ASHTABULA — Newly appointed City Council President Rodger Altier wasted no time chiding the city manager over what he saw as a violation of the process of local government.
The scolding came at the start of Monday night’s precouncil meeting regarding Lake Erie Real Estate’s sign. The real-estate office, at 718-B Lake Ave., is in a building owned by Clarence Metcalf of Ashtabula. It also houses the Ashtabula Harbor post office.
Altier charges that City Manager Anthony Cantagallo allowed Metcalf to erect the real-estate company’s sign after the architectural review board ordered it to come down because it did not conform with Harbor Historic District regulations regarding signage.
“The process was not followed, and it’s up to council and the city manager to enforce this,” Altier said. “One citizen said, ‘I’ll do what I want.’
“You can’t allow (that).”
Cantagallo said the Lake Erie Real Estate owner will be moving out within 60 days, so he allowed (Metcalf) to erect the sign. The city manager said the building is not historic.
“Tell him to take down the sign,” Altier said.
Jerry Austin, owner of Lake Erie Real Estate, is moving his business to Willoughby.
“(The sign issue) is a good reason not to do business in Ashtabula,” Austin said.
Ward 4 Councilwoman Julie Lattimer said a compromise should have been undertaken, perhaps with a letter saying, “Let’s work this out.”
In other business:
n Ward 1 Councilman Joseph Rose requested additional police patrols in the Ashtabula Harbor neighborhood in response to a recent rash of vandalism;
n Rose presented City Cab Co. with a resolution of appreciation for providing free rides to residents who wanted to go to last month’s Mount Carmel Festival; and
n City Council approved Cantagallo’s request to enter into an agreement with Union Industrial Contractors of Ashtabula as the low bidder to repair the Columbus Avenue Bridge.
Union Industrial bid $76,975 to repair the bridge, and the money will come from the city’s street improvements fund. Cantagallo said he hopes to have the bridge open by the end of October.
The cost to replace the bridge tops $600,000. Cantagallo said Union Industrial can repair it for considerably less. In the meantime, slabs of sandstone, and signs warning of a dangerous closed bridge, block Columbus Avenue just north of Mount Carmel Church, which is located at 1200 E. 21st St.
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