The Athens City Planning and Development and Finance and Personnel committees gave updates, and the Committee of the Whole discussed recreational marijuana sales on Monday.
The Committee of the Whole proposed reappointing Dominick Brook and the initial appointment of Randy Gonzalez to The Ridges New Community Authority Board of Trustees.
The Ridges New Community Authority Board of Trustees is made up of representatives from the community and Ohio University.
Councilmember Beth Clodfetter (D-At-large) wondered if appointing Gonzalez, OU’s President Lori Gonzalez’s husband, would make the community question the university’s authority.
“I just wonder if people in the community will question it–the first gentleman of the university as a citizen member of a community board,” Clodfetter said.
The appointments were put off for vote at next Monday’s city council meeting.
Planning and Development Committee Chair Alan Swank (D-4th Ward) brought up a Title 49 special right-of-way permit for the Don Wood Hyundai dealer.
The committee has been working for nearly two years on creating a plan to address roadway outside of the dealership’s lot, Swank said.
The dealership has been parking cars in the right-of-way and blocking drivers’ views when they go to turn off Grand Park Boulevard, Avon Place or Euclid Drive onto East State Street, Swank said.
“We want to be as business friendly as possible, but how long are we going to continue to allow this practice? And I’m not talking about this property, but this practice, in general, of squatters rights using the city right of way without permission,” Swank said.
Swank talked about the upcoming marijuana sales for cannabis recreational use.
Deputy Service-Safety Director Andrew Chiki said the city can regulate home rule items, which is typically where and how cannabis businesses are set up.
“A number of recommendations have been made in order to create a process that does not overrun the city with multiple businesses of the same, but also allows them in a sensible and manageable way for both the city administration and for the community's knowledge and involvement,” Chiki said.
The state has not released an update on recreational sales, Chiki said he will continue to follow guidance from the city’s Safety-Service Director Andrew Stone.
Finance and Personnel Committee Chair Jeff Risner (D-2nd Ward) gave updates on council appropriations.
“We have a request in the form of an ordinance from the Municipal Court to change the payment structure of employees from being paid 100% from our general fund to 50% from the general fund and the other 50% is coming from grants,” Risner said.
