By EVELYN LONG
Tim Abraham and Steve Burton, newly elected to Cardington’s village council, were given the oath of office by Mayor Susie Peyton before the first meeting of the year began on Jan. 4. John Nippert was elected president pro-tem of council.
Action taken by council included the adoption of a standard operating procedure for body worn cameras for the Police Department for the village. Established was the number of Deputy Marshals authorized within the Cardington Police Department for the calendar year 2016 as one full time officer to serve as village marshal/police chief; four additional full time deputy marshals/patrolman and six additional part time positions. The resolution also calls for an auxiliary force as authorized in a number not to exceed 15 officers.
Council established the number of firefighters to be employed or authorized to serve as members of the Cardington Fire Department for 2016 to be no more than 35 volunteer fire fighting personnel to be paid for fighting duties as authorized by the annual village salary ordinance and the Cardington Volunteer Fire Department regulations. The village is also to employ a Fire Chief and an assistant fire chief on a part time basis.
Council accepted the resignation of Gus Peyton from the Planning and Zoning Committee effective Jan. 4. Approved was the mayor’s recommendation of the appointment of Sherry Graham to the Planning and Zoning Committee effective Jan. 4. The resignation of Noah R. Kelley from the position of part time police officer was accepted.
Lt. James Wallace reported the police department had taken 91 calls for service in December compared to 73 at the same time last year. He said a total of 1055 calls were taken for service in 2015 and 1110 were taken at this same time last year.
Village Administrator Danny Wood reported the meter that was sent for testing came back with accurate results. Wood said the response received from the Ohio Department of Transportation regarding the safety issues at Gilead Street and East Main Street concluded that after researching historical accident activity in this area, it was determined that nothing needs to be done regarding safety at this intersection at this time.
Wood said R A Bores had completed the installation of the water line and all lines are in and all hook ups have been made including the new 8-inch main to Bantry from Center Street. The Legion Park Rest rooms have been winterized.
Council approved payment of bills totaling $33,580. Fiscal Officer Deb Fry said the auditors told her they hope to have the audit completed before year’s end.
The semi-annual meeting with the Cardington Township Trustees (Doug Heacock, Loren Radel and Don Lee) and the Glendale Union Cemetery ( Scott Carsner, Heacock- township representative-and Morris, village council representative) was held prior to the opening of regular council meeting. Vicki Ullom, fiscal officer with the Glendale Union Cemetery, submitted the 2016 appropriations of $190,628.94, which were approved by all three bodies. Also present was Darla Hardwick, fiscal officer with the township trustees.
At the conclusion of the regular village council meeting, members entered into a 15 minute executive session based on ORC 121.22 (G)(1) Returning to regular session, they accepted the letter of retirement from council member Bill Christian effective Feb. 1.
Evelyn Long is a correspondent with the Morrow County Sentinel and can be reached at [email protected].
