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FLUSHING -- A Village Council member recently spoke out against the conduct of Mayor Tom Bober at a previous meeting.
During a council meeting on April 13, Councilman Steve Ronyak read from a prepared statement asserting that during the council meeting held March 9, Mayor Tom Bober "aggressively provoked a confrontation, causing what had been a productive meeting to implode."
Ronyak said the confrontation prompted three council members to walk out of the meeting, which prevented that meeting from being properly adjourned.
Ronyak, addressing Bober directly, said, "Your behavior was reprehensible. I will no longer tolerate your abuse, angry threats or rants. The citizens of our village, our employees and this council deserve better."
Bober responded, saying that Ronyak was giving "half truths" about what had transpired. Bober said he had asked Village Administrator Bryan Clark a question, "and it turned into what it turned into. It wasn't only me, it was several council members."
As voices were raised, Police Chief Paul Leek intervened, asking that everyone keep their tone of voice in check if they wanted to get their point across.
Councilman David Coe spoke up, saying, "Listen, I signed on here because I thought we could be a team here and hash stuff out without being immature about it. The yelling, screaming, I'm not down with none of that.
"We all live here! I wanted to be part of a group of people working for the betterment of a small village in small-town America. It's gotten out of hand a couple times. It's kind of disheartening."
Councilwoman Sandy Twarog said members and the administration needed to focus on doing the work of the village and let "bygones be bygones."
Council did make progress while discussing a number of projects and issues during the April meeting.
After some discussion, council approved spending up to $15,000 to have a large portion of the village sewer system jetted and serviced by Zemba Brothers, with the work being scheduled to be done from May 22-27. Residents can expect to hear noises and experience back-pressure if their residence is not properly vented.
Council also approved having smoke testing of the sewer system conducted by the Ohio Rural Water Association to find where storm water is infiltrating the system. Clark said he village would have to pay about $300 per day for materials.
Village Solicitor Chris Gagin gave his findings on the village's responsibility for waterlines that are part of the village water system but lie outside the corporation limit. He said if a person, at their own expense, extends water mains and lays pipe outside the corporation they must do so to the specifications dictated by the municipality's water superintendent, and that afterward the municipality is responsible for maintenance.
Clark then explained the details of a request for such an outside line so Gagin could prepare the needed paperwork, while council voted to waive the 2-inch tap fee since the property owner would be paying $1,800 for a 6-inch tap fee on the same project.
Council also discussed the need to resolve an issue concerning discrepancies in the manner in which a number of duplexes and shared residences in the village are billed for water service.
Fiscal Officer Jeryl McGaffick informed council that all of the village-owned properties on Station Hill that had been put up for auction had been sold and paid for.
In other business, council agreed to split the cost of a lift that was used to put up banners featuring veterans who live in the village with the Flushing Business Association, and voted in favor of holding a community yard sale to coincide with the National Road Yard Sale during the first weekend of June.
Flushing Village Council will meet again at 6 p.m. Thursday in the village offices on High Street.