Council tackles busy agenda at meeting

City officials tackled a lengthy agenda at the most recent Wickliffe City Council meeting.

“Mayor Barbish presented an updated draft of the 2018 budget. He did not make any updates on the revenue portion. He mentioned potentially limiting the number of times the service department would go around the city to collect leaves this fall for free.”

City officials tackled a lengthy agenda at the most recent Wickliffe City Council meeting.

For the first time in 11 years, three new fulltime firefighters were sworn in. Mayor John Barbish welcomed Allen J. Intihar,Joseph A. Ihlenfield and Joseph M. Pavilonis to the department on Feb. 26.

The city was able to hire the new firefighters as a result of receiving the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) Grant.

“It took a team to get that grant,” Fire Chief James Powers said. “This is a big deal for us. It’s going to make a significant difference in our department and we’re all pretty excited about it.”

In addition to strengthening safety forces, revitalization and economic development continues to be another one of the mayor’s top priorities.

Barbish plans to clean and remodel the Provo House at 28855 Euclid Ave. with the help of volunteers from Habitat for Humanity. Currently two baseball

— Council President Edward Levon

leagues occupy the space. Once cleaned up, Barbish hopes to also use that facility to house other community nonprofit organizations.

Since the current economic development director’s contract soon will expire and will not be renewed, the city continues exploring options for his replacement.

Council recently authorized Barbish to send out a request for proposals for an economic development firm. Additionally, Lake County Ohio Port and Economic Development Authority Executive Director Mark Rantala and Lake County Commissioner Jerry Cirino suggested the possibility of Wickliffe sharing an economic development director with Willowick and Kirtland. The shared economic development agreement would be through the county.

“The cost of such a person would range from $30,000 to $35,000 per year, ” said Councilman Matthew Jaworski. “That would include salary and all benefits. The Port Authority said they would not make any money on the deal. It will be a twoyear commitment.”

That item will remain in committee to be further discussed.

The proposed budget also remains in the Finance Committee.

“Mayor Barbish presented an updated draft of the 2018 budget,” Council President Edward Levon said. “He did not make any updates on the revenue portion. He mentioned potentially limiting the number of times the service department would go around the city to collect leaves this fall for free.”

Wickliffe resident Erika Corrigan was not in favor of decreasing the curbside leaf pickup service.

Corrigan said the longer that leaves will be left in the tree lawn, the more difficult it will be to keep the neighborhood clean.

“As a resident, I would like to see it stay the way it is or eliminate it completely,” she said.

The budget has not been finalized.

Meanwhile the city is still considering BoardDocs, an electronic governance solution.

Barbish provided a few highlights of the paperless-meeting software:

• It only takes five to 10 minutes to do the timestamping.

• It can be edited in real time.

• Council members can vote automatically on their device.

• The directors can upload their monthly reports. • It will be a cost saving. “I believe its something we should take the next steps to discuss, if we were to do this,” he said.

This item currently remains in committee and will be presented to council at a future meeting.

The next Wickliffe City Council meeting will be at 7 p.m. March 12.