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New committee will aid Lisbon’s downtown revitalization

LISBON — The pieces are starting to fall into place for Mayor Joe Morenz’s downtown revitalization plan.

The five people Morenz recommended for appointment to the new architectural and historic review board (AHRB) were approved by Village Council at this week’s meeting.

Chosen were local preservationist Stevie Halverstadt, Lisbon Area Chamber of Commerce representative Doc Roberts, Gene Krotky from the Lisbon Historical Society, resident Patricia Beal and retired teacher John Deichler. They were chosen for the five-member AHRB from among seven applicants.

The AHRB is allowed under the village zoning code but there had never been one in place until Morenz decided to create one as part of his plan to revitalize the downtown business district. The AHRB would assist in that goal by reviewing proposed plans to demolish historic buildings located within the downtown, with the authority to stop such actions under certain conditions.

Council President Roger Gallo suggested the other two applicants who were not appointed — Kim Halverstadt and Cathy Brownfield — be considered for appointment to the village planning commission, which is another board apparently allowed by the zoning code but never created.

In related news, Morenz reported five people had applied for the vacant zoning inspector job: rental property owner Wayne Wallace, downtown building owner Jerry Mimna, Lisbon police dispatcher Lisa Gray, former county plumbing inspector Joe Csonka and Zach Barkley of Salem.

A council personnel committee meeting was scheduled for 8 a.m. May 30 to review the applications. Board of Zoning Appeals member Peter Wilson asked that he and other interested BZA members be allowed to sit in on the meeting, and Councilman Jeff Snyder said they had no objection.

The fire department received permission to spend up to $3,500 if necessary to have its air tanks and fire trucks undergo annual inspections and make necessary repairs to comply with safety regulations. Fire Chief Paul Gresh Jr. noted the one truck has a significant leak in a water tank.

“The village is really going to have to look at replacing that truck. It’s 34 years old,” he said.

“We’re scraping along as it is, so it would have to be a property tax,” Snyder replied.

Gresh said an option would be to have council ask village voters to approve a property tax specifically for replacing a truck and perhaps ask Center and Elkrun townships — which contract with Lisbon for fire services — to consider doing likewise.

“It would save everyone money if we did it that way,” he said.

Council also met behind closed doors for more than 30 minutes after Councilwoman Cheryl Mills asked for the executive session to discuss possible disciplinary action against an employee. No action was taken.

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