PHOTO BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
COUNCIL MEETING … Blakeslee Mayor Eric Jenkins (left), Fiscal Officer Courtny Osborn, and council member Shelly Cox discuss the village’s Christmas Parade at Wednesday’s council meeting.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
Blakeslee Village Council mourned the passing of longtime council member Rosemary Alexander at its monthly meeting on Wednesday, September 3, in village hall.
Alexander had earlier passed away on Wednesday morning, and now the focus is on finding her replacement on the council.
Council has thirty days to find her replacement. “I think the mayor could just tell somebody to do it, but it’s going to be appointed anyway,” said the village’s fiscal officer, Courtny Osborn.
Osborn recommended to village Mayor Eric Jenkins that he could bring in multiple members if there are two people who are interested.
“I don’t think someone is going to fight over a council spot,” said Osborn. “We need five to vote on anything, four for a quorum. Basically, if we vote somebody in within thirty days, like at the next meeting.
“If there are two people here, we take a vote, and if it’s past the thirty days, they will just be appointed.”
Just for clarification on the council replacement issue, Jenkins said that if the council must vote for two people again, members should listen to what the candidates have to say, then excuse them before discussing it.
Council approved the monthly payments for August. Receipts totaled $7,284.02, with expenditures at $3,352.01. “We got our property taxes in for July, which totaled around $4,000, which is a half-year payment,” said Osborn.
“Usually, we receive them in late August or early September, and the other payment comes sometime in March.”
Osborn presented a cybersecurity program in which the council had to sign and understand it. “Basically, it is a practice that we’re going to make sure our internet and internet connection does not get compromised by an outside source,” said Osborn.
The village will be hosting the monthly Williams County Mayoral Meeting on Wednesday, September 17, at Sam’s Place, Blakeslee, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Council was reminded of the village-wide cleanup day set for Saturday, October 18. A date has been set for the annual Christmas Parade to be held on Sunday, December 14, beginning at 5:00 p.m. The Blakeslee Knights of Columbus will be providing sandwiches and drinks for a free will donation afterwards.
Discussion concerning the village’s trick-or-treat activities was tabled until the October meeting due to the fact that a date has yet to be determined. Council then adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
The next council meeting is Wednesday, October 1, at 6:00 p.m. at the village hall.