BELMONT — Mayor Ron Woods said efforts to get village residents and landowners to clean up their properties yielded early positive results, while Councilman Nick Kalo suggested forming a volunteer group to help with yard work for those who need assistance.

Woods informed council during the June 3 meeting that he along with Police Chief Andrew Miller and Board of Public Affairs President Ken Davis had recently gone around the village and sent notifications to residents whose yards were in violation of ordinances concerning grass height and litter and debris accumulation. Woods reported he was pleased that most of those who were notified took action to clean up their properties and that village officials would continue to assess properties and issue notices as needed.

Councilman Zack Kalo, who was chosen in May to take the council seat vacated by Dan Scott, suggested a group of volunteers could be formed to assist residents who either could not afford or were physically unable to keep their yards mowed and trimmed. Kalo said that the group could accept donations for the purchase of fuel and other needed supplies such as trimmer string and reflective safety vests.

“I think it would be a good way for everybody to contribute and show that we’re not just trying to punish people, but also help out,” said Kalo.

Councilwoman Lorie Grob said she thought the idea was great but asked Village Solicitor T.J. Schultz what village government’s level of involvement should be due to liability concerns.

Schultz replied that while he did not think the village should officially sanction the group per se, due to the liability concerns as Grob had suggested, he thought it would be fine for the group to form and work within the village to help out and suggested the village could even donate supplies to the group if needed.

Kalo added that he would look to build a pool of volunteers through social media and proceed from there.

Concerning the abatement of dangerous structures in the village, Fire Chief and Code Enforcer Bob Mills said he had sent out two more certified letters to property owners in recent weeks.

Woods said that due to the amount of work that needs done around the village, he felt that it was necessary to hire a permanent part-time employee to help with various tasks. He explained that council previously agreed to extend the hours of Water Clerk Clorissa Tanner so that she could help under certain circumstances, but that he felt she was being asked to do far more than was intended when that change was made.

Woods also said that the village recently had to temporarily re-hire Dan Schmitt for a few hours because they didn’t have the manpower needed to work on a waterline problem.

Grob reminded council that the janitorial duties that were included in the job description had been a sticking point with applicants when they wanted to hire someone earlier this year. Woods suggested offering a better pay rate, and later council discussed looking for another way to get the janitorial tasks completed.

Council President Mike Murphy said it is important to allow Service Director Justin Kinney to take part in the hiring process since he would be working with any new crew and since he had at one time been resistant to the idea that he needed additional help.

Council eventually voted to advertise the position at $13.50 per hour for 25 hours a week to start.

Davis presented council with a $10,870 estimate from Floor Care Concepts of Covington, Kentucky, to sand, refinish, line and reseal the Belmont Gymnasium floor, including the stage. Davis said previous estimates he had received for the work ranged from $14,000 to $22,000.

Davis said he already had collected around $5,100 to go toward that work and suggested having a co-benefit with the police department to raise the rest of the money. Others suggested reaching out to the Belmont Alumni Association to see if it would be willing to help. Council voted in favor of proceeding with the project.

In other business, council voted in favor of a property exchange with Larry Brown in which he and the village swapped with each other two lots each in order to make contiguous properties for both parties.

Council also approved a monthly pay rate of $600 for Mills to be the village’s Building Code Enforcer, retroactive to May and authorized Solicitor Schultz to present a revised Pavement Roller Agreement to the Village of Bethesda.

Belmont Council meets at 7:00 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month in the Stanley Sobel Belmont Municipal Offices located in the basement of the Belmont School Gymnasium on Brown Street.