VC This Monday--Visioning Next Week!

{ Once again, the Jafabrit artist provides an excellent pic!

Dear People! The big ash trees in front of the funeral home on Xenia Ave have been so beautiful this week, all yellowy purple...We need to love these trees, with our eyes, while we have them, since it's quite likely they will all be dead within a few years due to the emerald ash borer. (Puts me in mind of a Shakespeare sonnet about life and love and death, which I've quoted at the end of this email).

But on to more prosaic tasks: Village Council this Monday night, Visioning starts next week--click here for times and locations! (Monday 26th in Clifton, Tues & Wed at various times and places around YS), and a School Board Candidates' Forum, at the Presbyterian Church (sponsored by the Non-Stop Institute), next Sunday 2-4 pm.
(I have had word that the Men's Group may be sponsoring a forum for all candidates on Oct. 29th, but have not confirmed that yet.)

VILLAGE COUNCIL LEGISLATION:

• ORDINANCE: Budget re-appropriations, as an emergency. It looks like we've used less money on our streets than budgeted ($-104.3K variance), and considerably more on our electric fund ($250K variance). Sharon Potter should be on hand, with our manager, to explain these changes.
• RESOLUTION: Wheeling Gaunt Flour and Sugar Distribution to YS Widows: An easy vote! Lovely YS tradition dating back to the bequest of a former slave, supporting widows. If you know any new widows in town, be sure to let the village know!
• RESOLUTION: In support of Mental Health Levy (Issue #5.) No new taxes! These services, for mental health support, suicide prevention, and drug/alcohol addiction, are vital--and more necessary than ever during tough financial times.
• RESOLUTION: In support of Greene County Council on Aging (Issue #6): Again, this replaces (with a slight increase) a current grant. It is critical for our village services to seniors.
• RESOLUTION: NatureWorks Grant with Glen. We agreed some time ago to serve as the conduit for a grant (which required a government agency to officially apply for, receive and administer the funds) from the Ohio Dept of Natural Resources, to Glen Helen to make needed improvements to the Trailside Museum (water lines, etc.). This resolution authorizes our Village Mgr. to sign documents andfacilitate the funds transfer.
  

OLD BUSINESS will include:

• A discussion with Community Resources about a joint meeting / facilitated discussion.
• The possibility of an Economic Sustainability Board, as Judith has advocated (see earlier discussions on my website: askelandforcouncil.blogspot.com)
  
• HRC plan to develop a website. (Additionally, I would point out that there was a letter from HRC member Don Wallis in our packet urging us to form a citizen's committee to look at the possiblity of making short street into a pedestrian mall. Thoughts?)

NEW BUSINESS will include:

• We have two new hydroelectric projects to consider participating in, through our co-op energy provider, AMP. Meldahl and Greenup Projects--one to be created on an existing lock and dam on the Ohio River (Meldahl), and one owned and operated by the City of Hamilton Ohio (Greenup)
• Repairs to the clarifier on our Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP): Est. cost of $35-40K. We have those funds in our current budget, and we can't operate the WWTP and meet permit levels without making these repairs.
• King Street Sidewalk Extension: Based on concerns of residents, there's a suggestion of completing about 50 feet of sidewalk on King St., to Dayton, esp. important for the use of school children. Our manager proposesusing some of the unused $ in our street funds to complete this, and then later assessing those costs to the owner, so that the work can be completed. I like the idea, but am not sure how/whether we would be approaching this project differently from other sidewalk projects, so I'll be asking about that.

Then we'll have standing reports, and an executive session on pending litigation.

Don't forget to VISION next week! (Click here to see the locations and times!)

We'll give the bard the last word, however--

William Shakespeare, Sonnet 73

That time of year thou may'st in me behold,
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang,
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Bare ruined choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.
In me thou see'st the twilight of such day,
As after sunset fadeth in the west,
Which by and by black night doth take away,
Death's second self, that seals up all in rest.
In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire,
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,
As the death-bed whereon it must expire,
Consumed with that which it was nourished by.
This thou perceiv'st which makes thy love more strong,
To love that well which thou must leave ere long.

Peace!
L.

Water Fluoridation Forum TONIGHT!

< The photo is by local photographer Nina Rios who has a fine gallery of photographs and digital pieces on her website!

Water Fluoridation Forum
TONIGHT! Thursday, October 15 7 PM
Bryan Community Center Rms A & B
Speakers: Dr. Paul Connett , Fluoride Action Network
Mark McDonell, Green County Health Commissioner

Fluoridating our water is a relatively small part of our budget, but, to me, it presents a relatively complex ethical question that in some ways goes to the heart of governance. Its use has been correlated with significantly lower levels of tooth decay--although, based on my reading of the research, scientific consensus seems pretty clear that this benefit is mostly likely achieved from the contact of fluoride with the surface of the tooth, rather than the ingestion of it. So many places around the world (including most of Europe) do not fluoridate. These other places approach dental health through other means (people can buy fluoridated salt, for instance, and can be encouraged to get regular fluoride treatments from dentists, and some people choose alternative approaches, altogether).

Perhaps most importantly, fluoridation is, actually, the only instance of mass medication of the public in the US by way of a public resource--our water supply--which is vital to life and therefore virtually impossible to opt out of.

For this reason, I believe we should take public concerns about fluoridation quite seriously. Please read on for all the details about our forum:

EcoBeat: Water Fluoridation

Since 1970, the Village of Yellow Springs has added fluoride to its drinking water. Is this a good practice? How does long-term fluoride exposure affect your health? How does it affect you and your children’s teeth? Do the benefits outweigh the risks? What is best for our community?

These questions and more will be answered when the Environmental Commission presents a forum on Water Fluoridation on Oct. 15 with speakers Dr. Paul Connett, retired professor of chemistry and founder of the Fluoride Action Network, and Green County Health Commissioner, Mark McDonell. These two health experts will each present their opposing views on the practice of water fluoridation, and the audience will then have ample opportunity to ask questions.

Fluoridation of drinking water has been a practice in the US since the 1950s because, at that time, it was believed to prevent dental cavities and tooth decay. More recently, this has become a controversial topic as many scientists report the toxicity of fluoride and the risk it poses to human health.

Recent scientific research has linked fluoride ingestion to hip fracture, cancer, thyroid disease, and kidney impairment. The American Dental Association and Center for Disease Control endorse fluoridation as safe, economical, and effective in reducing tooth decay by 20 to 40%.

In 1969, water fluoridation was mandated by the State of Ohio for all communities over 5000 residents. At that time, during a 240 day exemption period, both Springfield and Xenia chose not to fluoridate their drinking water.

Join us for this very important forum. Ask questions. Decide what is best for your community and the future of our village water. With a population under 5000, Yellow Springs still has a choice.

Water Fluoridation Forum
Thursday, October 15 7 PM
Bryan Community Center Rms A & B
Speakers: Dr. Paul Connett , Fluoride Action Network
Mark McDonell, Green County Health Commissioner

PC tomorrow, VC Last week

2 Short posts, one (over last week's VC meeting) seriously delayed because I didn't realize that it didn't post--sorry!

Dear People: This will be just a short email, since it's late and I still have quite a bit of work to do tonight! (And, seriously, I've worked all day, but have just fallen behind.) Planning Commission tomorrow night, 7 pm, Bryan Center.

After our regular reports, we'll be discussing the possibility of historical preservation legislation. I was glad to read in this week's YS News that Antioch College had a preservationist look at the buildings, and that the recommendation was to raze probably only two buildings, rather than the much larger number that was feared. This is exactly the approach we'd like to see property owners take whenever possible--that they'd focus on trying to save older, and/or significant buildings, if possible, rather than tearing them down. Just as we don't pay the true cost of grocery store food, we don't pay the true cost of building supplies, when you attend to the full costs of all the oil/other energy used and pollution created to make or harvest the raw materials, process them, and transport them to us. Renovation is, in many ways, the greenest way to build. So what I'm hoping is that we'll be able to educate the citizenry, and strongly encourage them to seek to preserve buildings from our past if it is at all feasible, through helpful legislation.

Second, we'll be discussing our PUD subdivision regulations, from chapter 1264 of our Charter. Woolpert's have analysed our current regulations and they find our procedure to be "a conventional two step PUD process." However, they note that there are two phases in our first step--both a concept plan and a detailed design plan phase are required. They say that "this two phase process is not necessary, and probably adds time to the process," and confusese the process unnecessarily. Second, they note that it's not normal for Planning Commission to have to return the final, approved plan back to Council. They made about 10 more recommendations, including several suggestions for strengthening open space requirements.

LAST WEEK in VILLAGE COUNCIL:

Dear People: I am sorry my note this week has to be short. I was out of town at a conference, until late last night, and have been scrambling to catch up on grading.

In brief, we're discussing resolutions to support beggar's night bonfires, and authorizing the RFP for energy efficient street lights.

Then we'll have special reports about the Youth Bench (from Tucker Malishenko) and the Mental Health levy renewal.

Next, for old business, we'll turn to the Levy Update from our special meeting last Monday, and the MVRPC plan I mentioned a few notes ago (we now have a hard copy of the executive summary of the plan). Then Greene Metropolitan Housing Authority has requested a tax exemption on some of their Title 8 housing.

Finally, we'll be discussing Kathryn's service on Community Resources, and the possibility of a joint meeting. Possibly this will include a discussion of the Economic Sustainability Committee that Judith has proposed, but I am not sure of that.

Thanks! Peace out!

VC: Special Meeting Monday: Levy Renewal?

Dear People: 7 pm on Monday Village Council will meet in a special session to receive preliminary information from our village manager, Mark Cundiff, about how we have spent the current levy monies, how they contribute to our overall budget, and what various renewal options would look like.

I'll give you a little initial context, and would welcome your thoughts:

• The last levy was passed in November of 2006 and was an 8.4 mill, 5-year levy; it commenced with 2006 taxes (collected in 2007) and will therefore end with 2010 taxes (to be collected in 2011).
• Although the levy was advocated in order to accomplish some specific tasks (Street surface replacements, Economic Development, etc.), it was an operating levy that went directly into the General Fund, not into special funds for specific projects.
  
• The current levy contributes 25% of our General Fund revenues--$747,000 each year. Without levy support, we would have to cut our budget, services.
  
• Mark suggests that, in order to avoid a gap, we should place this on the ballot in Nov. 2010; that means we'd need to have a "Resolution of Necessity" passed by next August. So he suggests we might want to make some initial decisions about renewal/new levy (how much and what type) by end of the year.

I would welcome any thoughts, and your presence at the meeting.

Dear People: Well, the gorgeous weather maybe was too good to last, and, yet, today's drizzle is calm and beautiful in its way. I made my way to the Horace Mann statue in the South Glen for the first time this morning, just before it started sprinkling, during my long Sunday hike. I'm embarrassed to say I had never been there, so I paid my long-overdue respects to the big green-patinaed man on the plinth in the woods, with his shocking, red-painted shoes. (Thanks to the "jafabrit" blogger--Corrine B.--for her fabulous photo! But who weilded the red paint, hmmm? It looks like he's wearing crocs!)

So! Tomorrow (Monday 9/21) village council will be meeting as usual in the Bryan Center, 2nd floor, 7 pm, for our regularly scheduled second meeting of the month, which I'll discuss at length below.

In addition, I would like to alert/remind you all that we will have a very important special meeting, next Monday (9/28), which will focus on the overall budget and, more specifically, the levy and its possible renewal. Mark Cundiff has received questions/concerns from Council, and is preparing a presentation for us to better understand what role the levy monies are playing in our current budget and what our options are in terms of renewal/rates/purposes, and how those options would likely affect our future budgets. I hope that many of you can come.

BUT tomorrow night our agenda looks like this:

COMMUNICATIONS: We received letters from a variety of sources, as usual. Highlights:

• Two villagers in one household wrote to complain about the noise from F-16 flyovers,
  
• a group from MLASC is asking for permission to use Cemetary Street parking as a fund-raiser during street fair, as they have in years past.
  
• Another villager wrote to ask when we plan to have the annual Halloween "beggers' night," which last year several residents felt was overcrowded by out-of-town people.
  

I suspect all of those may be discussed at least briefly at our meeting. Please let me know if you have thoughts, perhaps especially about when we ought to have our traditional Halloween festivities.

• We also always receive a newsletter from AMP, our power co-op. One article caught my eye: The 'Energy Conservation for Ohioans Link' (ECO-Link) loan program which "is a partnership between the Ohio Treasury and eligible state banks to provide reduced-interest rate financing for Ohioans seeking installment loans to make energy efficiency improvements to existing single family homes" For more info visit the ECO Link website or call 800/228-1102 for more info on participating banks, contractors, and eligible Energy Star products.

LEGISLATION:

1. Second reading of Human Relations Ordinances, establishing a domestic partnership registry, establishing 'hate crimes' legislation, and including gender identity as a protected category in our public accommodations regulations.
2. Resolution in support of Greene County Library Levy Renewal. (Not a new tax, just a reaffirmation of the old one.)
3. Resolution accepting the amount and rates of our tax budget (as determined by the the state Budget Commission, and certifying them to the County Auditor).
4.-6. Resolutions awarding two bids for the WWTP improvements: General Contracting with Kirk Brothers; Electrical Work with DeBra Kuempel; and authorizing LJB, Inc., to oversee the project.

SPECIAL REPORTS:

1. MVRPC "Going Places" Phase I Report. Click here for more information from their website. This report is "an integrated land use visiong for the Miami Valley Region (Miami, Montgomery, & Greene Counties), which focuses on encouraging economic development in the region and sets a vision for land use priorities. The map included in the brochure identifies some land on all sides of Yellow Springs as 'developable.' I am very interested and concerned about how and whether there is any attempt to discourage the kind of sprawl the region has seen in the past several years--I cannot see it clearly in the information I have read.
   
2. Village Water & Sewer Rates Study: We commissioned Woolperts to look at our water and sewer rates. Our water rates are currently not keeping up with costs, in particular, and we are doing major work to our wastewater treatment system, so we must look at our rate structure and how to bring it in line with costs. Woolperts will present a cost comparison with other municipalities, and make suggestions as to changes we could make.
   

OLD BUSINESS:

Economic Sustainability Committee/ Community Resources: At our last meeting, we determined that, as a body, we needed advice and clarification from our village solicitor about the limitations on a Council person serving on the Board of Community Resources, which is a non-designated Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) whose work is focused on developing the Center for Business and Education (the McGregor property). We had just received a statement on this specific question made by the Ohio Ethics Commission, which many of us found confusing. Currently, Kathryn Van der Heiden is serving "ex-officio" on the Board of Community Resources. The Ethics Commission ruling, to me, seemed to imply that it was very difficult for a public official to serve as a full member on such a board.

I am not sure whether we will have any extended discussion of Judith Hempfling's proposed Economic Sustainability Commission; I think we may just get a brief update from Mark as to the hiring of the Economic Sustainability Director, and plan to take this question up at a later date.

NEW BUSINESS:

Energy Task Force: Street Light Bulbs. The Energy Task force proposes replacing our current street lamps with new, much more energy efficient ones called "induction" lights. They have been running a sample light at the cornder of Talus and West South College. The ETF proposes using our $50,000 budget for energy efficiency improvements for this year to begin the conversion to induction lights. Step 1 would be issuing an RFP for the process.

MANAGER'S REPORT (attached) : discusses Greene Cats potentially making the Bryan Ctr. a regular pick up spot, WWTP non-compliance penalties, the increase in solid waste fees, and the inquiry from Greene Met Housing regarding taxes on land in the village, atrazine in the water, etc.

STANDING REPORTS from all commissions and committees of Council and AGENDA PLANNING and then

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Real Estate / Personnel / Pending Litigation

Peace!
Lori

Delayed Post! Sorry, folks, this should have been posted yesterday morning

Online readers: My apologies for the delay in posting this; it wasn't intentional. I'll do better next time.

---
Dear People: Well, the holiday means that our Village Council meets tonight, rather than last night. We have a heavy agenda, as usual.

In the many petitions and communications we received, were a few that are of especial interest, I think:
1) Karen Wintrow reports that Yellow Springs has been selected one of 5 regional "best home towns" by Ohio magazine, and will be the feature cover story of their November edition.
2) Pat Murphy will be speaking on "Super Insulated Passive Homes" on Wed evening, the 9th, at 8pm; Green Energy Ohio is having a Miami Valley Solar Tour, Oct 3-4 (greenenergyohio.org)
3) The Greene County Health District will be having a women's "Fashion Swap & Shop" on Oct. 24th, 11 am, Greene Country Club, Fairborn. Proceeds will benefit the "Clinic Cupboard" which provides basic drug store items for needy families using the clinics--e.g. diapers, tylenol, diaper rash cream, other over-the-counter meds.
4) Letters from citizens/area groups: one letter opposing the Fairfield sidewalk petition, one letter concerned about noise levels from the Springfield airport and potential for increased traffic at that airport. NAMI urges us to be concerned about cuts to housing for mentally disabled in Ohio.
5) Annual Report from the Miami Township Fire & Rescue.

Three things related to environmental concerns--esp. water/water treatment:
1) A citizen emailed a link to a story in the New York Times about atrazine in the drinking water: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/23/us/23water.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=atrazine&st=cse. He's requesting that the village test more frequently, particularly during times of heaviest agricultural and lawn use.
2) The Ohio EPA tested our sewage sludge and found that we lacked complete documentation for certain tests and certifications, making us out of compliance with their rules. I'll ask Mark about this.
3) Vickie Hennessy of the Environmental Commission requests $270 to help pay for a public forum on water fluoridation. The forum would present Mark McDonnell, of the Greene County Health Commission, who advocates for water fluoridation as a protection for children's teeth, and Dr. Paul Connett, who co-founded the Fluoride Action Network seeking to broaden public awareness of the health risks of ingesting fluoride. The $270 would pay for transporting Dr. Connett here; both speakers are willing to speak at no cost. I have asked that we be able to discuss this issue during "new business."

LEGISLATION

1) Ordinance (2nd reading): Entering the Eco-Choice Program ("Green Pricing")--voluntary support for green energy sources
2) Ordinance (2nd reading): No animals at street fair
3) Ordinance (1st reading): Amending Chapter 632 re: Human Relations in the Village: Revising our intimidation ('hate crimes') and our public accommodations statutes to include sexual orientation/gender identity; setting up a domestic partnership registry in the village
4) Resolution: Awarding the bid for electrical line tree clearing
5) Resolution: Accepting a renewal quote for property casualty insurance

SPECIAL REPORT:
Ed Amrhein will give us a status report and explain what the current plans are.

OLD BUSINESS:
Economic Sustainability Committee (& related issues): Judith proposes that we create a committee that would bring together people from a variety of areas of our economic life to help develop new businesses in town.

At the same time, our lawyer advises that since Community Resources (CR) is not a designated CIC, Kathryn Van Der Heiden cannot serve as a full member. Village Council has asked CR if they would agree to become a designated CIC of Council, allowing Council (and Miami Township) to appoint 40% of the board and increasing their transparency (more of their meetings would be open). As I see it, it would make it easier for us to be partners for finishing the work of the Center for Business and Education, which we have to be anyway, since the grant funding must go through the Village. CR has not decided whether it would like to do this. They have, however, indicated this week that they would like to appoint our Village Manager, who is a paid employee under Council, to their board. I, however, believe the best way forward is through official designation of CR as a CIC of Council.

Public Art: The sculpture "A flock of hands," one of three winners of the recent public art competition is proposed to be moved from the original suggested site in front of the Bryan Center to near the Train Station.

NEW BUSINESS:
(Possible discussion of Fluoridation Forum, see above)

Electric / Water Staffing: Village Manager Mark has discovered that we are short staffed in our utilities department in a way that impairs safety, and his analysis of the information suggests that one of these vacancies was never intended to occur. He recommends hiring an additional utility staff worker.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Real Estate

Well, it could be a late night for me, folks! See you around town, and let me know if you have any thoughts about these issues....

VC Monday! VC Election! EC opening! Street Paving! Comp Plan! Levy Renewal? Public Art!

Dear People: Well, it's another busy week on the Village Council, and school is about to start! My life is about to get really crazy. But, I also kind of look forward to the energy of the new fall term, the new school year.

As I announced in a quick email yesterday, I will be holding my office hours from 10:30-12 noon, in the Emporium, on SATURDAYS for the fall. (I'm here right now!)

VC ELECTION: My understanding is that Karen Wintrow, Judith Hempfling, Kathryn van der Heiden, are all planning to run again; there are also rumors about 1-2 other villagers planning to stand, which I have not yet confirmed.

EC OPENING: We're being productive and having fun--join us? Community Gardens, Emerald Ash, supporting alternative energy...You can visit our next meeting on Thursday 27 August. 7 pm in Bryan Ctr.

STREET PAVING will begin on various streets in town this Monday: Green, North College, President, Rice, Union, Wright, E. Herman, Park meadows, E. South College, W. Whiteman, and Kahoe Lane.

At our meeting, we'll vote on 6 pieces of legislation:

Three ORDINANCES:

1. Second reading/ public hearing on the economic sustainability position. I plan to vote no, again, because I'm not convinced this position is the best plan for using our economic development funds. However, I will fully support the work of the person we hire and I hope that I am proved wrong. In his manager's report this week, Mark Cundiff stated that the deadline has just passed and it looks like we've received 15 applicants.
   
2. First reading: Eco-Choice program-AMP: This program is the long-awaited "green-pricing" program that has recently been re-developed by AMP, our energy co-op. Purely voluntary, this program allows people to pay a little extra--$0.013 per kwh--to help support the development of green energy sources. [If you use 500kw in a month, it would amount to $6.50 extra in a month.] Council approved this plan in 2008, but then we post-poned enacting it because AMP was developing this program. If you signed up before, I believe you are still signed up, but I will be asking for clarification at our next meeting.
   
3. First reading: No (non-human) animals at Street Fair: At our last street fair, despite the 'no dogs' rule posted by the fair operators, a person was bitten by a dog. Police can only enforce laws, not rules, so our manager has advised us, and we concur, that a law must be passed prohibiting dogs at the fair--it's actually only kindness to all us animals, to keep your beloved animal companions at home.

Three RESOLUTIONS:

1. Employment Agreement with Village Solicitor (John Chambers, Coolidge Wall).
   
2. Employment Agreement with Village Treasurer (Deborah Benning, also Clerk of Council)
3. Authorization of Village Manager to apply for, accept, and enter into a water pollution control loan fund for the wastewater treatment facility.

OLD BUSINESS:

1. Comprehensive Plan: We'll be going through the final pages of the plan, and specifically discussing two suggested edits from Karen Wintrow, regarding Open Space and Electric Distribution. This week's packet is not yet online, due to staff health reasons, but you can read Karen's suggestions on page 38 of last week's packet.
2. Levy Committee: Since only one person has contacted our Village Manager about serving on a committee to advise on what type of levy, if any, should be pursued, he is suggesting that we, the Council, answer the questions that need to be addressed:
• What has been the fiscal impact of the current levy?
• What will be the fiscal impact if the current levy is not replaced?
• Examination of options: renewal of current; new levy at different millage; new levy dedicated to specific areas; no levy
• What are the impacts of these options--revenues generated, loss of revenues if fails, potential service/staff cuts if levy fails, etc.
• Campaign strategy and organization if renewal is sought

NEW BUSINESS:

1. Village Investment Summary--our investments are losing some money due to stock market losses and low interest rates.
   
2. Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund--a report on how loans are being repaid, etc.
   
3. Public Art: Placement of new sculptures--the winners of the public art competition.

After the Manager's report we will plan the agenda and then go into executive session regarding personnel appointment/ agreement.

I have to run now! Peace--

Lori