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Mayor Abdella outlines staffing, water and pond updates; council schedules executive session
Summary
At the July 8 Belpre City Council meeting Mayor Abdella reported open public-works positions and a superintendent resignation effective Aug. 3, said the pond is "full and beautiful" and that lead-service-line surveys are behind schedule; the council recessed to executive session on staffing and salary planning.
Mayor Abdella used her July 8 report to flag staffing gaps, infrastructure needs and several near-term administrative items before Belpre City Council.
She said the city currently has several open positions (one in streets, one in water and two in sewer) and that the Public Works Superintendent has submitted his resignation effective Aug. 3. "At the end I would request an executive session related to staffing and salary planning," the mayor told council; Mr. Locke then moved to hold the executive session after the regular business and the motion passed unanimously.
On capital projects and utilities, Abdella said a recent water-rate analysis "went very well" and that rate decisions will inform progress on planned projects, including a proposed water tank: the water-tower project is on hold pending decisions about any rate increase. She also reported recent water leaks and repairs, describing a piece of curved wood under a link on Washington Boulevard that caused a break in a water line.
The mayor reported parks updates: "The pond is full and beautiful," she said, and city officials are coordinating with the Bass Club to stock the pond in time for a children's derby in August. She said the city received a quote of $48 for four 12x18 'Hot Paws' signs and asked staff to proceed.
City Auditor Mrs. Nolan told council the city implemented VIP Analytical Software with six hours of training scheduled to begin July 11 and that Invoice Cloud training for utility billing began July 1. She said the State Auditor's office "will be on site tomorrow, July 9, to begin Auditing for 2023."
Abdella also said lead service-line surveys are lagging and urged ward-level outreach to complete them before Sept. 1. Other items discussed included ODOT work at Route 50/7, remediation and reseeding after a stray tar spill along the highway, and forthcoming assessments and fundraising planning for the pool. Council recessed to executive session at 8:01 p.m. to discuss staffing and salary planning and adjourned at 8:38 p.m.
