October 10, 2017

CITY OF ST. MATTHEWS
Council Meeting Minutes
October 10, 2017
 
The regular meeting of the St. Matthews City Council was held on Tuesday, October 10, 2017.  The meeting was called to order at 7:02 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  
Councilman Tony Weiter
Councilman Pat Wissing
 
OTHER OFFICIALS
Susan Clark – City Clerk
Jack Ruf – St. Matthews Planning Officer
John Singler – St. Matthews Attorney
 
OTHER ATTENDEES
Ray Barrow – Resident                                                                        David Gray – Baptist Health  
Frank Tonini – Resident                                                                      Clint Kahoe – Baptist Health
Patrick Chapman – Resident                                                              John Talbott – Attorney
Fred White – Resident
Gary Major – Resident
Teresa Cassidy – Norbourne Estates
Abagail, Vivi, and Chase Wissing – Residents
Kelly Brothers – Manager of the Eline Library
Cory Zilisch – Director, Westport Middle School Band
 
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
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 September 26, 2017 meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilman Weiter.
 
Upon Voice Vote: (8-0) the motion carried. 
 
A motion was made by Councilman Nay to approve the minutes from the September 26, 2017 Ad Valorem Tax Public Hearing. The motion was seconded by Councilman Bowling.
 
Upon Voice Vote: (8-0) the motion carried. 
 
PUBLIC COMMENTS
There was no one from the audience choose to speak at that time.     
 
NEW BUSINESS
 
MUNICIPAL ORDER 17-34      AMENDMENTS TO SIGN                      JOHN SINGLER, ATTORNEY
                                                     PACKAGE FOR BAPTIST HEALTH
Mayor Tonini gave a brief history relating this topic. A request for way-finding signs was presented to the council members in 2016 by Baptist Health. The proposal presented fairly drastic changes to the sign heights on the campus. Council members had a tie vote which resulted in the mayor casting the deciding vote. The municipal order was approved but with alterations related to lower sign heights. The current request (MO 17-34) is requesting for sign heights to be lower than originally requested but higher than what was approved in 2016.   Councilman Weiter asked if any council person has a business interest with Baptist Health that they need to disclose. No council member came forward.  Councilman Nay distributed copies of pictures she took today of way-finding signs at the Baptist Health in LaGrange. The signs were verified by Mr. Clint Kahoe of Baptist Health to be 15 feet in height. Councilman Nay stated the pictures clearly showed that the secondary vehicular directional signs at the LaGrange Campus were excessively tall. It was Councilman Nay’s opinion this particular sign size not require enlargement and 1 foot higher than the sign requested in MO 17-34. Councilman Nay made a motion to accept MO 17-34 for all content less the 16 foot sign request therefore leaving the maximum height for the secondary vehicular directional sign at the current 9 feet 3 inches.  The motion did not receive a second motion and therefore died. Councilman Flynn made a motion to accept MO 17-34 as it is currently written. The motion was seconded by Councilman Monohan.
 
Upon Roll Call Vote: the motion carried (6-2). Yes Votes: Councilmen Flynn, Wissing, Bowling, Monohan, Holland, and McKiernan. No Votes: Councilmen Nay and Weiter.
 
GRANT FUNDING APPLICATION REQUESTS
Beginning with the 2017-2018 Fiscal Year, any group interested in receiving support from public monies held by the City of St. Matthews must submit an application. A review of the applications was made at that time.
 
Westport Middle School Electric Orchestra – requested amount $15,000
Orchestra Director Cory Zilisch reported the program has expanded from 45 students to 200 students. The group was invited to perform at the Governor’s Christmas Tree Light ceremony in Frankfort and the St. Matthews Community Festival along with several other invitations. They have also been invited to perform for the National String Instrument Conference in Atlanta, GA in 2018. Councilman Wissing suggested the group perform at the grand opening ceremony of the newly expanded library when it opens in about 16 months. Mayor Tonini inquired if a request has been made for additional funding from JCPS. Mr. Zilisch responding affirmatively but money granted to music programs is distributed evenly among schools that offer music programs. The City of Plantation contributed $4,600 and the City of Graymoor-Devondale contributed $3,000. The City of Lyndon contributed $10,000. Councilman Flynn made a motion to donate $15,000 as requested on the application. The motion was seconded by Councilman Nay. 
 
Upon Vote: (8-0) the motion carried. Yes Votes: Councilmen Flynn, Wissing, Nay, Bowling, Monohan, Weiter, Holland, and McKiernan. No Votes: None.

Chamber of St. Matthews – requested amount $74,000
Discussion followed about the services the city provides to the Chamber. Office space and utilities are provided at City Hall at no charge. Councilman Wissing suggested placing a value of
Office space and utilities after the remodeling has been completed. The Chamber handles the logistics for the City at the following events: Community/Street Festival, Halloween in Brown Park, and Light-Up St. Matthews. Councilman Bowling made a motion to fund the Chamber of St. Matthews in fiscal year 2017-2018 in the amount of $74,000 which is to be disbursed quarterly in the amount of $18,500. The motion was seconded by Councilman Wissing. 
 
Upon Voice Vote: (7-0) the motion carried. Councilman McKiernan was absent and unable to participate in the vote.
 
Senior Care Experts – requested amount $40,000
Councilman Weiter mentioned past support totaled $36,000. He then made a motion to support Senior Care Experts in the fiscal year 2017-2018 in the amount of $36,000. The motion was seconded by Councilman Wissing.
 
Upon Vote: (7-0) the motion carried. Councilman McKiernan was absent and unable to participate in the vote.
 
St. Matthews Area Ministries – requested amount $20,000
Councilman Nay relayed the current support is $15,000. She then made a motion to support St. MAM’s in fiscal year 2017-2018 in the amount of $15,000. The motion was seconded by Councilman Monohan.
 
Upon Voice Vote: (7-0) the motion carried. Councilman McKiernan was absent and unable to participate in the vote.
 
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 $215,554.76. The motion was seconded by Councilman Nay.
 
Upon Roll Call Vote: (7-0) the motion carried. Yes Votes: Councilmen Flynn, Wissing, Nay, Bowling, Monohan, Weiter, Holland, and Weiter. No Votes: None. Councilman McKiernan was absent and unable to participate in the vote.
 
COMMITTEE REPORTS

• Councilman Monohan stated for the record no money for special projects has been spent on parks this fiscal year to date and in last fiscal year. That will change however with the addition of permanent restrooms at Brown Park and the playground expansion.   
• Councilman Bowling said interviews are being held for the position of Chief of Police. No timeframe has been identified for appointing the replacement of Chief Norm Mayer. The Christmas traffic plan and mall details are being organized.
• Councilman Nay mentioned the November newsletters should be in homes as early as Wednesday of this week.

CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT
Attorney John Singler stated revenue from the bank franchise tax should be in the neighborhood of $260,000. Letters and invoices will in the mail this week. Also a review of the cable franchise agreement states an office is required to have retail space reasonably convenient to the residents and business owners of St. Matthews. Ellen Call, Spectrum Government Affairs Specialist, said recently at another meeting that the remodeling of the Spectrum Retail Office on Hubbards Lane indicates there are no plans to move that office.
 
MAYOR’S REPORT
Mayor Tonini gave the St. Matthews Public Works report:

• The RFQ (Request for Quote) for the design work on the permanent restrooms at Brown Park have been written.
• Brown Park is being spruced up in anticipation of the Brown Park festivals.
• The groundbreaking ceremony for the library edition at City Hall is scheduled for October 20 at 1:30 p.m.
• Trucks are being readied for leaf pick-up, which begins on October 31, 2017.

Mayor Tonini’s report:

• Caucus meeting will be held Tuesday, October 17 at 5:00 p.m. to discuss art for the new library and expansion of the St. Matthews Animal Hospital.

ADJOURNMENT
Councilman Weiter made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilman Monohan. Upon Voice Vote: (7-0) the motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m. Councilman McKiernan was absent and unable to participate in the vote.
 
Respectfully submitted,
 
 
Susan Clark – City Clerk
 
Richard Tonini – Mayor