager to enter into a contract with northeastern communications to purchase portable radios and related equipment for the Asheville Fire Department.

[1:12:26] Ordnance number 2026-160 in ordinance authorizing the city manager to amend the contract with Amindola engineering for mixing zone studies and other necessary work related to the relocation of outfall 001.

[1:12:43] Ordnance number 2026-161 in ordinance authorizing the city manager to dispose of obsolete and unneeded vehicles round 4.

[1:12:54] Ordinance number 2026-162 in ordinance authorizing the finance director to enter into an emergency individual employment agreement with Ms. Carolyn Sheldon commencing on September 1st, 2026.

[1:13:12] Ordinance number 2026-163 in ordinance authorizing the city manager to enter into a contract with Petro's services LLC to repair a 512G case loader for

[1:13:25] for the Public Works Department.

[1:13:28] And for second reading, ordinance number 2026-155,

[1:13:32] an ordinance repealing,

[1:13:34] as to be a lacotified ordinance 131.02

[1:13:37] for the purpose of enacting replacement legislation.

[1:13:40] Ordinance number 2026-156,

[1:13:44] an ordinance enacting replacement codified ordinance section 131.02.

[1:13:50] Thank you, Ms. Milberg.

[1:13:51] And if you also note at this time, at the end of the meeting, we will have a voice vote to return.

[1:14:01] Ordinance, 2026158 to the Planning Commission to review the recommended changes.

[1:14:07] That'll use to be a voice vote.

[1:14:10] Okay.

[1:14:11] Do you have a question?

[1:14:15] Okay, let's have a motion in a second.

[1:14:17] And I will move we accept the order of tonight's agenda.

[1:14:22] So moved.

[1:14:24] Second.

[1:14:25] And we have a motion by Ms. Holman and a second by Mrs. Mills.

[1:14:29] Okay, now you have a question, please.

[1:14:31] Yes, ordinance 2026-162, the contract is commence September 1.

[1:14:38] Has she also started the work, already started the work without assigned contract?

[1:14:52] Mr. President, I believe that your last meeting didn't you guys do a voice vote

[1:14:56] to authorize the, yeah, for P until the contract can be done.

[1:15:00] Until the payment, yes. Ordinance, 2026159. What is the cost of those portable radios and related equipment for the Asheville Fire Department?

[1:15:12] That is listed in the ordinance. 16,830, 64 cents. And that is a state purchasing contract. That's in the ordinance.

[1:15:29] It covers, it covers the entire cost. The grant covers the entire cost, yes.

[1:15:38] Okay, so we have a motion to accept the agenda.

[1:15:41] Mr. President, just a question.

[1:15:43] Are you guys tabling 155 and 156?

[1:15:47] I believe we are when we get there.

[1:15:50] So you're just going to do it during the-

[1:15:52] When we get to the second round.

[1:15:59] Okay, any other questions?

[1:16:01] All in favor of approving the agenda?

[1:16:04] Aye.

[1:16:05] Anyone opposed?

[1:16:06] We will approve the agenda by a five to zero vote.

[1:16:09] There are no special items, I believe, no communications.

[1:16:15] So at this time, we will hear from the citizen comments in community comments.

[1:16:23] Just approach the podium, state your name, address, and remember we allow you five minutes.

[1:16:32] My name is Michael Wagner.

[1:16:34] I'm ward 4.

[1:16:35] When do we get the recycle business committed?

[1:16:39] Do you know how soon?

[1:16:42] Mr. President, so it looks like we could even take the delivery by the end of this month, September.

[1:16:48] The county is working on the distribution plan, trying to find a contractor that's going to help us distribute them to the communities.

[1:16:54] So I would hope by the end of October we'll have everything delivered.

[1:16:57] Thank you.

[1:16:58] Thank you, sir.

[1:17:03] Mr. Timoneer, even though we may not have a clear plan for the rollout yet, if residents choose not to.

[1:17:13] There is no choice to not participate.

[1:17:15] We did not have that choice for the first area, and we do not have the staff at the time to say who's doing what and to have different pickups everywhere.

[1:17:26] Scrooge,

[1:17:29] I think you have my address.

[1:17:32] I want to first of all thank the manager for paving that concrete that rolled down by

[1:17:40] the country club.

[1:17:41] A lot of people are very happy because the older people do roll up and down that road

[1:17:46] and they're very happy.

[1:17:48] This is a FYI as a citizen.

[1:17:52] Last month, excuse me, last meeting, I came to hear about a program at 5 o'clock.

[1:17:59] When I got here, there was some type of best, like I said, just misunderstanding between

[1:18:05] two counsel persons.

[1:18:07] It took 10 minutes of our time going through whatever the disagreement was, and I felt as

[1:18:16] a citizen, I really don't need to know that.

[1:18:19] That I came up here to hear about some of the programs and some of the pros and cons of this program that we're trying to get ahead.

[1:18:28] No having communities commission.

[1:18:30] Thank you that one and I really didn't get a understanding because there was some type of misunderstanding and we had a letter read and a phone read and this is not the place for that.

[1:18:44] I feel this is not the place we're citizens don't have to know if you guys have a misunderstanding as councilmen and women

[1:18:52] Take it behind the doors and it's you know hash it out there. We don't have to know

[1:18:56] It I'm sorry. Yeah, we can't do that. Mrs. Cruz our work. Our work has to be conducted in public

[1:19:04] We can't do it on the computer

[1:19:08] We if the councilor wants to say something to another it has to be done at a public meeting

[1:19:13] So that's why that happens and I appreciate that but you give us five minutes to ask our questions, but they can go on for ten minutes

[1:19:21] Well, I'll just ask them questions. Yes. Well, yeah, the a work session. That was a work session work sessions are designed for counselors

[1:19:29] To to find out more information about something that's coming up

[1:19:33] Sometimes you may notice that work sessions. We don't allow public comments

[1:19:38] Because it's important for the counselors to find out everything they need to know

[1:19:42] So the meeting you were talking about was scheduled for an hour, and there was allowed

[1:19:50] public comments.

[1:19:51] So that's, you know, we felt that was the people requesting the meeting wanted public

[1:19:58] comments, and they wanted an hour and time, so that's why that occurred.

[1:20:02] That's why that was organized that way.

[1:20:04] Thank you for your opinion, and as a citizen, I didn't feel we had enough time to cough

[1:20:09] at the end when everything was said and done.

[1:20:12] I came up here to find out what it's all about.

[1:20:15] What your disagreements were.

[1:20:17] By the time we went to the end,

[1:20:18] you said two minutes and so we were pretty much checked out.

[1:20:22] All right, thank you, Mr. Good.

[1:20:24] Anyone else who would like to address council at this time?

[1:20:29] Steve Chase, Ward one.

[1:20:32] So all seven council members received an email from me

[1:20:36] about 10 days ago.

[1:20:37] Mr. Jocomo, who's not here,

[1:20:39] is the only one who actually responded

[1:20:41] to the email. Subsequent to that last Friday I reached out to every single one of you via phone,

[1:20:48] and I received phone calls back from four people. So there's two members of council that failed

[1:20:52] to respond to either an email or a phone call from a constituent. One of them is not here tonight.

[1:20:58] The other one is Russell Simioni. So my question is and my question to Mr. Dakota was going to be,

[1:21:05] both of you are up next year for a real action. If you're not going to respond to emails,

[1:21:10] You're not going to respond to phone calls and have a conversation with your constituents.

[1:21:14] Why should your constituents vote for you?

[1:21:16] You're paid, albeit very little, and you receive health insurance from the city.

[1:21:23] And you've agreed to represent the citizens of the city.

[1:21:25] But if you don't return phone calls and don't return emails,

[1:21:29] how can you say you're representing the residents of the city of Ashland?

[1:21:32] All you're doing is sitting up here taking up space.

[1:21:36] Thank you.

[1:21:37] Thank you, Mr. Chase.

[1:21:39] Any one else who would like to address council at this time?

[1:21:44] Seeing no one, Councillor commons, liaisons, reports, meeting announcements, I don't believe we have any of that.

[1:21:53] We will go on with the approval of our minutes.

[1:21:58] September 8th, 2026, work session was called to order at 5 p.m. by President Roskivix.

[1:22:03] President Mr. Roskivix, Mr. Simeone, Mr. Dakota, Mr. Guerrero, Mrs. Mills, Mrs. Holman, Mrs. DiJacamo.

[1:22:10] So, officers present, City Manager Timoneer, City Solicitor Cooper, and Clerk of Council Milberg, absent Finance Director Conn.

[1:22:20] May I have a motion to wave the reading of the work session minutes?

[1:22:25] I'll move.

[1:22:26] Second.

[1:22:27] Mr. Grillemuse, Mrs. Mills seconds, any discussion?

[1:22:31] I do have a comment.

[1:22:33] At the end of that work session, and I see it's indicated in the minutes of the public who gave comment,

[1:22:41] or questions. One of the individuals was not included in the minutes. I think her name

[1:22:47] is Margaret Disler and I just think that it should also be included.

[1:22:59] Okay, that correction will be made. Any other comments or questions? All in favor?

[1:23:07] Aye.

[1:23:08] Anyone opposed? We will wave those reading of the minutes by a five to zero vote.

[1:23:16] The

[1:23:16] September 8th, 2026, pre-council meeting was called to order at 6.03 p.m. by President Roskivix, President Mr. Roskivix, Mr. Simeone, Mr. Dakota, Mr. Guerrero, Mrs. Mills, Ms. Holman, Mrs. DiJacamo, Officers Present, City Manager Timoneer, City Solicitor Cooper, Finance Director Con, and Clerk of Council Milberg.

[1:23:39] I will move. We wave the reading of the minutes in their entirety.

[1:23:50] Any other comments or questions? All in favor?

[1:23:55] I.

[1:23:55] Anyone opposed?

[1:23:56] We will wave the reading by a 5-0 vote.

[1:23:59] The regular meeting?

[1:24:01] September 8, 2026, regular council meeting was called to order at 8 p.m. by President

[1:24:06] Roskivix.

[1:24:07] Mr. Guerrero offered the opening prayer and the pledge of allegiance was recited.

[1:24:11] Mr. President, Mr. Roskivix, Mr. Simione, Mr. Dakota, Mr. Guerrero, Mrs. Mills, Mrs. Holman, Mrs. DiJaccomo.

[1:24:19] Officers, President, City Manager to Maniera, City Solicitor Cooper, Finance Director Con, and Clerk of Council, Milberg.

[1:24:26] May I have a motion to wave the reading of the minutes and their entirety?

[1:24:30] I'll move.

[1:24:32] Second.

[1:24:32] Mr. Guerrero moves, Ms. Holman seconds.

[1:24:35] Any discussion?

[1:24:37] All in favor?

[1:24:39] any one opposed? We will wave the reading of the minutes by a 5-0 vote and then last Monday's work session.

[1:24:48] September 14th, 2026 work session was called to order at 4.30 p.m. by President Roskivix.

[1:24:55] President Mr. Roskivix, Mr. Dakota, Mr. Guerrero, Mrs. Mills, Ms. Holman, Mrs. DiJacamo.

[1:25:02] Officers present, City Manager Timoneer, City Solicitor Cooper, and Clerk of Council Milberg.

[1:25:06] Absence, Mr. Simeone, and Binance Director Kong.

[1:25:12] May I have a motion to wave the reading of the minutes in their entirety?

[1:25:17] Some moved.

[1:25:18] Mrs. Mills-Move.

[1:25:20] I will second any discussion, all in favor?

[1:25:25] Aye.

[1:25:26] Anyone opposed?

[1:25:27] We will wave those reading minutes by a five to zero vote.

[1:25:32] Thank you.

[1:25:35] We will not, we have no resolutions to present.

[1:25:37] And we will not go on with our ordinances that are on for passage.

[1:25:46] Ordnance number 2026-159, an ordinance authorizing the city manager to enter into a contract with Northeastern communications to purchase portable radios and related equipment for the Asheville Fire Department.

[1:26:00] Ordnance number 2026-160, an ordinance authorizing the city manager to amend the contract with Amindola Engineering for

[1:26:09] We're mixing zone studies and other necessary work related to the relocation of Outfall 001.

[1:26:17] Ordnance number 2026-161, an ordinance authorizing the city manager to dispose of obsolete and unneeded vehicles round four.

[1:26:27] Ordnance number 2026-162, an ordinance authorizing finance director to enter into an emergency individual employment agreement with Ms.

[1:26:36] Carolyn Sheldon, commencing on September 1st, 2026.

[1:26:42] Ordnance number 2026, dash 163, and ordnance authorizing the city manager to enter into a contract with Petro's services, LLC, to repair a 512-G case loader for the public works department.

[1:26:56] Thank you. Is it council's desire to handle these items and consent agenda for a map?

[1:27:13] Is there a motion to wave the reading of this legislation in its entirety?

[1:27:22] Some moved.

[1:27:23] Second.

[1:27:25] This woman moves Mrs. Mills seconds.

[1:27:27] Any discussion?

[1:27:28] All in favor?

[1:27:30] Aye.

[1:27:30] Any one opposed?

[1:27:32] We will wave the reading by a five to zero vote.

[1:27:35] Can I have a motion to wave the charter requirements for two readings?

[1:27:40] I will move that we do so.

[1:27:43] Second.

[1:27:44] Mrs. Mills will second.

[1:27:45] Any discussion?

[1:27:47] Will you please call the roll?

[1:27:49] Mr. Guerrero?

[1:27:50] Mr. Guerrero?

[1:27:51] Yes.

[1:27:52] Mr. Simeone?

[1:27:54] Yes.

[1:27:54] Mr. Roskiewicz?

[1:27:55] Yes.

[1:27:56] Ms. Holman?

[1:27:57] Yes.

[1:27:57] Mrs. Mills?

[1:27:58] Yes.

[1:27:59] We will waive the two reading requirement by a five to zero vote.

[1:28:03] We will now vote on the adoption of the legislation.

[1:28:07] Would you please call the roll?

[1:28:09] Mr. Roskivix?

[1:28:10] Yes.

[1:28:11] Mr. Guerrero?

[1:28:12] Yes.

[1:28:12] Mr. Cimeone?

[1:28:14] Yes.

[1:28:14] Mrs. Mills?

[1:28:16] Yes.

[1:28:16] Mrs. Dijock?

[1:28:17] I'm sorry, Ms. Holman.

[1:28:19] Yes.

[1:28:20] All those items of legislation have passed by a five to zero vote.

[1:28:26] Mr. President?

[1:28:27] Yes.

[1:28:27] But I would like to make a motion or suggest to raise the table 155-156.

[1:28:35] We have a motion, the table ordinance 2026-155, and 2026-156 together, the table.

[1:28:48] Is there a second to that motion?

[1:28:55] Mr. Guerrero moves, Mr. Cimeone's second.

[1:28:58] Is there any discussion?

[1:28:59] Yes, why are we tabling these two ordinances?

[1:29:03] I would like more information on this bond business

[1:29:06] before we talk about the supplemental insurance

[1:29:10] in lieu of bond.

[1:29:11] We don't know what we can get it yet.

[1:29:13] We don't have comparable with other cities of our size

[1:29:17] or what they're issuing as far as a bond.

[1:29:20] And I just think that some information

[1:29:21] that we should know before we vote on that.

[1:29:28] Any other questions or comments?

[1:29:34] All right, there's a motion to table.

[1:29:36] I think we will call the roll on this, probably, we should.

[1:29:41] Mr. Guerrero?

[1:29:43] Yes.

[1:29:43] Mr. Simionne?

[1:29:45] Yes.

[1:29:45] Mr. Roskiewicz?

[1:29:48] Yes.

[1:29:49] Ms. Holman?

[1:29:50] Yes.

[1:29:51] Mrs. Mills.

[1:29:52] Yes.

[1:29:53] Yes, we will table that and it will come back to us, it will come off the table that our

[1:29:59] next meeting.

[1:30:00] We will have the information that we need.

[1:30:07] Okay. At this point, we would need a vote. I'm going to ask for a voice vote to approve. I believe last week Miss Milmer helped me out on this last week. We approved the first reading for the comprehensive plan. Correct. Okay. And then there were some questions. And then we had the work session. And so now, because of the question,

[1:30:31] And some of the changes that resulted, that comprehensive plan needs to go back to the planning commission for review and their changes.

[1:30:42] And then it will come back to council for two more readings, we'll have to have two more readings then at that time.

[1:30:48] Okay, so I will ask for a voice vote to return the ordinance 158 to the planning commission.

[1:31:02] We're waiting on the voice vote, we're waiting on the board.

[1:31:06] All in favor of doing so?

[1:31:08] Aye.

[1:31:09] Anyone opposed?

[1:31:11] We will return that ordinance to the planning commission for a five to zero vote.

[1:31:18] Mr. President.

[1:31:22] You were here at the work session so you're well aware of the concerns and so forth.

[1:31:26] So, you will be able to include the other members.

[1:31:32] Mr. President.

[1:31:34] No, I just had a question.

[1:31:36] So, that would go to them for October 1st meeting?

[1:31:39] Yes.

[1:31:39] Yeah, the intention is to put it on the October 1st meeting and then see if they'll go along with those recommendations and then it would be kicked back to council.

[1:31:49] Okay, so if everything goes okay, it would be the end of October because do they want to readings or?

[1:31:56] Yeah. Okay. I would not suggest that at that point. Okay. That's okay. Very good.

[1:32:02] We've already, you know, changed it so. Okay. And again, I guess, you know, I would like to say again,

[1:32:08] I know we said it during the work session, but, you know, everything that's in that

[1:32:12] comprehensive plan is concept. It doesn't mean that everything is going to be done in it.

[1:32:17] It doesn't mean that nothing is going to be done from it. They're going to be pieces parts.

[1:32:22] It's a little disappointing that the one particular item has been the talk of everything in an 82 page document.

[1:32:31] There is some really good concepts, some really good suggestions, some really good ideas throughout the entire plan that I feel very good about.

[1:32:42] The committee, the public, and I will say that again when we talk about the trails and the mention of the trails and the mention of bike lanes in there.

[1:32:50] That is not something that this council mandated was in that report.

[1:32:55] That's not something I mandated was in that conference plan, it's not something that anyone on my staff did.

[1:33:00] That came from public feedback, from the public meetings that we had, from the surveys we had,

[1:33:07] and from the 20-some odd member committee that was together.

[1:33:10] So those were not things that were just, we should do this by a couple of few individuals.

[1:33:15] That was a collection of everyone and we're happy that that plan includes as many people as it does

[1:33:25] Thank you

[1:33:27] Okay, so it will go to the planning commission come back. We could have one reading and

[1:33:32] Sort of somewhat maybe stay on track

[1:33:35] Okay

[1:33:37] All right, is there anything else on our agenda? I don't believe I believe we handled all our business this evening

[1:33:42] I mean, we come to the part of our meeting where if somebody has something for

[1:33:47] tell us something we don't know, Mr. President, I do.

[1:33:51] Well, you have something for tell us something we don't know.

[1:33:53] Yes, I do.

[1:33:53] Good, thank you.

[1:33:56] The National Fitness Hall of Fame is an American Hall of Fame for notable fitness professionals.

[1:34:04] It includes notable figures involved in fitness instruction, training, education, fitness management

[1:34:12] and product development, and some of the people that are in this Hall of Fame are Arnold

[1:34:19] Swartz-Nigger, Jack Elaine, Charles Atlas, Vic Taney, and I am proud to say, based on this

[1:34:30] news-herald article that I copied, one of our native sons has been inducted into this

[1:34:37] All of Fame, Jamie Prinkas, who grew up on his 15th street.

[1:34:42] And he's also a friend of mine.

[1:34:44] So I know him very well.

[1:34:46] And he's most famous for the eight minute apps video that he made.

[1:34:53] But he's been a fitness guy for as long as I can remember.

[1:34:57] And when you start getting talked about with names like Jack Elaine and Charles Atlas,

[1:35:02] Because you must be doing something right and we're sure proud of him.

[1:35:08] And I just want to just shout out to him, he is from Ashtabula.

[1:35:12] He's in Ashtabula all the time, even though he does not live here now.

[1:35:15] And we want to wish him all the best.

[1:35:20] Thank you, Mr. Grocery.

[1:35:21] Yeah, he's right down, because we have something to share.

[1:35:25] The ADDA Ashtabula Downtown Development Association, it is excited to invite everyone to the downtown Ashtabula chocolate walk.

[1:35:33] on Friday, October 23rd, and Saturday, October 24th.

[1:35:38] With over 20 participating businesses, local businesses,

[1:35:44] ticket holders can stroll through downtown, visit local businesses, and enjoy a chocolate treat at each shop along the way.

[1:35:52] It's a great opportunity to discover our local shops, support our downtown businesses, and celebrate the reopening of main avenue.

[1:36:01] Tickets are just $5 and go on sale September 25th at Ultimate Appearance, US Bank, Happy

[1:36:07] Echings, Frame Done Main, and MPG Apparel.

[1:36:12] There are only 100 tickets that will be available, so be sure to get yours early.

[1:36:17] Come downtown, enjoy some chocolate, and help us celebrate Ashtabula.

[1:36:22] Thank you, Ms. Holman.

[1:36:24] Anybody else?

[1:36:24] both Mr. President and kind of piggyback on the EDDA and Mrs. DeJackamo, I've helped her.

[1:36:36] We've went to a lot of the businesses downtown.

[1:36:39] We tried to coordinate, so this will kind of be fun that we have bridge street things to do and we have downtown things to do.

[1:36:47] So we made sure we didn't coordinate it when they had their Friday night market.

[1:36:52] So there will be lots of different things happening in October.

[1:36:58] One thing that's going to happen in the harbor in October, this is before our next meeting.

[1:37:03] Saturday, October 3rd is the harvest in the harbor celebration, bringing neighbors,

[1:37:09] visitors, local businesses together to celebrate the season.

[1:37:14] So they have artisan craft and pet related vendors, a spooky pooch parade, chilly cook-off,

[1:37:20] Merchant scavenger hunt, pumpkin painting, and trunker treat for the kids.

[1:37:27] So they're going to have areas, I think, by the bridge street galley that will have the chili cook off.

[1:37:35] That's from two to four.

[1:37:37] Trunker treat is from noon to two.

[1:37:40] That's a lot across from the public parking.

[1:37:43] And they'll have treats for children and for dogs.

[1:37:48] Then they're going to have the pooch parade in the morning, and actually I'll be one of the judges, and then they have street vendors, food trucks, and children's activities.

[1:38:01] So, just another thing happening at the other end of town.

[1:38:06] And one last thing, working on Halo, I can't believe it's that time of year.

[1:38:11] that's holiday angels, loving others, Catholic charities, Gala event, Saturday, November 7th,

[1:38:18] our Lady of Peace Community Center on 21st Street.

[1:38:22] We do holiday meals and toys to families and individuals in need, and I think this year there's a big need.

[1:38:29] There's a big need with the cost of everything going up between rent, utilities, food, taxes.

[1:38:37] So, but we still want children to have toys, families to have meals together.

[1:38:46] So we're wrapping up meetings, we have another one this week, we'll have ticket information coming soon, so save the date.

[1:38:53] It's a great cause for kids and you blink your eye and it's going to be time for holiday presents, so that's it, thank you.

[1:39:03] Thank you, Mrs. Mills, and I will just add I do this often in the harbor this the harbor had an event every night Friday night

[1:39:13] They had their shopping thing. It was crowded Saturday. They had the beer festival

[1:39:19] Sunday, I think I don't know what it was called. I think it was something with goth

[1:39:23] God something at the chicken place. It was it goth something. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I

[1:39:29] punk something punk a punk flea market that was good but anyway I always say

[1:39:36] that you know we I was working at the beer festival Mrs. Mills was there

[1:39:40] Mr. Gidell was there and a lot of the brewers are from out of town and and I

[1:39:46] always share this they come here they are just so impressed with our town they

[1:39:51] just have so many nice things to say about ash de bulla that they like coming

[1:39:57] here, it's a nice place. And I just think we, I know I say that a lot, but I just think

[1:40:03] we need to hear that a lot because a lot of negativity sometimes and a lot of, I

[1:40:10] don't know sometimes you don't want to hear things or read things. So I'm just, I was

[1:40:15] thrilled when that happens. So that was a good thing. All right, does anyone else have

[1:40:24] anything. Okay, seeing nothing we have no executive session. We are going to meet

[1:40:29] on October 5th at 6 o'clock and that'll be our next meeting. So until then, we

[1:40:37] wish everybody well, have a good couple of weeks and we are adjourned.

Regular Council Meeting

Transcript