April 24, 2018

CITY OF ST. MATTHEWS
Council Meeting Minutes
April 24, 2018
 
The regular meeting of the St. Matthews City Council was held on Tuesday, April 24, 2018. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Rick Tonini. The meeting was held at St. Matthews City Hall, 3940 Grandview Avenue. The following people were present:
 
MAYOR
Richard J. Tonini
 
CITY COUNCIL
Councilman Bernie Bowling – absent
Councilman Frank Flynn
Councilman Tim Holland  
Councilman Shaun McKiernan
Councilman Mary Jo Nay
Councilman Stuart Monohan – absent
Councilman Tony Weiter
Councilman Pat Wissing
 
OTHER OFFICIALS
Susan Clark – City Clerk
Carrie Ritsert – St. Matthews Attorney
Jack Ruf – St. Matthews Planning and Zoning Officer
Larry Cushman – Officer with the St. Matthews Police Department
 
OTHER ATTENDEES
Frank Tonini – Resident                                                                     
Gary Majors – Resident                                                                     
Mike Small – Resident                                                                       
Fred White – Resident                                                                       
Kelly Brothers – Manager of the Eline-St. Matthews Library                       
Kristina Garvey – Candidate for Judge
Alex Brotsky – Mobilite Representative
 
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was accomplished followed by the roll call vote of attendance.
 
MINUTES
A motion was made by Councilman Weiter to approve the minutes from the April 10, 2018 meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilman Nay.
 
Upon Voice Vote: (6-0) the motion carried. 
 
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Kristina Garvey, judicial candidate for Third Division of Jefferson County District Court, introduced herself to those present saying she is a former schoolteacher who also worked as the Domestic Violence Coordinator prior to running for this judicial seat.
 
PENDING BUSINESS
 
ORDINANCE 18-03     ACCEPTANCE OF BLENHEIM COURT                CARRIE RITSERT, ATTORNEY
                                       AS A PUBLIC ROADWAY
Ms. Ritsert summarized Ordinance 18-03 which had a first reading on April 10, 2018. The residential court was a private road because the developer never completed the paperwork to make it a public roadway. After many attempts to track down the developer, he was eventually found in Florida and the appropriate paperwork has now been completed. At this time it is ready to be accepted by the City of St. Matthews as a public road. Councilman Nay made a motion to accept Ordinance 18-03. The motion was seconded by Councilman McKiernan.
 
Upon Roll Call Vote: (6-0) the motion carried. Yes Votes: Councilmen McKiernan, Holland, Weiter, Nay, Wissing, and Flynn. No Votes: None. Absent: Councilmen Bowling and Monohan.
 
NEW BUSINESS
 
MUNICIPAL ORDER 18-10      EXTENSION OF SIGN                               CARRIE RITSERT, ATTORNEY
                                                     MORATORIUM TO MAY 31, 2018
Jack Ruf addressed the council members requesting an extension of the sign moratorium to May 31, 2018. Regulations from other municipalities vary widely and data is inconsistent. A demonstration of light intensities has been set for Thursday, April 26, 2018 for educational purposes. A main topic at the American Planning Association Spring Conference is this very subject and important factors may be gleaned from this presentation. Councilman Nay made a motion to accept MO 18-010 extending the sign moratorium to May 31, 2018. The motion was seconded by Councilman Weiter.
 
Upon Voice Vote: (6-0) the motion carried.
 
EXPENDITURES
Councilman Nay made a motion to approve the expenditures listed and have checks drawn on the city’s treasury in the total amount of $1,233,235.13. The motion was seconded by Councilman Wissing. The amount of expenditures this period included payments of $1,030,735.20 towards the construction of the expanded Eline/St. Matthews branch library and coordinating necessary improvements to City Hall.
 
Upon Roll Call Vote: (6-0) the motion carried. Yes Votes: Councilmen McKiernan, Holland, Weiter, Monohan, Nay, Wissing, and Flynn. No Votes: None.
 
COMMITTEE REPORTS

• Councilman Weiter asked that ways to regulate unsightly garbage not be forgotten and that is it is addressed in the near future.  

CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT
Attorney Ritsert relayed she is working on collection of delinquent property taxes and the one bank deposit tax collection.
 
MAYOR’S REPORT

• Mayor Tonini wanted to acknowledge Bill Nowak, a longtime resident of St. Matthews who recently witnessed a home break-in in progress. He called the St. Matthews Police Department and the suspect was apprehended. Mr. Nowak chose not to attend a council meeting, but his willingness to “get involved” was beneficial to his neighbors and our community. Thank you, Mr. Nowak, for being such an outstanding citizen.
• Additionally another person, Mr. Pedro Caesar, recently provided immediate assistance when a fire at Jamestown Apartments threatened the safety and lives of several people including small children. He scaled the balconies and handed children down to safety while the fire was raging. Kudos to Mr. Caesar.
• It is time to inform Rumpke if the City wants to take advantage of the one-year extension to the current garbage collection contract. Attorney Ritsert believes there is a statute that mandates the rates remain the same. She will follow-up with Rumpke on this matter.
• The Community Center apartment is now ready for occupancy. Decisions will be made shortly on this matter.
• The remodeling of 179 St. Matthews Avenue is coming along. Work as not yet commenced at 169 St. Matthews Avenue.
• The City may purchase a 12-15 passenger van to transport court-mandated volunteers.
• Mayor Tonini asked Alex Brotsky to speak to the council members regarding installing equipment to boost cell phone service. Mr. Brotsky said signal boosters could potentially be installed in right-of-ways and mostly on existing equipment. These signal boosters could be placed on the acorn type of street lights essentially serving as a topper. Mr. Brotsky relayed he can send pictures for the council members to review. Currently only Sprint customers would benefit from these boosters. Councilman Flynn asked how many of these boosters would be in St. Matthews. Mr. Brotsky responded he believes 6 would need to be installed in this area. No decision was made at that time.

ADJOURNMENT
Councilman Nay made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilman Weiter. Upon Voice Vote: (6-0) the motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m.
 
Respectfully submitted,         
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
Susan Clark – City Clerk
 
Richard Tonini – Mayor