PHOTO BY JESSE DAVIS / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
COUNCIL DISCUSSES ADMINISTRATOR … Members of the Delta Village Council gather for their meeting on Monday, November 17. Among the business of the day, council members took part in an hour-long executive session during which they discussed a list of goals set for the year for Village Administrator Chris Frazer, who was not included in the session.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
Village Administrator Chris Frazer was the subject of a lengthy executive session discussion during the most recent meeting of the Delta Village Council.
At the end of the meeting, after another executive session to discuss the state audit, council members convened a second executive session for an employee evaluation “to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee or official.”
Frazer was informed he would not be needed at the beginning of the session but would be called to enter after five minutes. An hour later, council members emerged from the session without ever having invited Frazer in.
Mayor Allen Naiber announced the council discussed a list of goals that were set at the beginning of the year for the administrator to accomplish.
“We will go over those as soon as I hear back from the law director,” Naiber said.
ALLEY ABANDONMENT
Council members discussed the potential abandonment of a portion of the alley behind 107 and 109 Palmwood Street. Despite still being owned by the village, the alley has not been maintained for some years, and one end of it was already abandoned by the village in 1994.
Frazer reported that the Fulton County auditor researched the alley and found no easements affecting the property.
Law Director Kevin Heban said he could draft an ordinance to abandon the remainder of the alley and would have it ready to begin voting on at the council’s next meeting.
Several civil issues, including disputed property lines and which properties would be deeded, and which portions of the alley were brought up by affected residents. If abandoned, the alley would be surveyed and split among the four properties it abuts.
POLICE UPDATES
Police Chief Samuel Chappell provided several updates to the council, including a potential new program and community surveys.
The Blue Envelope Program, which Chappell discussed with the Board of Developmental Disabilities, involves participants maintaining a file on their developmental disabilities that is kept in a blue envelope in their vehicle.
If pulled over by an officer, they can give the envelope to the officer to provide them with information on their situation, which could otherwise be misinterpreted as failure to comply, among other issues.
Chappell is also seeking input from the community via a paper survey, which requests grades on the department’s overall service, competence, trust, and safety, while also asking for additional comments, concerns, and suggestions.
The surveys must be filled out on a paper form and physically turned in, but residents can choose not to sign their name and check a box requesting to remain anonymous.
Chappell noted that some residents had recently complained about officers responding to a call to trap a possibly rabid raccoon, saying the department had “better things to do.”
He pointed out that services such as handling the raccoon and assisting people locked out of their vehicles were possible because of Delta being a small community, and said he saw it as a benefit of the village’s small size that they could assist in such situations.
DUPONT/3M LAWSUIT
Council members approved on an emergency basis a contract for legal services with a law office handling a class action lawsuit against DuPont and 3M for contamination of drinking water with PFAS – chemicals that don’t easily break down.
Public Utilities Superintendent Jammie Flores reported she has a full year’s worth of quarterly EPA testing results of the village’s water to support its involvement in the lawsuit.
If successful, the village would receive a payout, a third of which would go to the law firm handling the case. She said there is no cost to the village if the case is unsuccessful.
OTHER BUSINESS
Council members approved on final reading an annual contract with the Public Defenders Commission of Fulton County to represent indigent defendants in “ordinance only” cases filed by the village.
Council members approved on second reading an ordinance setting regulations for mobile food vehicles and vendors, with Councilman Robert Shirer abstaining.
Council members approved on second reading an ordinance setting regulations for public and private fire hydrants.
Council members approved on second reading the sale of surplus property deemed unnecessary for any municipal purpose.
Council members approved on first reading permanent appropriations for current expenses and other expenditures of the village for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2026.
Council members approved on first reading a three-year extension to Chappell’s contract, which drew applause from one attendee.
Council members approved an ordinance creating a separate pay structure and administrative plan for the Delta Police Department, with more specifics requested prior to the second reading at the next meeting.
Council members approved a slate of changes to a proposed ordinance setting regulations on electric vehicle charging stations recommended by Shirer.
Council members approved a recommendation brought by Finance Director Joanne Clapp to approve a $3,360 annual contract for “State of Ohio UAN Software,” which will replace an existing system.
Clapp said the contract includes a laptop and printer, and will speed up and reduce the cost of audits while also providing easier availability of reports for the mayor and council members.
Council members approved a 3 percent cost-of-living increase for all village employees in 2026 by a vote of 4-2. Councilwoman Daphne Demaline abstained, and Councilman Anthony Dawson cast the sole dissenting vote.
Council members approved the payout of 120 days of accrued vacation time for Assistant Finance Director Marlena Allwood.
A recommendation from the finance committee to restore Juneteenth as a village government holiday was postponed pending the confirmation of why it was initially removed.
It was reported that it may have been removed in exchange for the setting of a different day as a holiday, possibly the day after Thanksgiving.
Frazer reported all purchasing requests would be approved only on an as-needed basis starting that day in order to preserve the budget as the end of the year nears and as work is completed on the 2026 budget, which was reviewed by the finance committee prior to the council meeting.
Frazer reported that York Township has still not signed the purchase agreement for the Delta Community Fire Department building until repairs to the roof have been fully completed, noting that a new leak had been identified.
The next regular meeting of the Delta Village Council will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, at 401 Main Street in Delta.