N. Kingsville joins OVI Task Force — barely

By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

June 18, 2009 10:34 pm

NORTH KINGSVILLE — A scant majority of North Kingsville council members Wednesday approved the village’s membership in the OVI Task Force, a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement program.
Council approved necessary legislation by a 4-2 vote. Opposed were Dennis Kortyka and Michael Lynch, who — like Village Solicitor Daniel Madden — wanted more information before signing up.
“I still have concerns” regarding payment and scheduling, Lynch said. “I don’t want to pass legislation without those key questions answered.”
Council approved measures that allocates and appropriates $3,000 as start-up money to pay officers involved in Task Force operations, as well as a contract with UH Geneva Medical Center, which is funding the service via a grant it received from the Ohio Department of Public Safety.
North Kingsville will be reimbursed the $3,000, said Lori DeGeorge, clerk/treasurer.
Virtually every other law enforcement agency in Ashtabula County is involved in the Task Force, which periodically conducts special safety and traffic details across the area, council members have been told. Officers who participate are paid for their service and the expense is ultimately repaid through the grant.
At a meeting last month, Madden said there were legal and liability questions he wanted answered before recommending village membership in the Task Force. Case law Madden requested was never provided, he said.
In other business, council agreed to rescind a previous measure extending the contract of Tim Scanlon, Village Green Golf Course manager, through 2010. Scanlon hasn’t signed the extension and council needed to update some language in the pact, said Mayor Terry McConnell.
Council also convened a 25-minute executive session in the middle of the meeting to discuss possible discipline of a village employee. The worker was not identified and no action followed the closed-door session.
“We want (the contract) to be more in line with other golf course managers,” he said. “It will be offered again.”

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