July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Council suspends Geneva Marshal (03/08/06)
Geneva Town Council
By By MARY ANN LEWIS-
GENEVA — Town Marshal Rob Johnson, who council members consider “an excellent officer,” was suspended 35 days without pay Tuesday night by the Geneva Town Council.
Town attorney Chris Harvey said Johnson was suspended for a violation of rules, immoral conduct, and conduct unbecoming an officer.
Johnson joined the Geneva Police Department as a patrolman in 1999 and was named marshal in 2002. At his request, the council decided to allow Johnson to determine how he would fulfill the suspension.
“Personally I don’t care if it takes you ’til the end of the year to work this in,” councilman Mike Schwartz told Johnson. Schwartz admitted following the meeting that he struggled with the decision.
“I hate this,” Schwartz said, “Rob’s an excellent officer.”
Harvey explained Johnson will continue to be provided insurance benefits and that he has a right to a hearing.
“If you wish to have a hearing, you must request the hearing not more than five days after you received notice of this suspension,” Harvey told Johnson.
Johnson had no comment about the suspension during or after the meeting.
Additionally, Tuesday night the council agreed to reverse a decision it made at its February meeting, and pay Crosby Excavating for the rental of barricades used during the relocation of a gas line. The barricades were used during the Winchester Street reconstruction project.
Ryan Reville of the excavating firm explained why the bill was submitted so late. Following the explanation, council agreed to a lower charge of $2,640. The original change order was for $3,213.
“I don’t have a problem paying this change order,” said Schwartz, who strongly opposed the February request.
The council Tuesday night also heard Wes Kuntzman, coordinator of the 4community project, explain the goals of the recently-formed program in Adams County.
“The goal of the project is increased involvement of county residents in a county-wide planning process,” he said.
The partnership is composed of 10 Adams County organizations. The United Way of Adams county serves as the fiscal agency, Kuntzman explained.
The United Way recently received a $35,000 planning grant for the project and Crowe Chizek was hired to do a study identifying areas of concern.
Kuntzman explained areas of concern in the county include education, economic development, access to resources, health care, child care, and lack of communication.
He said a kick-off vision dinner for the program is set for Thursday, April 6, at 6 p.m. at Adams Central School and encouraged the council members to attend the meeting.
In other business Tuesday night:
•Johnson, in his monthly report to the council, warned residents about abandoned vehicles in the town.
“It’s time to clean ’em up,” he said. “If you can’t hop in it and drive it own the street, it’s an abandoned vehicle.”
He warned that those vehicles will be tagged and if they still remain at the site, will be towed away at the owner’s expense.
•Heard town manager, Steve Hampshire, say plans for inspecting the water tower are underway.
“We don’t have to drain the tank (as in the past),” Hampshire explained about the inspection process which now uses a camera inserted into the tank.
Cost of the inspection by Nelson Tank Services is $2,100.
The inspections are done each five years, Hampshire said.
•Reminded residents that this week is Severe Weather Preparedness Week throughout the state and agreed to have Harvey draw up an ordinance saying the city will observe the week annually.
“This will allow us to apply for federal grants in the event of a disaster,” Harvey emphasized about the ordinance.
•Noted the final reading of the utility rate increase will be held at the April 4 meeting.
“We have some things to work out,” council president Lew Wingler said.
Final reading of the ordinance, which raises water and sewer rates and creates a storm water runoff fee, was first set to be done at Tuesday night’s meeting, but a public hearing held last week brought up areas of concern, and the council agreed to postpone the final passage.[[In-content Ad]]
Town attorney Chris Harvey said Johnson was suspended for a violation of rules, immoral conduct, and conduct unbecoming an officer.
Johnson joined the Geneva Police Department as a patrolman in 1999 and was named marshal in 2002. At his request, the council decided to allow Johnson to determine how he would fulfill the suspension.
“Personally I don’t care if it takes you ’til the end of the year to work this in,” councilman Mike Schwartz told Johnson. Schwartz admitted following the meeting that he struggled with the decision.
“I hate this,” Schwartz said, “Rob’s an excellent officer.”
Harvey explained Johnson will continue to be provided insurance benefits and that he has a right to a hearing.
“If you wish to have a hearing, you must request the hearing not more than five days after you received notice of this suspension,” Harvey told Johnson.
Johnson had no comment about the suspension during or after the meeting.
Additionally, Tuesday night the council agreed to reverse a decision it made at its February meeting, and pay Crosby Excavating for the rental of barricades used during the relocation of a gas line. The barricades were used during the Winchester Street reconstruction project.
Ryan Reville of the excavating firm explained why the bill was submitted so late. Following the explanation, council agreed to a lower charge of $2,640. The original change order was for $3,213.
“I don’t have a problem paying this change order,” said Schwartz, who strongly opposed the February request.
The council Tuesday night also heard Wes Kuntzman, coordinator of the 4community project, explain the goals of the recently-formed program in Adams County.
“The goal of the project is increased involvement of county residents in a county-wide planning process,” he said.
The partnership is composed of 10 Adams County organizations. The United Way of Adams county serves as the fiscal agency, Kuntzman explained.
The United Way recently received a $35,000 planning grant for the project and Crowe Chizek was hired to do a study identifying areas of concern.
Kuntzman explained areas of concern in the county include education, economic development, access to resources, health care, child care, and lack of communication.
He said a kick-off vision dinner for the program is set for Thursday, April 6, at 6 p.m. at Adams Central School and encouraged the council members to attend the meeting.
In other business Tuesday night:
•Johnson, in his monthly report to the council, warned residents about abandoned vehicles in the town.
“It’s time to clean ’em up,” he said. “If you can’t hop in it and drive it own the street, it’s an abandoned vehicle.”
He warned that those vehicles will be tagged and if they still remain at the site, will be towed away at the owner’s expense.
•Heard town manager, Steve Hampshire, say plans for inspecting the water tower are underway.
“We don’t have to drain the tank (as in the past),” Hampshire explained about the inspection process which now uses a camera inserted into the tank.
Cost of the inspection by Nelson Tank Services is $2,100.
The inspections are done each five years, Hampshire said.
•Reminded residents that this week is Severe Weather Preparedness Week throughout the state and agreed to have Harvey draw up an ordinance saying the city will observe the week annually.
“This will allow us to apply for federal grants in the event of a disaster,” Harvey emphasized about the ordinance.
•Noted the final reading of the utility rate increase will be held at the April 4 meeting.
“We have some things to work out,” council president Lew Wingler said.
Final reading of the ordinance, which raises water and sewer rates and creates a storm water runoff fee, was first set to be done at Tuesday night’s meeting, but a public hearing held last week brought up areas of concern, and the council agreed to postpone the final passage.[[In-content Ad]]
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