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Revised Lisbon vacant building ordinance closer to approval

LISBON — The revised village vacant building ordinance is one step closer to being approved.

Village council this week passed the revised ordinance on second reading. The measure has to be passed on a third time before it takes effect.

The 2018 law requires property owners in the downtown business district to keep their buildings in good shape and make some effort to find a tenant or sell the building.

The revised version replaces the self-reporting requirement and instead places the onus for enforcement entirely on the village. It also has a stiffer “monitoring fee” and penalties for non-compliance, which can be waived once the property owner complies.

In other action, council agreed to spend what is necessary to repair the problem of stormwater running onto the property of Summit Street resident Larry Muntean. He attended the previous meeting to say the recent storm drain project in the area only increased the problem of stormwater flowing into his yard.

Council member Jerry Cox investigated the problem along with street supervisor Jim Oliver and determined the village bears some of the responsibility. Their solution is to install two catch basins and new 12-inch line, which would cost $2,700 for the material. The street department would do the work.

Muntean agreed with the proposed solution and has agreed to sign off on a document to that effect.

Council also agreed to spend up to $800 to have Salem Sewer Drain use a camera to find the source of leaks at the community swimming pool. The pool was closed for the season in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and officials are using the time to find the source of a major leak and repair it.

“That will help us determine the scope of our problem as we go forward to come up with a plan,” said council member Ryan Berg.

Council met in executive session to interview the three firefighters who have applied for the fire chief position being vacated by Paul Gresh Jr., who is retiring at the end of August.

The candidates are Kurt Gresh, the assistant chief and Gresh’s brother; fire captain Mark Hall; and firefighter Adam McCullough.

Invited to sit in on the interviews were Center Township trustee Tim Novak and Elkrun Township trustees Kurt Seachrist and Randy Perrino. The townships contract with the fire department for fire protection services and were invited to the meeting by Mayor Peter Wilson.

Finally, council agreed to pay Mimi’s Mop N Go $800 to clean and sanitize the high school auditorium, where meetings have been held since July. This is the company used by council to clean village hall.

Council quit holding online meetings via Zoom in July when the school district allowed them to begin meeting in the auditorium because it gave them the room they need to achieve social distancing. Council will discontinue the practice before school begins on Aug. 24, however.

tgiambroni@mojonews.com

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