Village of Edgerton Council Meeting Minutes
Monday, January 4, 2021 at 7:00 PM
- Mayor Day called the meeting to order at 7:00PM with the Pledge of Allegiance and Prayer.
- Y – Yes, N – No, A – Abstain, Abs – Absent
- Roll Call:
|
Muehlfeld, Roger |
Y |
|
VanAusdale, Leslie |
Y |
|
Thiel, Dean |
Y |
|
Wallace, Chuck |
Y |
|
Gruver, Jason |
Y |
|
Karnes, Tom |
Y |
6 Members Present
Other Village Representatives Present:
- Denise Knecht – Fiscal Officer
- Amanda Herman – Administrative Assistant
Media Present:
- Cindy Thiel, The Edgerton Earth
- Lucas Bechtol, The Bryan Times
Public Present:
- Dawn Fitzcharles
- Kennedy Stuut
Election of 2021 President Pro Tempore of Edgerton Village Council: Councilman Roger Muehlfeld nominated Jason Gruver and Councilman Chuck Wallace nominated Tom Karnes for 2021 Council President Pro Tempore. Roger Muehlfeld motioned to close nominations.
- Motion to close nominations for Council President Pro Tempore of Edgerton Village Council:
|
Muehlfeld, Roger |
Y MOTION |
|
VanAusdale, Leslie |
Y |
|
Thiel, Dean |
Y 2ND |
|
Wallace, Chuck |
Y |
|
Gruver, Jason |
Y |
|
Karnes, Tom |
Y |
Motion PASSES 6-0
Council members voted. Mayor Day tallied and Gruver won 4 votes to 2. Mayor Day asked Councilman Gruver if he would accept the nomination of 2021 Council President Pro Tempore. Gruver said yes. Vote was taken.
- Motion to name Jason Gruver as 2021 Council President Pro Tempore of Edgerton Village Council:
|
Muehlfeld, Roger |
Y |
|
VanAusdale, Leslie |
Y MOTION |
|
Thiel, Dean |
Y 2ND |
|
Wallace, Chuck |
Y |
|
Gruver, Jason |
Y |
|
Karnes, Tom |
Y |
Motion PASSES 6-0
- Motion to Approve Meeting Minutes from 12.21.20 :
|
Muehlfeld, Roger |
Y |
|
VanAusdale, Leslie |
Y |
|
Thiel, Dean |
Y MOTION |
|
Wallace, Chuck |
Y |
|
Gruver, Jason |
Y 2ND |
|
Karnes, Tom |
Y |
Motion PASSES 6-0
- Motion to Approve Special Meeting Minutes from 12.28.20 :
|
Muehlfeld, Roger |
Y |
|
VanAusdale, Leslie |
Y MOTION |
|
Thiel, Dean |
Y 2ND |
|
Wallace, Chuck |
Y |
|
Gruver, Jason |
Y |
|
Karnes, Tom |
Y |
Motion PASSES 6-0
Discussion: This Ordinance will repeal Ordinance No 920. The Village will no longer employ a solicitor as legal counsel. Going forward legal representation will be provided by a Law Director through a contractual agreement. The following Ordinance will abolish any prior legislation stating the representative will serve as an employee. VanAusdale asked why this has to be done as an emergency. Knecht responded that after communication with a legal consultant it was determined best practice to use emergency language to allow for immediate passage.
VILLAGE OF EDGERTON ORDINANCE NO 1071
AN ORDIANCE REPEALING ORDINANCE NUMBER 920 AND CHAPTER 137 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF EDGERTON, OHIO AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
- Motion to suspend the rules on Ordinance No 1071:
|
Muehlfeld, Roger |
Y 2ND |
|
VanAusdale, Leslie |
Y |
|
Thiel, Dean |
Y |
|
Wallace, Chuck |
Y |
|
Gruver, Jason |
Y MOTION |
|
Karnes, Tom |
Y |
Motion PASSES 6-0
- Motion to pass and adopt Ordinance No 1071 as an emergency:
|
Muehlfeld, Roger |
Y 2ND |
|
VanAusdale, Leslie |
Y |
|
Thiel, Dean |
Y |
|
Wallace, Chuck |
Y MOTION |
|
Gruver, Jason |
Y |
|
Karnes, Tom |
Y |
Motion PASSES 6-0
CONTRACT OF SOLICITOR FOR LEGAL REPRESENTATION:
Mayor Day presented a proposal to Council that was received from Chris Walker at Richards and Walker, Ltd. The Mayor did mention that he noticed there was previously a spending cap at $30,000 per year for services and that should be added before signed. Chuck Wallace asked if this proposal came directly from Mr Walker. Day responded yes, it is the same proposal he has presented to other Village’s that he is solicitor for.
- Motion to approve contract for legal representation with Richards and Walker, LTD adding language that services will not exceed $30,000 per year without Council approval:
|
Muehlfeld, Roger |
Y |
|
VanAusdale, Leslie |
Y |
|
Thiel, Dean |
Y MOTION |
|
Wallace, Chuck |
Y |
|
Gruver, Jason |
Y |
|
Karnes, Tom |
Y 2ND |
Motion PASSES 6-0
After the vote, Mayor Day informed Council that the meeting day will have to be adjusted from Monday’s to Tuesday’s. It will continue to be 1st and 3rd week of the month and if Council would like to meet earlier now is the time to change it. After discussion it was decided to continue with meeting at 7pm in order to accommodate summer work schedules. A new Council meeting calendar will be drawn up and provided to Council for approval at the next meeting. An announcement was made that the next meeting will be on TUESDAY, January 19th, 2021 @ 7pm. Also there will be a records commission meeting prior to the regular council meeting at 6:50pm.
Three years ago Mayor Day attended a new Council person seminar and was very impressed with the speaker and the information that he received. He has reached out to this gentleman and requested a GoTo meeting be set up with current Council members to discuss Council related topics and provide any insight and answers to questions Council may have. During the discussion, it was mentioned that it may be better to meet in person. Mayor Day obliged. A Special Meeting will be called after a date is determined.
- Motion to pay bills 01.04.21:
|
Muehlfeld, Roger |
Y MOTION |
|
VanAusdale, Leslie |
Y |
|
Thiel, Dean |
Y |
|
Wallace, Chuck |
Y |
|
Gruver, Jason |
Y 2ND |
|
Karnes, Tom |
Y |
Motion PASSES 6-0
Fiscal Officer Update by Denise Knecht:
- December 2020 Financials are balanced and reconciled but have not yet been sent for review. We have transitioned from year 2020 into 2021 after a lot of hours, and will have final numbers on where the Village ended the year at the next meeting.
VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR CANDIDATE: Mayor Day passed out a recommendation letter presenting Dawn Fitzcharles to be the new Village Administrator. He went on to say the value Dawn brought to the Village of Edgerton previously, may not have been fully realized until after she left 3 years ago. So with great pleasure, Mayor Day is excited for this opportunity to welcome Dawn “home.” Day is looking for a motion by Council to approve the hire of Dawn Fitzcharles as Village Administrator.
- Motion to appoint Dawn Fitzcharles as Village Administrator per employment agreement:
|
Muehlfeld, Roger |
Y 2ND |
|
VanAusdale, Leslie |
Y |
|
Thiel, Dean |
Y |
|
Wallace, Chuck |
Y |
|
Gruver, Jason |
Y MOTION |
|
Karnes, Tom |
Y |
Motion PASSES 6-0
At this point Day suggested waiving Council discussion until the proper people are in place. If anyone has anything they want to email to Bob or Denise, they can pass it on appropriately. The intention is to end a little early this evening and allow interaction with the new Village Administrator.
- Motion to adjourn at 7:28 PM:
|
Muehlfeld, Roger |
Y |
|
VanAusdale, Leslie |
Y |
|
Thiel, Dean |
Y |
|
Wallace, Chuck |
Y 2ND |
|
Gruver, Jason |
Y |
|
Karnes, Tom |
Y MOTION |
Motion PASSES 6-0