INSIDE CITY HALL Here are some decisions...

INSIDE CITY HALL

Here are some decisions coming out of Tuesday’s City Council

meeting.

MEETING AGENDAS

Anyone who wants to pull an item off the consent calendar to

comment on it will be in for a long night now that the council has

changed its order of business. The council on Tuesday approved the

plan it thought it had approved two months before.

WHAT IT MEANS

The council will continue to deal with the bulk of the consent

calendar items near the beginning of the meeting. But items pulled

off the consent calendar will now be the second-to-last item on each

agenda, right before the formality of “motion for reconsideration”

that ends every meeting.

MODIFICATIONS COMMITTEE

A review of a modification permit for a Port Tiffin home ignited a

discussion on fireplaces, outdoor barbecues and even the role of the

city’s Modifications Committee. Councilman John Heffernan had called

up the item because he questioned why the committee was allowing the

homeowner to make renovations that extended further toward the

property line than city rules normally allow. After a rigorous

discussion on how, when and why such exceptions are granted, the

council agreed to let the committee’s decision stand.

WHAT IT MEANS

The matter basically ended after the council voted to allow the

homeowner to build the fireplace and a gazebo. No more talks on

fireplaces, barbecues or other structures are scheduled. But it’s

safe to bet that the issue will reignite next time someone wants a

modification to build a fireplace.

WHAT THEY SAID

“We’re seeing a trend of these fireplaces being built right on the

property line.” Heffernan said.