TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2000
Grandillo maps agenda for Tiffin City Council
By Erik Burriss
Staff Writer
The Tiffin City Council president outlined his vision for City Council at Monday night's Committee of the Whole meeting.
President Mike Grandillo submitted a seven-project legislative agenda which includes:
- Reinstatement of curbside recycling.
- Development of a plan to separate the city's storm and sanitary sewers.
- Completion of cable franchise negotiations with Time Warner.
- Continuing to provide matching funds for neighborhood beautification projects -- like the Fort Ball and Greenfield Street projects -- and adopting design review and exterior maintenance code.
- Fix and develop brownfields -- former industrial sites contaminated with hazardous chemicals -- so they are an economic asset.
- Support the committee that is investigating the possibility of an indoor winter recreation facility.
- Continue to oversee the sidewalk program and decide on a reasonable new curb program.
Grandillo also encouraged each committee chair to come up with his or her own list.
"I'd want committees to be the workhorses of this council," he said.
Committee of the Whole meetings should be reserved for solving problems that the committees can't solve, the council president said.
"The specialized work should be done in committee," he said. "The Committee of the Whole should not be the first discussion of an issue."
The committee also reviewed and discussed the procedures for city council meetings. Changes to be made in the meetings include allowing experts brought in by the administration to address City Council, or department heads speaking on administrative matters to speak during the mayor's report and listing all letters sent to the council on the agenda.