EAST LIVERPOOL — A city council committee is recommending suspending the board of public utilities

The East Liverpool City Council’s Refuse and Recycling/Public Utilities/Franchise Committee met with other council members on Monday prior to the meeting of the East Liverpool City Council to continue discussions on what to do with the city’s water department and BPU, which is currently not meeting due to a lack of board members.

After listening to what administration and other council members had to say on the matter, the committee a voted to recommend that the matter of suspending the BPU be sent for a vote by the full council.

Pending the drafting of legislation for the matter, a special council meeting is tentatively scheduled for May 18, at which time council would vote on the issue.

City Law Director Charles Payne said he is not sure on the matter of suspending the board and needs to look into whether suspension of a public board is possible or if the council would need to vote to abolish the board and then later vote to bring the board back.

Council is wanting to move quickly on the matter, due to the board with its lack of members being unable to meet or vote on critical matters.

Utilities Manager Tim Clark told the committee that the city is currently stalled on a couple of projects, and a decision needs to be made. He noted that he can handle change orders, but other matters, which require a vote from the board, are paralyzed.

If the council approves the suspension or disbanding of the board, authority granted to the board would fall on the city’s Safety Services Director Bill Jones who would be able to make decisions without a board vote or go directly to council for matters that would need a vote for an approval.

The committee and along with the other council members agreed that appointing board members would take time and and action needs to be taken immediately on some matters and the city doesn’t have the time it would take to get the board operational again to make these decisions.

East Liverpool resident Linda Zigler told committee members during the meeting that she is qualified and willing to sit on the board.

To have the board functioning requires the appointment of at least two more qualified board members who understand how the city’s utilities function.

Utilities Committee and Council Member Jeff Kreefer said that he has no problem with putting the board back in place when new board members are appointed.

The appointment of board members is the sole discretion of the city’s mayor Bobby Smith.

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