Despite an opposing legal opinion from city solicitors, some Ironton City Council members are seeking ways to aid veterans with poppy sales.

Monday, May 01, 2000

Despite an opposing legal opinion from city solicitors, some Ironton City Council members are seeking ways to aid veterans with poppy sales.

In years past, fund-raising events were allowed in the city streets, which is where veterans’ representatives petitioned Ironton City Council to allow them to stand and sell their poppies this year.

But, liability issues mean that is no longer an option, council chairman Jim Tordiff said.

"It is not that I am not in support of veterans’ fund-raisers, because that is not the case," Tordiff said. "But I am unable to lend support to this because it was determined that if an accident were to happen, the city would then be open to possible litigation."

Additionally, the final decision is one that deals with the day-to-day operations of the city, which, according to the City Charter, are under the jurisdiction of Mayor Bob Cleary, Tordiff said.

Although it is understood by council as a whole that the issue does have possible legal ramifications, councilman Leo Ulery said this is one group that deserves a second opinion on the matter.

"Unless you’ve served, you don’t know what it means," Ulery said. "As a city, I would like to think there is something we could do on this one day for veterans. I’d like to see this looked into some more. Maybe it’s possible to put a uniformed officer in the street to help direct traffic, but I think we’ve got more than the option of just saying no to this request."

Veterans’ representatives sell poppies each year to raise money for disabled American veterans, and the fund-raiser is the main source of income for the organization.

With that fact in mind, councilman Jesse Roberts agreed with Ulery and said the city should, at the very least, keep the issue open.

"I strongly urge that we do something to assist this organization with the fund-raising efforts," he said. "If it has been determined that the city could be liable with this type of fund-raising effort, I’m sure there are other avenues we can explore."

Veterans’ representatives first approached council last month about the fund-raising efforts and asked to have collections and sales in the city entrance’s intersection.

In other business Thursday, council members

–  Discussed possible dress-code issues to present a professional image to the public and any potential business and industry representatives who might attend meetings.

–  Passed a resolution appointing Bill Dickens to one of two vacancies on the Enterprise Tax Zone Incentive Council, the county council that reviews applications from businesses who want tax incentives for locating in Lawrence County.