Norton board approves new finance department position

NORTON — Norton City Council has approved the creation of the deputy finance manager position after amending the former deputy finance director position at its June 14 meeting.
Councilwoman Charlotte Whipkey (at large) voted against the ordinance, which included the job description, job duties and a salary of $65,000 per year.
Council Vice Chairman Scott Pelot (at-large) said the position of deputy chief financial officer had not been filled in years.
Finance director Pamela Keener added that anyone hired into the role would be trained to do the payroll.
The Council also voted 6 to 1 to create the position of human resources specialist, with Whipkey voting against the legislation.
According to the order, the position will pay $20 per hour for applicants with a bachelor’s degree and $25 for applicants with a master’s degree.
City officials said delaying a vote on the ordinance would result in nonpayment of employees, which Keener said was due to the accounts clerk leaving to take a position with Norton City Schools.
In other business, Mayor Mike Zita announced that Keller Williams Realty Inc. has moved to Greenridge Plaza, located at 3725 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road, and a groundbreaking ceremony was held June 11.
Zita also said that 81 students entering first grade graduated from Norton Safety Town on June 11 and a session for new kindergartens would be offered the week of August 9.
Also during the meeting, the Council approved the following bills:
• establish the Local Fiscal Recovery Fund to receive US bailout funds;
• an agreement with the Southwest Summit Council of Governments (SWSCOG), the City of Barberton and the Township of Copley for the lease-purchase of computer equipment and an agreement with Dell Financial Services for the purchase of the equipment at a not exceeding $196,690;
• an agreement with APP Architecture Inc. for the Norton Police Service Design Project for an amount not to exceed $18,950;
• amending Section 848.15 and repealing Section 848.14 of the City’s Consolidated Ordinances, which reduces the required distance of wells and storage tanks from any building with human occupancy from 300 feet to 100 feet, Whipkey voting against; and
• Establishment of a $950 (up to 400 gallons per day or less) connection charge for the Clark Mill Sanitary Sewer Extension, Councilor Dan Karant (Ward 3) voting against.
At a special meeting on June 7, the Board also approved the following:
√ Bids of $390,000 from Chagrin Valley Paving Inc. for the Norton Avenue resurfacing project and $75,000 from Kenmore Construction Co. for the emergency repair of the Gardner Boulevard storm sewer;
√ agreements with DLZ Ohio Inc. for engineering services related to the Norton Avenue project for an amount not exceeding $38,232 and Engineering Associates Inc. for engineering services related to the water main improvements of Johnson Road for an amount not exceeding $74,000; and
√ A change order with Lockhart Construction Co. for watermain improvements for an amount not to exceed $41,153.
The board will then meet for a business session on June 21 and a regular meeting on June 28, both at 7 p.m. in the boardroom of the Safety-Administration Building, located at 4060 Columbia Woods Drive.