Athens City Council members passed two ordinances and heard several concerns from residents in their special session last night to make up for the snow cancellation last week.
Members passed an ordinance that will amend the 2003 appropriation ordinance by transferring money within the existing budget. This money will help to fund the art commission, said Councilwoman Nancy Bain, D-3rd ward.
Another adopted ordinance also amends the 2003 appropriation ordinance as well as the 2003 interfund transfer ordinance. This allocated unspecified money in the budget to several different funds.
This ordinance was amended during the meeting to allow $50,000 from the EPA litigation fund to be transferred to the underage drinker’s fund, which is short on money, said Councilman Dale Tampke, D-at large.
Members also discussed an ordinance that will allow the Service-Safety Director to accept bids and to enter into a contract for new traffic signals at the intersections of Court and President streets and Court and Carpenter streets.
The signals will be paid for from $70,000 transferred to the Athens Enhancement Fund from the unappropriated balance, said Councilman Gary Van Meter, R-4th ward.
Another ordinance put through its first reading will allow for rental permit fees to increase for the rest of 2003 and again in 2004. Councilman Edward Baum, R-at large, said the cost of providing rental services is rising, so the city must raise the rental permit fees to recover the costs of these services.
Also discussed last night was the license and contracts of Waste Management.
Residents have voiced concerns regarding the contract the company holds with its customers, Bain said. People are concerned the contract is too restrictive, and customers have little power.
Councilman Jim Sands, D-at large, said customers need to contact the company in writing within 90 days before the contract expires to give notice they will not be continuing with waste management.
But a problem arises when the company requires that they be notified exactly 90 days before expiration, he said. Customers who do not follow this may find themselves in unwanted contracts.
Waste management’s license expired and is looking to buy a license from Bob’s Sanitary Service, Bain said.
If the company does not have a license, then contracts that the company holds with customers are invalid, Sands said.
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Liz Amrhein
