Council adopts village maintenance code

CHESAPEAKE — The Chesapeake Village Council had a first reading on Monday night of an ordinance to require annual licenses for businesses operating within village limits.

Council member and mayor pro tempore Kenny Wolfe, who proposed the ordinance, said every business would be required to get a license for a $10 fee, with a certificate issued to be placed in the window of the establishment.

“This would give us a record of every business doing business here in Chesapeake,” council member Paul Hart said.

Wolfe said the fee would generate revenue for the village.

“Driving down these streets, asphalt costs money,” he said.

He said, if passed, the requirement would go into effect on June 1.

The council also voted to adopt the Chesapeake Property Maintenance Enforcement Code, adapted from the code of North Bend, Ohio.

Hart proposed the adoption, which was approved, 6-0, by council.

“We want to clean this town up, and, now, we’ve got the chance,” he said, noting that it was important for the council to support interim police chief Randy Lewis, who has been issuing citations for improperly parked vehicles and dilapidated properties.

“Our chief is not liked by some people, because he’s enforcing the law,” Hart said. “It’s not picking on anyone. It’s that nobody has been enforcing the law. We’ve finally got someone who got people moving cars.”

Hart and Wolfe would serve as maintenance code officers.

“Once we enforce one or two, they will get the idea,” Wolfe said.

Wolfe and Hart will either volunteer their time, or will work for a $10 weekly fee, depending on discussions with the village solicitor on how to proceed legally.

The council heard from Chesapeake resident Paul Nathan, who had been working with Operation TLC, a group dedicated to beautification of Lawrence County.

Nathan said the group has decided to disband, following the death of its leader, Billie Smith, in September 2016. All remaining funds from the group have been transferred to Lawrence County Treasurer Stephen Dale Burcham.

Nathan asked the council to take up the group’s mission in maintaining flowerpots throughout the village, as well as flowers planted at the Chesapeake welcome sign across from the Robert C. Byrd Memorial Bridge.

The council was receptive to the idea, but tabled the matter until details on funding and manning the job could be worked out.

Another issue addressed at the meeting was the fee set at last month’s meeting for medical marijuana dispensaries that may open within the village, following legalization by the state.

The council voted 6-0 on the measure, proposed by Hart, which set the fee at $1,000 per year and $300 per month, with the option of a raise by council.

Mayor Tommy Templeton said there were misconceptions by the public, due to some broadcast media reports on the issue, and wanted to clear them up.

“We’ve taken a lot of heat since the last meeting,” he said, stressing that the adoption of the fee was in no way an endorsement of the product or legalization.

“I’m not in favor of a dispensary in town,” Templeton said, adding that the village’s fee would be in addition to those required by the state and federal government.

Some council members said that they had been approached by citizens, who misunderstood the concept of dispensary facilities, which would be legally able to serve patients with a prescription and identification, wrongly thinking the village was allowing “vending machines” for marijuana.

Templeton also said that the matter would be voted on an annual basis.

The council voted 6-0 to adopt an emergency resolution, read by Templeton, which stated the dispensaries would be required to have a contract and be in compliance with state laws and that the fee “is in no way to be construed as an approval or endorsement of this product.”

In another matter, the council and mayor heard from a representative of Lamarr Outdoor Advertising, who said the company was interested in putting up a sign on Third Avenue near St. Ann Church, which would be used to feature advertising from local businesses and groups.

Upon objections from Wolfe, who said he wanted to first gather opinions of neighbors in the sign’s proposed location, the council agreed to table the issue for 30 days.

In other business, the council:

• Agreed to pay a $2,000 deductible for liability insurance, related to a settlement in the accidental discharging of an officer’s gun last year, which caused minor injuries to a firefighter.

• Discussed bids for a new roof for the Chesapeake-Union Fire department building. Two options are being considered – replacing the rubber roof, or building a structure and metal roof. Templeton said he would discuss the bids and options with the Union Township trustees at their meeting on Thursday.

• Voted 6-0 to purchase a refurbished truck for village use.