Thursday, June 19, 2008
CAMPBELL — A traffic camera will be in operation by September, said Mayor John Dill, after council passed enabling legislation by a 4-1 vote Wednesday.
Law Director Mark J. Kolmacic said it will be up to Police Chief Gus Sarigianopoulos to place the camera and to set the speed limits that will activate it.
Councilwoman Juanita Rich, D-4th, who voted against the measure, asked how the city could “go after” violators who do not pay.
Violators could be turned over to a collection agency or legal action could be pursued, said Kolmacic.
Dill said there will be only one camera and it will be moved from place to place. It will not cost the city any money, and people will know where it is. “We aren’t going to hide it,” he said.
Council also approved an ordinance limiting the number of dogs or cats a person can keep on residential property at any one time to four dogs or four cats. The ordinance does not apply to situations where a female dog or cat gives birth to a litter. In that event, the owner or keeper will be given a reasonable amount of time, not exceeding six months, in which to reduce the number of animals to the legal limit.
Rich, who voted against the ordinance, criticized council for bringing it out of her committee against her will for the vote.
In another matter, Dill said he doesn’t think the administration’s failure to bring forward in a timely manner legislation to appropriate the city’s $100,000 local match will delay the paving of Coitsville Road by the Ohio Department of Transportation planned for this year.
In caucus before the regular meeting, council President William J. VanSuch said the city charter prohibits appropriating money during special meetings, and could not be passed at Wednesday’s meeting. The problem is that the enabling legislation was advanced to only the second of three readings necessary for passage, and council’s next regular meeting is not until September. Work on Coitsville Road is slated to begin before that.
When a councilman asked what happened, Finance Director John Leskovyansky said: “The mayor thought I was preparing the legislation and I thought he was.”
Dill said he planned to contact ODOT today about the matter, and felt certain it could be worked out.