VILLAGE OF CHAGRIN FALLS
FACILITIES AND SERVICES COMMITTEE
November 24, 2008
Members present: Pattom, Milko, Watterson
Also present: Mayor Brick, Himes, Edwards, Byron, Lutz, Williams, Evans, Subel, Zalba, Skeel, deConingh, Rogoff, Lannon
The meeting was called to order at 7:45 p.m. by Chairman Steven Patton.
TELEPHONE SYSTEM NETWORK UPGRADES
Mr. Himes explained that about five years ago we replaced our obsolete phone system and decided on a Voice Over Internet Protocol System, which runs off of servers in the basement. That cut our lease lines in about one half at considerable savings. All of the Village facilities, water, sewer, street department, fire department, and police department are all connected to Village Hall by fiber optics and run off of this system. This Summer when we were doing work at the WWTP several deficiencies in that system came to light and we also had some trouble with the bad weather over the Summer where the police department had no out-bound calling. We have been informed by Cisco that the current servers are going out of service so they will no longer be supported by Cisco so we are at a point where we need to replace those servers. Presidio Networked Solutions, Inc., who did some of the work at the WWTP, looked at the system and made some recommendations for upgrades to the architecture of the system and also to build in some redundancy that we don’t have right now. This new equipment will have an anticipated life of about seven years. The total equipment cost is $40,652 and instillation and design work is $11,200. Going back to when we first installed this system, he said there was a decision to keep the phone system operating expense so we leased the system and Presidio made a proposal to roll the existing lease into a new lease and include the residual value of the equipment and all new costs, which would come to about $1,615 per month for a term of sixty months or a total cost of about $96,900. The remainder of the existing lease, the buy-out, is $46,000 and the current lease payments are $1,443. Part of the decision now will be do we want to continue this as a lease item? It is really the only lease the Village has. Or, we do have cash in the Capital Improvement Fund and we could pay cash for the new equipment and pay out the term of the existing lease.
This was discussed in length, comments were heard, and questions were answered.
Moved by Mr. Patton, seconded by Mr. Milko that we recommend to Council that the Mayor enter into an agreement with Presidio Networked Solutions, Inc. for network services including software applications, and for the purchase of hardware, software, equipment, and accessories necessary to implement an upgraded phone system and that we actually pay cash for the services. Carried. Ayes: Pattom, Milko, Watterson. Nays: None.
MARIO’S BUILDING
Mr. Himes explained that the current owners of the former Mario’s building wish to expand that building to accommodate a restaurant. They are proposing to expand it into a ten foot parcel that the Village owns on the east side of Bell Street Park. The Mayor sent this to the Parks Commission to evaluate the proposal and after several meetings they voted 2 to 2 on a motion to recommend a long-term least of that 10 foot parcel. The proponents felt that the lease would not adversely affect the park and felt that there were other considerations, but they felt that that was outside of the purview of the Parks Commission. The two descending votes they felt that the land should be improved for the park use and were opposed, on principal, of selling park land. The engineer has looked at it, at the Mayor’s request, and determined that there are some issues with access to the dam and a storm sewer that runs under the front corner of that parcel. Even if this were approved for a long-term lease or sale, they would also need to obtain variances for the side yard setback and river buffer to build what they are proposing. The property would also have to be re-zoned from Parks and Institutions to Commercial use.
One of the owners of the building presented their case.
11/17/08 Parks Commission Minutes:
BELL STREET PARK – MARIO’S BUILDING
Gregory Bumbu, with associates Brooke Spectorsky and Dennis Lehman, returned for a second opportunity to persuade the Commission that their plans for the transformation of the former Mario’s Spa at 15 Bell Street into an upscale restaurant are consonant with Village interests. The purchase or lease from the Village of the 10’ strip of land that is contiguous to the eastern edge of the Bell Street Park was the issue.
Arguments expressed in favor of this transfer included:
A new restaurant would draw more people to the Village, thus providing the additional potential business merchants are eager to have.
The Bell Street Park is essentially a completed space and would not be impacted by the expanded building.
Access to the dam could be accomplished from the north side of the river. New technology could also possibly be used if problems arise in the 36” pipe.
The $50,000 enticement offered by Mr. Bumbu and his associates could be used for any park improvements the Commission chooses.
Arguments expressed against this transfer included:
The Village must retain access to the dam, wing wall, sluice, and sluice gate for possible repairs. The proposed building expansion into this space would prevent current access from the south side of the river. The Village engineer, Tim Lannon, has indicated that if a building were to occupy the present space, access could be gained from the north side of the river, but at an increased expense to the Village.
The sale or lease of any park property would set a bad precedent.
This is not “surplus land”. It is zoned as a Parks and Institutions facility.
The 1930 $90,000 bond issue that was approved by a majority of 62% of the voters for the purchase of land for public parks, including the Bell Street Park, Riverside Park, and park area next to the Popcorn Shop, should be respected. The original 1931 property description and deed expressly designated this 10’ strip for access to the riverbank and dam.
The $50,000 enticement is inappropriate.
A motion was made that the Parks Commission make a recommendation to Village Council that the proposed development would not be an impediment. Voting was as follows:
Zalba – yes
deConingh – no
Skeel – no
Lutz – yes
The recommendation did not pass because of the split vote.
This was discussed in length, comments were heard, and questions were answered.
Mr. Patton said they will continue this discussion on Monday, December 8, 2008 at 6:45 p.m.
The meeting adjourned at 8:21 p.m.
____________________________
Steven Patton, Chairman
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