A new ordinance introduced at council Tuesday might make it easier for the Athens Police Department and Ohio University Police Department to work together during major events — like the upcoming Halloween Block Party.
But councilman Pat McGee, I-At Large, said he suspects the city might be getting the raw end of the deal.
Two weeks ago, Athens Police Chief Tom Pyle requested that council members change the language of a nearly 30-year-old contract between APD and OUPD, in the hopes of allowing ADP to give more aid to OUPD.
As it stands now, OUPD provides ADP with 1,000 hours worth of aid per year. In comparison, APD provides OUPD with 300 hours worth of aid. In the past, the city of Athens has charged OUPD $10,000 annually for the aid they provide, according to a previous Post article.
“It’s the same agreement we’ve had for a number of years, the only difference now is that we no longer ask for money from the university,” Councilman Kent Butler, D-1st Ward, said.
The changes would allow for the two departments to provide mutual aid without billing one another for hours. The language of the agreement would also broaden the scope of circumstances under which APD could assist OUPD.
Currently, the departments can only offer assistance during "major events." The new agreement would change that language to "major events and emergencies," according to a previous Post article.
McGee raised concerns about the fairness of the agreement, pointing out that Ohio University makes revenue from the Halloween Block Party through visitor and parking fees. He said a majority of the city issues that would require extra support — like Spring Fests and Halloween — are instigated by students.
Other council members were supportive of the change.
“I think it's being a good neighbor and it is the right thing to do,” Councilman Peter Kotses, D-At Large, said.
Councilwoman Jennifer Cochran, D-At Large, acknowledged her support for the proposal, but added a caveat.
“I agree it's being neighborly, but I would like to point out that the city is the smaller neighbor ... it is an unequal relationship, ” she said.
The current contract is set to expire on Oct. 25. Butler said the goal was to establish the agreement in time for the Halloween celebration.
Later in the meeting, council returned to the topic of Halloween when Councilwoman Michele Papai, D-3rd Ward, introduced legislation that will allow food vendors and concert stages uptown for the event.
"We always come around to Halloween somehow," she said.
The musical performances will be scheduled to end a half hour earlier this year, Cochran said.
Last week, Brandon Thompson, a member of the Athens Clean and Safe Halloween Committee, told council the stages would shut down earlier in order to clear out Court Street sooner and hand control over to law enforcement officers sooner, according to a previous Post article.
Papai also introduced an ordinance to close the streets for the Athens Uptown Business Association Trick-or-Treat event, which is being held Oct. 31.
“There aren’t complications this year because it is after the actual block party event,” Papai said.
Councilmembers also introduced a bill that will allow the city to take out bonds to pay for the city pool. Over a period of 20 years, the city will collect about $17 million from the 0.1 percent income tax passed in 2014. In the meantime, general obligation bonds will be used to pay for the immediate construction of the pool, costing about $7.3 million.
Cochran said the pool has continued to be a pressing issue. At a number of community events, citizens have approached her asking when the pool would be constructed, she said.
