Council approves grant acceptance, keeps petty cash level and votes to cancel Christmas Eve meeting; resident criticizes centennial plans

The Mentor-on-the-Lake City Council approved several routine actions Tuesday, including a motion to accept unspecified grants and authorize use of the funds for purchases, and voted to cancel the Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve) council meeting.

A motion to suspend the rules and approve acceptance and use of the grants was made and passed on roll call with all members voting Aye. The clerk recorded passage after a successful roll-call vote.

Administrative Director Miss Martin told council she had not requested an increase to petty cash and recommended against raising the petty-cash level after an earlier committee noted a suggested increase of $103,100; she said petty cash should remain a nominal fund due to vulnerability to misuse. “Petty cash is supposed to be a nominal amount of money…Therefore, I recommend to pay the petty cash as it is without an increase,” Miss Martin said.

On scheduling, Mrs. Moore moved and Mrs. Thompson seconded a motion to cancel the Dec. 24 meeting; roll call recorded Thompson Aye, Moore Aye, Gray Aye, Lunder Aye and Johnson No, and the motion carried with a majority yes vote.

During public comment, resident Paul Morris of 7592 Pinehurst Drive criticized the centennial celebration planning and ticket pricing for a yacht-club dinner. Morris said leftover city-purchased hot dogs represented waste and questioned hosting an expensive dinner. “That’s $72 a plate. How many of our residents do you think can afford to go to that event?” he asked, and added that parks and recreation had, in his view, turned their back on many residents.

The meeting concluded with scheduling of vendor demonstrations and committee dates and an adjournment vote.