GIRARD COUNCIL Deadline for submissions of dam plans approaches

The law director says the city should breach the dam.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- With an August deadline looming for plans to breach or repair the lower Girard Lakes Dam, Law Director Mark Standohar told council that planning to breach the dam may be the only feasible solution.
Standohar said the city has a consent agreement with the Ohio attorney general's office that says the city must submit partial plans by Aug. 1 to either breach or repair the dam. Completed plans must be submitted by year's end.
Any breach or dam repair would be completed by Oct. 31, 2008, under the agreement.
Councilman Michael Costarella said repairing the dam would cost more than $10 million dollars. Breaching it, he said, would cost a little more than $1 million.
Costarella said the city has $1.1 million from a congressional grant that could be used for the breaching. He said city officials have been hoping the state would make available an additional $5.5 million to help save the structure.
Councilman Joe Shelby said dual plans of repair and breach for the dam should be presented to the state. He said the city could repair the dam if funds are made available and breach it if not.
Here's the situation
Standohar and Councilman Frank Migliozzi said the agreement calls for plans to breach or repair. Submitted plans for both options will not do.
Standohar called any desire by council to continue waiting for the potential additional congressional funds frustrating. He said the city does not have nearly enough money to repair the dam, and Girard should move forward with plans to breach it without any further stalling.
"We have a signed order from a judge to meet these deadlines, and council needs to take that very seriously or be hit with great sanctions and fines," he said. "If you don't have the money and plans to obtain the money, it is bad faith to present them with repair plans at this point."
Standohar said once plans to breach the dam have been submitted, the city could request to amend them if money is made available to repair it.
Costarella requested legislation be placed on the agenda for council's next meeting requesting that plans to breach the dam be drawn up.
In other discussion, Councilman Dan Moadus moved that council, with the assistance of city administration, oversee upcoming contract negotiations with city employees. City administrators normally handle contract negotiations.
"I personally want a hand in negotiations," he said. "I don't think anyone should be denied the chance to have a hand in this."
Standohar said any such motion passed would not likely be legally binding because the power of contract negotiation is not statutorily granted to council. The motion was voted down 6 to 1.
Actions taken
Council also:
UPassed an ordinance establishing guidelines and regulations for the construction and placement of billboards and other advertising devices within the city. The new ordinance essentially adds a permit and fee schedule to the former ordinance.
UPassed an ordinance accepting the mayor's most recent financial recovery plan after amending a section that called for borrowing against future state grant funds. The borrowing will not take place until 2007. A section calling for a fire levy renewal to be placed on the ballot until it passes was also removed.
UPassed a resolution declaring certain land for municipal public use. City officials are hoping to turn land along the Mahoning River into park property. An anonymous donor has donated funds to cover the venture.
jgoodwin@vindy.com