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LEETONIA -- Village council held first readings on an ordinance enacting the proposed changes to the village's payroll ordinance in its meeting May 17.
The rate increases, first discussed in council's May 3 meeting to address ongoing staffing issues within the village, would see the utility and street departments' annual labor expenses rise by approximately $14,000 and $21,000, respectively, as pay rates for all positions increase.
At that meeting Fiscal Officer Nick Mistovich said that thus far in 2023 the village had paid roughly $25,000 to JCM Construction for equipment services that hiring a sufficiently skilled equipment operator could eliminate, thereby offsetting the cost of the labor expense increases in savings on outside contracting.
The ordinance will require two more readings before it can go into effect, unless council elects to give the ordinance both its second and third readings in its next meeting for passage with the emergency clause.
Other personnel matters approved included the hire of Joshua Rosa as a reserve police officer and Sam Hess as a firefighter, effective May 17, and the purchase of two sets of firefighter's equipment for approximately $9,800.
Mayor Kevin Siembida announced that saw cuts had been completed for the Walnut Road repaving project and that once contractors became available notices would be issued to residents and concrete work would begin. Siembida also announced the village was seeking quotes for work on Spruce Street, with plans to grind and repave the road from Columbia Street to Pearl Street, and to fill holes and seal the road from Pearl Street to Anglemyer Street.
Nuisance properties within the village were also discussed, with Councilwoman Sue Strobel questioning at what point in the handling of a nuisance property can citations and fines for non-compliance begin to be issued. Solicitor Abbey Minamyer said that as the village no longer maintained a mayor's court, all cases have to receive due process at the Columbiana County Municipal Court prior to the issuing of any fines. Minamyer also said that while pursuing these properties can be problematic due to the village's lack of a housing department, if the property has any sort of standing health code violations, remediation could be pursued through the Columbiana County Health Department instead.
Village council will meet next at 6:30 p.m. June 7.