Council Regulates Solid Fuel Boilers

Council President, Mary Louise Madigan called the November 7, 2011 Council meeting to order. She then turned the floor over to Councilwoman Monique Smith (At-Large) who asked Council to pass a resolution commending the Lakewood City Schools for achieving an “Excellent” rating from the Ohio Department of Education. She said the rating is a testament of the hard work and dedication of the students, teachers and administrators in Lakewood. She also recognized the extra financial support the schools receive for attaining such a rating and the impact this would have on making Lakewood a great place to raise a family and property values.

Council passed the resolution unanimously.

A representative of the Lakewood City Schools was present to accept the resolution on their behalf. He then promptly left so he could present it to the Board at their meeting happening at the same time.

Councilwoman Smith then read a report from the Public Safety Committee regarding solid fuel burning boilers. These are devices that use wood or other solids to burn in order to heat a house. With several residents’ complaints of the less than five there are in Lakewood, Council passed a moratorium on any more installations of the furnaces until they could decide how to handle them. Smith said that the conversation as to whether Lakewood will allow more in the City will continue, but discussed an ordinance that would help regulate those already in the City. The changes include setting a burning season from November 1-April 30, establishing "no burn" days on air quality alert days and clarification that only “clean, seasoned wood” can be burned.

Law Director, Kevin Butler, suggested a few changes to be made before passage, including the height of the smokestack and allowing the City’s inspectors to make calls on whether certain abatement practices are necessary on a case-to-case basis. Council took the changes into consideration, but before voting on the ordinance, a few members of the public were there to make statements. Two of them were boiler-owners claiming it was discrimination that they are not changing the rules for fireplaces, which the city has many more of than boilers. The last was someone who lives not far from a boiler and made the point that fireplaces don’t burn all day, boilers do. He also discussed the health impacts and the fact that a realty lawyer told him that living by a boiler was something that had to be disclosed, which he believes will bring down his homes value.

Council passed the ordinance with Butler’s amendments.

Next Councilman Tom Bullock (Ward II) asked Council to consider an ordinance that would a update the laws governing compost piles. With composting becoming popular in the city as more people turn to backyard gardening, Bullock believes the current laws should be updated. The new ordinance would require composts to be kept in enclosed bins and regularly maintained to prevent weeds.

Council received the ordinance and referred it to the Public Works Committee.

Then Police Chief Malley asked Council to pass a resolution that would allow the City to receive a grant of $10,377.47 from University Hospitals of Cleveland. The grant would go towards saturation patrols for particular days and times when high numbers of drivers under the influence tend to be out. This would help with the enforcement and keeping drunk drivers off the road.

Council passed the resolution.

After a few words from members of the public, Council President Madigan adjourned the meeting.