Brunswick Mayor Ron Falconi presents Brunswick Plaza Barbershop owners, Vicki Michalske (left) and her daughter, Ashlea Bailey, with a proclamation at the Feb. 13 city council meeting, honoring the shop’s 60 years in business. Brian Lisik/special to cleveland.com
BRUNSWICK — As city officials, area Realtors, and rental property owners continue to discuss a proposed ordinance to regulate rental properties in the city and establish fees for “rental dwelling unit certificates,” city council had its first reading Feb. 13 of companion legislation to address issues related to fair housing.
“This does address some deficiencies in our code; there is no fair housing ordinance in our code,” said city Law Director Ken Fisher. “It is an outgrowth of those (rental unit regulation ordinance) discussions. Some saw that as an attempt by the city to discriminate (with regard to housing) and nothing could be further from the truth. But this legislation clarifies the city’s commitment to fair housing laws.”
The proposed fair housing ordinance assures that “all persons have full and equal opportunity to consider all available housing for themselves and their families within the city without being discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability, family status, national origin, military status, association with a protected class or source of income, and to promote a stable, racially integrated community.”
A volunteer, three-member fair housing review commission, made up of citizens appointed by the mayor and confirmed by city council, would also be formed to work with the law director to hear and process fair housing complaints. The ordinance also provides for hearings and injunctive and judicial relief, if necessary.
The ordinance is expected to go through its full three readings by council, with its second reading scheduled for the next regular meeting of council, at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27 at city hall, 4095 Center Road.
Meanwhile, council members scheduled a meeting at 6:15 p.m. Feb. 20 at city hall, to further discuss options related to the proposed rental legislation options. This discussion will be held immediately prior to the regularly scheduled building and building code committee meeting.
Barber shop celebrates 60 years
Mayor Ron Falconi formally recognized the Brunswick Plaza Barbershop on its 60th Anniversary in business, noting its contribution to the community over the past six decades and congratulating second-and-third-generation proprietors, Vicki Michalske and her daughter, Ashlea Bailey.
“I thank – my dad and I thank – the citizens of Brunswick,” Michalske said. “Without everybody in Brunswick, we would not be as successful. And my dad would be proud knowing the third generation is going strong.”
Gas aggregation and new IT position
City council passed three pieces of legislation, the first authorizing the city manager to enter into agreements with approved suppliers of natural gas.
“This is a continuation of the (current) aggregation program the city has used for the past several years, but the provider is changing,” City Engineer Matt Jones said. “And this is only for high-use facilities, for example, the Rec Center.”
The second and third pieces of legislation approved were ordinances to establish the position of full-time information technology assistant in the division of information and public communications, and to establish the pay range of the position.
Technology and Security Administrator Rob Marok said the division is currently staffed by himself and two part-time employees. The $70,000 per year position is also accounted for in the city’s 2017 operating budget.
Traffic cameras, phone scams and condolences
In his department report, City Manager Carl DeForest addressed the city’s recent installation of cameras at the intersections of Grafton and Hadcock and Laurel and Pearl roads.
The cameras, DeForest said, are not traffic control related. Rather, they have been installed to monitor the effectiveness of a new road-salt additive the city is testing, with the long range goal of “reducing crashes” in inclement weather, DeForest said.
The city manager also warned residents, particularly seniors, of a phone scam in which the callers ask for social security and bank account numbers in order to receive military veteran benefits.
“If it is information you wouldn’t tell a total stranger, don’t give it to them,” DeForest said, before announcing a meeting at 12:15 p.m. March 16 at the Brunswick Recreation Center, 3637 Center Rd., that will address scams such as these that target seniors.
DeForest also expressed his condolences to the family of former Brunswick American Legion Post 234 chaplain and president Jerry Lemons, who died this week.
“He is in a state of Ohio Veteran’s Hall of Fame and we’ve lost a real friend,” DeForest said. “He was a wonderful guy and I’m going to miss him.”
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