Macedonia Councilman introduces resolution opposing Gov. DeWine’s executive orders
By Emily Chesnic
The City of Macedonia is starting the new year with an approved budget – a document showing the city’s anticipated expenditures and revenues for 2021.
After months of work on the fiscal plan, City Council officially adopted it at the Dec. 10 regular meeting – the last Council meeting of 2020.
Finance Director John Veres said beginning a new year with a full budget “shows proper planning” on the city’s part.
He said Macedonia’s 2021 budget is much like the budget for 2020. The approved financial document shows the total amount budgeted for the new year is $28.1 million. There will be no major expenses for Macedonia next year, and the city is ending 2020 with a $2.7 million carryover, he said.
Mayor Nick Molnar said he is grateful for the time and effort city officials and staff members put into the budgeting process.
“We have a good budget for hopefully a more pleasant 2021,” he said.
Council President Jan Tulley also expressed appreciation for the work done on the budget, especially by Veres.
Concerning 2020, she said, “It was an interesting year. We stayed focus on the residents to make things the best we can. All the departments have been so dedicated.”
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges that have accompanied it, Councilwoman Jessica Brandt said the city’s departments, mayor, directors, and staff continued to do the best they could all year through.
“It doesn’t feel like the city lost a step,” she said.
To save money for Macedonia in the new year, the city is continuing the Planned Capital Purchase Program, which Veres implemented in 2019. The program allows for purchase orders to be created over a set period to eventually make larger item purchases, he said. Council heard an update on the program at the meeting.
Additionally, at the regular meeting, Council approved amending the compensation schedule for the non-union city employees of Macedonia, with those employees receiving a 2 percent raise. The adopted measure changes the human resource manager’s title to director of human resources – a title Molnar said it is overdue.
“She does an amazing job,” the mayor said of Annette Smith.
The action increases her pay by about $5,000 a year, Council members confirmed.
As the holidays near, Molnar highlighted charitable work taking place in the city, thanking the police department for recently blessing one family in need with everything needed for a joyful Christmas. He challenged residents to find ways to give back to the community during this season, asking people specifically to support small businesses in the city and donating time and/or food items and dry goods to the Emergency Assistance Center, which helps those in need in the Nordonia Hills area.
Council requests feedback on Gov. DeWine’s executive orders
Also, at the meeting, Councilman Dave Finley introduced legislation opposing Gov. Mike DeWine’s executive orders to combat COVID-19, stating the orders have “limited the freedoms, livelihoods, and economic standings of the residents of the City of Macedonia.”
“For some this may be controversial, but this resolution is needed and reasonable,” he said.
Finley called DeWine’s orders an “overreach and abuse of power,” stating they are causing more hardship than safety for the residents in the city.
He said the legislation would urge the governor to follow the Great Barrington Declaration, signed in October in Massachusetts by a group of infectious disease experts, expressing “grave concerns about the damaging physical and mental health impacts of the prevailing COVID-19 policies.” The declaration states those with a lower risk of dying from COVID-19 should be allowed to resume their normal lives. The American Public Health Association has called the strategy dangerous as it could lead to unavoidable deaths among those with underlying medical conditions, though.
Finley, however, further stated DeWine is limiting the economic growth of Macedonia’s residents and businesses, as many are barely staying afloat financially, and some have already closed, and more will likely need to close their restaurants and shops.
“I support a more rational and local approach to Ohio’s response to the pandemic,” he said.
Finley is asking community members to submit their thoughts on the legislation to the clerk of council so their remarks can be shared with Council members prior to voting on the legislation in January.
Other Meeting News:
• Molnar announced Macedonia is receive a $25,000 grant to help seniors in need in the city.
• Council authorized the mayor to purchase two dump trucks and equipment for the city’s service department and approved an agreement with Key Bank to finance the purchase, with the interest rate being at 1.3 percent.
• Council confirmed mayor’s appointment of Councilman Jeff Garvas to serve as a member of the board of directors for the Northfield Center Township Macedonia Joint Economic Development District during his entire tenure on Council.
• Council announced a public hearing regarding proposed changes to the city’s sign regulations would be held Jan. 14 at 7:15 p.m.
• An ordinance was introduced to regulate the use of portable, on-demand storage devices (pods), construction dumpsters and dumpster bags so they are not on a property for an extended period, creating an eye sore.
• It was announced the city’s leaf collection is beginning again Monday, Dec. 14, starting with North Shepard Road.
• Appreciation was expressed to the city’s plow drivers who worked 16 hours straight during the Nov. 30 snow event, as half of the service department’s employees were out with COVID-19 or because they were quarantined.
• Parks and Recreation Director Jason Chadock reported the city is receiving its first grant through the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association, which will be used for the purchase of a new software program for parks and recreation, making it easier to organize and track specific data.
• Council approved the disposition of equipment by parks and recreation, with the money obtained through an auction to go toward future equipment purchases.
• Council amended the city’s ordinances relative to the distribution, possession and use of cigarettes, vapor products and other tobacco products in Macedonia, in accordance with state statutes, to keep the enforcement of the measure at the local level.
• Council approved a tax incremental financing agreement with Cleanland Car Wash, allowing the city to use a portion of payments made in lieu of taxes to help fund public infrastructure improvements.