(PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
OFFICER SMITH … Mayor Borer reads the oath of office to newly hired police officer Justin Smith. Officer Smith reads back the oath and is sworn into his role as officer.
By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
The Fayette Village Council held a meeting on Wednesday, January 8th. The meeting began at 6:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer.
Council first moved to approve the agenda as presented before casting their ballots to decide who would serve as council president. Following the vote tallies, the result ended in councilor Katie Colegrove being chosen.
Minutes from the December 23rd meeting were then approved before moving on to hear the mayors report, with the following items being included in that report.
The CED Learning Friends Program is being held from 3:15-5:30 p.m., with K-12 students at the Nazarene Church on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays each week.
An exception to this will be on January 20th, which is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so there will be no program on that day.
The next CDC meeting was said to be held at the Fayette School on January 13th, with the meeting starting at 6:00 p.m. The next Lions Club meeting was to be held on January 14th and the Fayette Methodist Church Free Community Meal was set for January 15th at 5:00 p.m. at the Family Life Center.
Lastly, the Garden and Beautification Club’s next meeting is scheduled for Sunday, January 19th, at 2:00 p.m. at the Lions Hall.
The mayor then welcomed up Justin Smith in order to swear him into the position of Fayette Police Officer. Following approval by council, Smith was sworn in by Mayor Borer.
The meeting then continued on to the administrator’s report. The report touched on a park equipment grant that the village was awarded money for. The paperwork needed for this grant is still currently being worked on.
Continuing, it was stated that Matt Gilroy from the Fulton County Economic Development Corporation reached out with a contact for grant funding for the bridge on Eagle Street.
The bridge was identified by ODOT SFY for the 2025 municipal bridge list, which means the bridge qualifies for ODOT funding. This funding will cover 95% of the bridge’s replacement costs.
Conversation then shifted over to the village holiday schedule, which currently has the office closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President’s Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day.
These days are marked as in service for the village employees. It was stated that, moving forward, the village should mimic the county’s holiday schedule to be a more conducive and sensible set up.
Lastly, the administrator’s report included the topic of council meeting dates. It was stated that, following conversations, it was be recommended to consolidate committee meetings into one day as a “committee of the whole” meeting. These meetings would be held on the second Wednesday of every month from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Additionally, it was also put forward that council meetings should also be consolidated into one meeting per month, which would be held on the third Wednesday of the month.
This schedule was voted on, approved by council, and will take effect on February 1st. Also approved was the recommendation to follow the county’s holiday set up.
Council then moved to approve the administrators report before moving on to hear a report from the village fiscal officer.
It was stated that work is being done to close the month of December’s financials, along with the year as a whole. The 2025 budget is also getting entered.
Lastly, it was stated that upcoming software and banking changes are coming which will help to streamline things more this year. Council then moved to approve the VFO’s report and payment of the bills as presented.
Last under the agenda was to approve listed legislative actions. With one item already being approved above, council moved to approve a motion put forward to amend the rules of council members and the mayor’s monthly pay and change it to the last regularly scheduled payroll of the month.
This will help to prevent one extra payroll at the very end of the year. With that, the meeting was adjourned at 6:41 p.m.