ASHTABULA — Residents will have the opportunity to decide if they want to renew the city’s 1.8 percent income tax for the next three years, come May.
City Council unanimously voted at Monday night’s regular meeting to place the measure on the May 4 ballot.
The city’s 1.8 percent income tax rate has stood for more than 25 years, and it is projected to bring $6.1 million into city’s coffers, City Auditor Michael Zullo said.
The tax collection would take effect Jan. 1, 2011, and end Dec. 31, 2013, the ordinance shows.
The city will use the money “for the purpose of providing police and fire protection, paying the cost of public improvements and other operations of the city of Ashtabula,” the resolution said.
Council’s application for the ballot measure is due to the Ashtabula County Board of Elections by Feb. 18.
The Feb. 15 regular council meeting has been moved to Feb. 16 for the observance of Presidents’ Day.
In other business, Ward 3 Councilwoman Ann Stranman reported she discovered the city charter dictates that the systems analyst position should not be under the control of council, but rather, the city manager should be her boss.
“We need to do something to correct it,” she said.
City Solicitor Michael Franklin said council has not passed a payroll ordinance because of the 2010 budget woes.
“When council creates its new payroll ordinance, it would be good time to reorganize where her job goes,” he said. “Or, council can amend legislation that the position goes under the manager.”
Vice President Betty Kist said council definitely wants to keep the systems analyst position, now filled by Charlene Pfouts, a long-time city employee.
Franklin said council can not create, fill and administer a position.
“We don’t have to do it right away,” Kist said.
She then suggested making Zullo the system analyst’s boss, instead of the city manager.
Franklin warned Kist was “on a slippery slope” and “why not put the police chief under the auditor, too?”
President Charles Brockway suggested the matter be turned over to the finance and ordinance committee for further discussion.
Stranman said she didn’t want the issue to die.
“We are violating the charter,” she said.
Ward 2 Councilman August Pugliese asked City Manager Anthony Cantagallo why he had Stranman bring this up.
Cantagallo said he did not ask her to do anything.
Stranman said Cantagallo had nothing to do with it. She heard about it at the Dec. 2 council meeting, she said.
Pugliese said, “Since we are going by the charter, what about purchase orders?”
Pugliese was referring to council’s past complaints with the city manager’s spending without first filling out a purchase order.
Franklin said, “If you find the words ‘purchase order’ in the charter, let me know.”
Franklin then reiterated his statement that council can create a position, but the city manager must supervise it.
Council then moved on to other matters.
Local News
City residents to vote on income tax renewal
- Local News
-
-
Conneaut’s development headquarters takes shape
A small building two blocks from Lake Erie could become Conneaut’s economic development headquarters before the start of summer.
-
Sheriff’s detectives net two active meth labs
Acting on a tip, Ashtabula County Sheriff’s detectives and deputies uncovered an active methamphetamine lab Friday afternoon, according to Lt. Van Robison.
-
Former Ashtabula resident killed in car crash Tuesday
Ashley N. Penwell, 22, formerly of East Fourth St., Ashtabula, was pronounced dead at the scene of a Tuesday car crash on Charleston Pike Road in Chillicothe.
-
Ashtabula County is near top in 2011 bear sightings
Ashtabula County finished second in the number of black bear sightings reported in Ohio last year, according to a report from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife.
-
Break-in results in felony charges
A Conneaut man faces two felony charges stemming from a break-in at a vacant Cleveland Court house earlier this week, according to Conneaut Municipal Court records.
-
Conneaut Middle School’s Goodwill drive big success
Students and staff at Conneaut Middle School responded in a big way to a plea for donations issued late last month by Goodwill Industries of Ashtabula.
-
ACMC teams up with Goodwill on Valentine’s Day
This Valentine’s Day, area residents are encouraged to show their love by cleaning out their closets and heading over to Ashtabula County Medical Center.
-
Presses stopped: Updated with video
It was June 23, 1969.
-
Murder suspect kills self at mother’s grave
Madison Township police officers found the body of a murder suspect in the Alexander Harper Cemetery on Thursday afternoon, ending a day-long, multi-county manhunt.
-
Commissioners pay to get the business
Commissioners on Tuesday approved a $15,000 contract with Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County to provide business service representation on behalf of the county’s One-Stop job training center.
- More Local News Headlines
-
