June 13, 2017

CITY OF ST. MATTHEWS
Council Meeting Minutes
June 13, 2017
 
The regular meeting of the St. Matthews City Council was held on Tuesday, June 13, 2017. 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
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 – St. Matthews City Clerk/Treasurer
John Singler – St. Matthews Attorney
Norm Mayer – Chief of the St. Matthews Police
David Beyer – Asst. Chief, St. Matthews Police
Kenan Stratman – St. Matthews Public Works Director
 
OTHER ATTENDEES
Frank Tonini – Resident                                                          Martha Elson – Guest                                                
Patrick Chapman – Resident                                                      Garret Cull – Guest  
Fred White – Resident
Bill Seng – Chief of St. Matthews Fire District
John Wells – Resident
Billy Pfeister – Resident
Chris Johnson – Veterans Voices of KY
Michael Chesser – Chamber of St. Matthews
Kelly Brothers – Manager, Eline Library                         

The Pledge of Allegiance was accomplished following the roll call vote.
 
MINUTES
A motion was made by Councilman Nay to approve the minutes from the May 23, 2017 meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilman Holland. 
 
Upon Voice Vote: (7-0) the motion carried. Councilman Monohan was absent and unable to participate in the vote.    
 
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mr. Chris Johnson addressed the council members regarding funding a memorial for Vietnam veterans from Waggener High School and other veterans from the area. A picture of the proposed stone memorial was displayed. Mayor Tonini inquired if Waggener and JCPS were in support of the project. Mr. Johnson confirmed permission has been granted for the memorial to be on the school grounds. Mayor Tonini commented that placing a memorial at Brown Park may allow for more people to pay tribute to the fallen. Mr. Johnson responded the location can be discussed in more detail at another time. Mayor Tonini instructed Mr. Johnson and his friends, John Wells and Billy Pfeister, to complete a grant application for consideration. 
 
PENDING BUSINESS
 
ORDINANCE 17-07    DEDICATION OF STONEHENGE DRIVE                                      JOHN SINGLER
                                      TO THE CITY OF ST. MATTHEWS
                                      Second Reading
John Singler summarized Ordinance 17-07 accepting the dedication of Stonehenge Drive to the City of St. Matthews. Councilman Flynn made a motion to approve the summary second reading and to approve the adoption of this ordinance. The motion was seconded by Councilman Bowling.
 
Upon Roll Call Vote: (7-0) the motion carried. Yes Votes: Councilmen McKiernan, Holland, Weiter, Bowling, Nay, Wissing, and Flynn. No Votes: none. Councilman Monohan was absent and unable to participate in the vote. 
 
NEW BUSINESS

PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION TO MARTHA ELSON                                        MAYOR RICK TONINI
 
Mayor Rick Tonini asked Martha Elson and her son Garret Cull to come forward in order to be honored. Ms. Elson has been a reporter for 40 years with The Courier-Journal. During that time she has written numerous articles relating to St. Matthews. While there were times other people saw a situation differently than Martha, Mayor Tonini said he never doubted her dedication to telling the story. Ms. Elson accepted a proclamation naming it “Martha Elson Day” in St. Matthews and thanked the council members for their kind gesture.
 
MUNICIPAL ORDER 17-22   APPOINTMENT OF OFFICER WAYNE KAUFMAN         JOHN SINGLER
                                                  TO FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT
Mr. Singler summarized Municipal Order 17-22 moving Officer Larry “Wayne” Kaufman from a part-time position as an officer with the St. Matthews Police Department to a full-time position.  A motion was made by Councilman Mary Jo Nay to accept MO 17-22. The motion was seconded by Councilman Bernie Bowling.
 
Upon Roll Call Vote: (7-0) the motion carried. Councilman Monohan was absent and unable to participate in the vote.
 
REPORT ON SPEED HUMPS ON RIDGEWAY AVENUE                                                   KENAN STRATMAN
St. Matthews Public Works Director Kenan Stratman approached the council members in order to give an update on the recommendation of the implementation of speed humps on the 300 block of Ridgeway Avenue. A recap of the history of this situation is as follows. Residents have complained about speeding on the 300 block for Ridgeway Avenue for some time. A petition was circulated among the homeowners requesting speed humps. Approximately 99% of the homeowners signed the petition. A speed study was completed by Traffic Engineer Jim Birch. 
 
Speeds recorded in that study were consistent with the implementation of speed humps. The findings were presented to the council and a vote was taken. Speed humps were approved for implementation. Subsequently, Fire Chief Bill Seng raised an objection due to the wear and tear the speed humps would have on fire trucks, and the possible reduction of response times and patient comfort in the back of an ambulance. St. Matthews Public Works Director Kenan Stratman said Ridgeway Avenue is not considered an emergency route as designated by the LOJIC system with Louisville Metro government. Independent studies have revealed speed humps only add approximately no more than 10 seconds per speed hump to the arrival time.  While patient care is important, not all patients will be affected by the speed humps, but the safety of all people including children on Ridgeway Avenue are potentially at risk by speeding cars. Councilman Mary Jo Nay made a motion to move forward with the implementation of speed humps. The motion was seconded by Councilman Weiter. 
 
Upon Vote: (6-1) the motion carried. Yes Votes: Councilmen McKiernan, Holland, Weiter, Bowling, Nay, and Wissing. No Vote: Councilman Flynn. Councilman Monohan was absent and unable to participate in the vote.
 
ORDINANCE 17-08               2017-2018 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET                                      JOHN SINGLER
                                                 First Reading
Mayor Tonini distributed copies of the proposed 2017-2018 budget. Capital projects include expanding the playground at Brown Park allowing for a portion to be dedicated to younger children and another portion for older children. A permanent bathroom would be added to Brown Park and a correction of the pavers at the pavilion. Public Works would purchase a bucket truck in order to pull limbs down from trees. Additional sidewalks would be included up to $150,000, as well as $70,000 for drainage. The library addition has $6,500,000 included and an additional $2,000,000 for City Hall renovations. Councilman Weiter made a motion to accept this as first reading of Ordinance 17-08. The motion was seconded by Councilman Bowling. 
 
Upon Voice Vote: (7-0) the motion carried.
 
EXPENDITURES
Councilman Bowling made a motion to approve the expenditures listed and have checks drawn on the city’s treasury in the total amount of $215,945.26. The list of bills incorrectly lists expenses in the amount of $304,635.68. An invoice was listed twice inadvertently by Susan Clark and therefore will be removed. The motion was seconded by Councilman Flynn. 
 
Upon Roll Call Vote: (7-0) the motion carried. Yes Votes: Councilmen McKiernan, Weiter, Holland, Bowling, Nay, Wissing, and Flynn. No Votes: none. Councilman Monohan was absent and unable to participate in the vote.
 
COMMITTEE REPORTS

• Councilman McKiernan stated he felt the budget preparation process was very professional and well done.
• Councilman Bowling relayed all of the new officers are doing well. Officer Armstrong is attending community meetings as invited. The Police Department is going to participate in the National Night Out program to be held on August 1, 2017. Police officers will have 100 bike helmets that they will be giving away when the need arises.
• Councilman Nay inquired about the status of I-Leads. It was learned the ball is still in Louisville Metro’s court.   
• Councilman Flynn said he is anticipating the property and casualty insurance quotes to be in hand soon.

 
CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT
Attorney John Singler said there were no changes to any standing litigation at this time
 
MAYOR’S REPORT
Mayor Tonini relayed he had no additional comments. 
 
ADJOURNMENT
Councilman Bowling made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilman Weiter.
 
Upon Voice Vote: (7-0) the motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m. Councilman Monohan was absent and unable to participate in the vote.
 
Respectfully submitted,
 
Susan Clark – City Clerk
 
Mayor Richard Tonini