John Matuszak: Bexley seeks to nix texting and driving.

Exit the Information Superhighway before traveling our roadways.

That's the message Bexley City Councilman Jed Morison wants to send as he introduced an ordinance banning texting while driving in the suburb.

"It's a tool to say 'it's against the law to text and drive'" in Bexley, Morison explained at the July 28 council meeting. "If your hands are off the wheel and your eyes are off the road, it's a disaster waiting to happen."

A recent study published in the New York Times stated that drivers who are texting are 23 times more likely to have an accident - a greater risk that drinking and driving.


Morison wants the ordinance to be more educational than punitive, and he isn't looking to create a greater burden for police.

"My hope is that parents and family members and friends will be the chief educators and enforcers" of the ordinance, he said.

Some 14 states and several Ohio cities have entacted similar prohibitions, but Bexley is among the first central Ohio communities to take on the issue. Around 100,000 vehicles pass through Bexley every day.

City Attorney Lou Chodosh pointed out that Bexley already has a law against "driving while distracted," but that the texting ban would be more specific.

While some residents are questioning whether council should spend time on the ordinance, others are supportive, and the effort is drawing attention from outside the city.

Gahanna resident Sharon Montgomery spoke in favor of the move. Nine years ago her husband was killed and she was seriously injured in an accident involving a driver using a cell phone.

For 12 years, the state legislature has been trying to pass a bill banning cell phone use while driiving, without success, Montgomery said.

"So, if you want people to be safe in Bexley, you're going to have to take matters into your own hands," she said.

Morison acknowledged that this legislation could lead to a discussion of banning cell phone use while driving, but he wanted to get the texting law passed before getting hung up on that issue.

While teens do the majority of texting, Morison noted that the ordinance is not directed solely at them. In fact, since adults are less proficient at sending text messages, it's probably more dangerous when they text and drive, he added.

The ordinance will have additional readings when council returns from its summer recess in September, and the city is looking for public input on the issue before it votes, Morison said.

In other business, at council's service committee meeting, Councilman Rick Weber reported that residents could see an increase in their trash bills under a new contract with Rumpke Waste Haulers.

Bexley has been negotiating with the hauler it has used for seven years, along with a consortium of communities including Reynoldsburg, Gahanna and New Albany. The Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio has also been part of the talks.

Under the proposed contract, the cost for most residents would increase from $60 to $72 per quarter for 2010, Service Director Bill Harvey said. Costs for senior citizens would jump from $40 to $66 per quarter.

Harvey wants to revisit how the city extends the senior citizen discount.

Weber said that these costs would be fixed for the length of the five-year contract, but that Rumpke could increase charges to the city if fuel costs or recycling fees go up.

The trash contract has to be approved by Oct. 1. A service committee meeting with a Rumpke representative will be scheduled in September.

In other news, council:

Approved an ordinance ending a moratorium on hiring union-represented employees without council's approval, as long as the salaries are in the current budget. Council retains the ability to approve hiring of non-union employees.

Introduced an ordinance to purchase property adjacent to the city's community garden near Sheridan Avenue for $22,000. The purchase would provide easements to other city-owned lots and secure land for future development, Mayor John Brennan explained.

Introduced a resolution allowing the mayor to accept a $475,000 state grant for interior renovations at Jeffrey Mansion. Parks and Recreation Director Mike Price said the work would cover heating and cooling systems, floors and other repairs, and not expansion of mansion facilities.

Scheduled a meeting of the Land Use Master Plan Committee for Aug. 4 at 6:30 p.m. at Torah Ehmet synagogue on Main Street. The plan covers future development in areas including Livingston Avenue, Mayfield/Ferndale and North Cassady Avenue, according to Councilman Ben Kessler.



Announced that the Labor Day block party would be held at Jeffrey Park Sept. 6 from 3-6 p.m. with games and activities for kids, a yard sale, a Bexley Meadow Band concert and barbecue dinners for $5.


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John Matuszak reports: Bexley Council chews on changing dog-limit law

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Bexley City Council's safety committee is being asked to allow residents to keep more than three dogs, the limit now set by city ordinance.

The recommendation was presented Feb. 10 by attorney Gary Andorka, representing residents Jan and Karl Hinch, who had been recently notified that they were in violation of the law for keeping five dogs at their Pleasant Ridge Avenue property.



Andorka expained that the Hinches take in foster and rescue dogs until they can be placed in permanent homes. He also told the committee that the residents are now in compliance with the ordinance, having moved two of the dogs to Mrs. Hinch's sister's home. They had not been aware of the three-dog limit before receiving a warning in January. Their latest group is made up of smaller dogs, including poodles and terriers.

Andorka proposoed that council either rescind the current ordinance, or create a yearly permit with a $100 fee for residents who want to keep more than three dogs. The city could issue the permits on a case-by-case basis and consider such criteria as the size of the property and previous animal law violations befiore granting the waiver, the attorney said.

A small town in Kansas has a similar permit provision, Andorka said. Columbus does not have a limit, while many of the surrounding suburbs limit residents to three or four dogs.

Andorka presented a letter with about 25 signatures supporting the Hinches in their efforts.

Mrs. Andorka reported that she and her husband, Bexley residents for about seven years, have been taking in dogs for nine to 10 years. She said she would move out of Bexley before giving up her dogs.

Animal Control Officer Becky Shope and Police Chief Larry Rinehart did not appear to favor the proposal. Shope said she responded to 11 violations of the dog limit last year. She told the committee that Franklin County requires anyone with more than five dogs to have a kennel license.

Monitoring permits would be an added burden for an already busy force, the chief added.

"When you talk about permitting, you're talking about oversight,which means increasing the work load," Rinehart said.

Mayor John Brennan expressed skepticism that people would actually come in to pay the permit fee.

City Attorney Lou Chodosh offered that the law would have to be written with narrow criteria.

"I'm afraid that every time someone applies for a permit it would become extremely subjective," he said.

Councilman Rick Weber said he might favor a permitting process, but acknowledged that the law would ave to be carefully written. Councilman Mark Masser is leaning against it.

While many residents, himself included, like dogs, "a lot of people are afraid of dogs," Masser said,

In other business, Chief Rinehart announced that he is trying to organize block watches in the community, in response to a rise in property thefts.

"Some parts of of our community are just made for community watches," Rinehart said.

Having more eyes and ears helping the police could reduce the thefts, which topped 600 last year, according to the chief.

While many residents already keep an eye on their neighborhoods, having a block watch in conjunction with the police would formalize the process, he added. They could then report suspicious activities without feeling like "nosy neighbors."

Rinehart is available to talk to any group interested in learning how to form a block watch. He can be reached at 559-4444, or at LRinehart@bexley.org.

Bexley Public Radio Foundation broadcasting as
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Columbus, OH 43209
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Bexley Public Radio Foundation is exempt from federal taxes under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Donations are deductible from federal income taxes for individuals who itemize. Checks may identify the payee as Bexley Public Radio Foundation or WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM.

Design is copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Foundation. Text is copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Foundation.

John Matuszak reports on Bexley City Council Meeting of September 23.

CAPITAL BEXLEY GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENT

Capital University's "good neighbor" agreement with Bexley, signed last spring, is being put to the test already with a rash of wild parties being reported. The latest one last Friday included fights, marijuana and several arrests.

At the Sept. 23 Bexley City Council meeting,City Attorney Lou Chodosh said he thinks the agreement is working, and that university officials, including President Denvy Bowman, are responding personally to these problems.

Chodosh reported that Bowman has urged the city to "prosecute to the fullest extent of the law" any violators who end up in Bexley's mayor's court. Those who are arrested are also being referred to Capital for further disciplinary action.

Capital signed the agreement with Bexley to handle complaints about student behavior and trash and beer bottles being left on the streets and lawns. The complaints surfaced when the university sought a zoning change to turn condos for senior citizens on Astor Avenue into off-campus student housing.

The most recent event to get out of hand was an annual gathering of fraternity and sorority members from different universities. That event has already been cancelled for next year, Mayor John Brennan told council.

Residents living near the campus on Sheridan and College avenues have frequently complained about out-of-hand students. The good neighbor agreement came about last spring when Capital proposed to turn condos for senior citizens on Astor Avenue into student housing. that zoning request was okayed by council contigent on Capital'sromise to clamp down on rowdy students.

Another request for a zoning variance by Capital University had residents again questioning whether the institution is a good neighbor at last night's Bexley City Counil meeting.

Council did grant the latest variance that will allow Capital to convert a house at 2361 East Mound Street into offices for its alumni association. The property had been zoned for single-family use. The vote was 5 to 1, with Councilman mark Masser voting no and Councilwoman Robyn Jones absent.

The house is now being used as an honors dorm and is occupied by two students.

The request had residents concerned that Capital is encoraching on residential areas. They also questioning whether the renovation fits with the city's southwest master plan, which directs campus growth to the west side of the city rather than to the east.

Capital's attorney, Don Plank, explained that converting the building to office use creates a buffer between the university's administative buildings and the residential areas of the neighborhood.

The offices will mostly be used for small gatherings and will allow the alumni association to host potentialdonors and others, Plank said.

Another Capital attorney, Troy Bonte, added that the building could be used ocassionally for alumni gatherings for as many as 30 to 40 people.

Bonte told council that the university will be asking for a maximum occupancy of 49 people. But Bruce Langner, the city's development director, said the occupancy limit will be decided after a review of the building plans.

Two residents who rent homes on Euclaire Avenue owned by Capital, Tamara Angle and Melinda Akins, spoke to council and said that the university should be putting more attention into these properties before it spends money renovating.

The women reported that they have had difficulty getting the university to respond to requests for maintenance. Attorney Troy Bonte responded that Capital has hired a new management companyto take care of its rental properties.

Councilman Ben Kessler stated that the university has a lot of space for gatherings and he didn't think this site was a good spot for such events.

Mayor John Brennan suggested that Capital provide a schedule of events at the alumni offices to keep resident and police officers informed. The city has a similar arrangement with Ohio State University President Gordon Gee, who has his home in Bexley, the mayor aid.

Before voting for the zoning variance, Councilman Rick Weber said he was "not jumping up and down' about the new use, but he was comfortable with it and was committed to improving relations with the university.

Weber did add that Capital could make things easier when it comes forward with these zoning requests if it did a better job keeping up the properties it owns.

OTHER BUSINESS

In other business-

Council's finance committee is expected to discuss next year's budget at an Oct. 7 meeting.

A proposed ordinance to prohibit picketing in front of residences has been referred to the safety committee and will be discussd at its Oct.14 meeting starting at 5:30.

The second round of bids for a new police station will be opened Sept. 30. The first set of bids came in around one milion dollars over estimates, leading architects to revise the projected cost for the project.

MOZART'S

It looks like Mozart's pastry shop in Bexley has closed after being open only a short time in the new Gateway complex. But Breugger's Bagels,which had a shop in town for several years, is coming back and will open in the former Woodworker's building at Main and Cassingham, next to the Penn Station sub shop.

SALT FOR WINTER ROADS

Service Director Bill Harvey reported that, because of skyrocketing costs, he has not yet ordered any road salt for the upcoming winter. He told council that the cost has jumped from $50 a ton paid last year to $150 a ton for 1,000 tons. And there is no guarantee of delivery. The city has about 150 tons on hand, and uses 100 to 200 tons per winter storm.

Harvey said he is looking at other options to de-ice streets, including brine and sand. There is also a possibility that crews will only salt main roads and intersections this winter. He said he will wait on a decision by council as to whether to order salt at the higher cost, or wait until the price possibly comes down.

WCRX-LP Editorial Collective
Bexley Public Radio Foundation broadcasting as
WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM, Local Power Radio
2700 E. Main St., Suite 208
Columbus, OH 43209
Voice (614) 235 2929
Fax (614) 235 3008
Email wcrxlp@yahoo.com
Blog http://agentofcurrency.blogspot.com

Bexley Public Radio Foundation broadcasting as WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM is exempt from federal taxes under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Donations are deductible from federal income taxes for individuals who itemize. Checks may identify the payee as Bexley Public Radio Foundation WCRX-LP, 102.1 FM.


Design is copyright 2008. All rights reserved. Bexley Public Radio Foundation. Text is copyright 2008. All rights reserved. John Matuszak.