By Kathleen Leese
For Miami Valley Today
TROY — The Troy City Council met Monday night, April 15, and heard from John Zimmerman, of the Miami Valley Fair Housing Center, in honor of April being Fair Housing Month. Council members also heard about a new program being offered through Rumpke Recycling as well as adopted several ordinances and resolutions.
Zimmerman, who was joined by Jacqueline Tyler, city of Troy management analyst for the development department, discussed fair housing. Zimmerman has worked for the Fair Housing Center for 24 years. He told council members the fair housing mission is to provide equal access to housing for all, and noted the Miami Valley Fair Housing Center is private and not affiliated with the government. They do receive funding from Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Zimmerman told those present they are working to stop discrimination in the housing sector and said the one population that does not have protection under the Fair Housing Act are veterans, while active duty military are included under the act.
One council member questioned what Zimmerman is doing to make sure veterans are added to the protected groups; he responded he has been working to add veterans to the legislation, however, that has not yet happened.
Zimmerman noted that out of 33,000 complaints last year involving fair housing issues, 60% came from those with disabilities, including problems with reasonable accommodations for those needing them.
Tyler added that her office is making sure landlords know the law and are aware of the expectations for them under that law.
In other business, Rumpke representatives Molly Kennedy and Chanda Rohrer addressed council about a new program that is a collaboration between Rumpke and Hefty renew program for hard to recycle plastics. The new program makes available a new and more convenient way for Rumpke customers to recycle more plastics that are hard to recycle.
Under the new collaboration, special Hefty bags are available at local retailers, including Meijer, Kroger and Ace Hardware available in Hefty boxes marked “ReNew.” According to Rohrer, they are a “little higher price” than typical garbage bags, but they last a lot longer and hold a lot of recyclables. Among the hard to recycle items that can be placed in the bags are foam egg cartons, salad and cheese bags, paper towel plastic wraps, foam peanuts, bubble wrap and other items. While participation in the program is not required, it is recommended.
Also during the Monday evening meeting, Patrick Titterington, Troy director of public service and safety, said a question had come up regarding street sweeping and whether the city had purchased a new street sweeper. Titterington said that was not true and the city has a contract for street sweeping, which was expected to take place this week. During winter months, the service is not used.
Council also took the following action Monday:
• Approved a bid for curbside recycling, suspending the readings and declared an emergency. The city of Troy contracts with Rumpke and that contract was due to expire in May of 2024. The director of public safety was authorized to advertise for bids and enter a contract for the curbside recycling program for a three-year-period, with up to two one-year mutually agreeable extensions at a cost not to exceed $535,000 per contract year.
• Authorized the director of public service and safety to enter into an amendment to the professional services agreement with American Structurepoint Inc., of Indianapolis, Indiana, to provide an update to the subdivision regulations at a cost of $25,000 for a total professional services agreement, not to exceed $225,000. The council approved the resolution, declaring an emergency and suspending the readings.
• Approved the final record plan for phase 2 at the Villas of Halifax Subdivision and Patio Homes Planned Development. It is located on the east side of North Market Street. The council suspended the readings, declared an emergency and adopted the ordinance.
• Approved the part-time clerk typist position in the cemetery department at a rate of $22.37 per hour. It was necessary to approve the action so that the staff can move forward in filling the position. The council suspended the readings, declared an emergency and allowing the adoption of the amendment to the salary ordinance.
• Suspended the readings, declared an emergency and adopted an ordinance for legislation to be prepared accepting the dedication of a utility easement along North Dorset Road related to the Addison Landing Subdivision and authorizing the director of public service and safety to execute associated easement documents.
• Approved legislation being prepared that would accept the dedication of 0.124 acres along 2765 McKaig Road as a right-of-way as recommended by the Troy Planning Commission. The council suspended the readings, declared an emergency and adopted the ordinance.
The next meeting of the council will be on Monday, April 29.
The writer is a regular contributor for Miami Valley Today.
