T-L Photo/JENNIFER COMPSTON-STROUGH Bellaire Water Distribution Coordinator Zach Warner, from left, responds to questions from council members as Village Administrator Jay Binger and Councilman Bill Schmitt listen.

BELLAIRE — Frustrations ran high at the Bellaire Village Council meeting on Wednesday, with some members quizzing employees on a variety of subjects.

Mayor Ed Marling opened the meeting by asking all present to observe a moment of silence in memory of “Backhoe Bob.” That was a reference to Bob Sadlowski, and 84-year-old resident who worked as an equipment operator for the village who recently died. Water Distribution Coordinator Zach Warner said Sadlowski was the “best equipment operator I’ve ever worked with.”

The mood of the meeting quickly changed after Marling began talking about projects such as a slip repair on Belmont County Road 214 and a lead waterline replacement initiative. He said he didn’t understand what the holdup was on moving these efforts forward, prompting some council members to ask him, Warner and Village Administrator Jay Binger for details of their efforts.

The village previously hired Chadan Engineering Inc. of St. Clairsville to assess Phase 2 of its lead line replacement project and secure a contractor to perform the work, which is mandated by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Clell Construction of Convoy, Ohio, submitted the sole bid for the work, which is funded through a $1 million grant.

That project, which has not yet begun, overlaps with an ongoing water meter replacement project. Newman Plumbing of Butler County, Pennsylvania, is installing those meters and is able to inform village officials when it installs a meter where lead lines are present.

Marling said the lead line project has been delayed because Clell wants to the village to provide information about how many feet of lead lines need to be replaced. That led to council members Janet Richardson and Mike Doyle questioning how the company determined its bid in the first place.

Solicitor Paul Stecker said during Phase 1, contractor Ft. Steuben bid up to the amount of funding available, then determined how much it would charge by the foot. Ft. Steuben had been contracted to work on Phase 2 as well, but at Stecker’s request council voted unanimously to terminate that agreement on Wednesday.

During the discussion, it was revealed that a contract had been sent to Clell that had not yet been returned; it was also noted that Stecker did not have the opportunity to review that contract before it was sent out. Richardson said Stecker should see every contract before any action is taken.

“At this point, I have no trust in any aspect of any project that we’re doing,” Doyle said. “We need to have someone on site to inspect it. Personally, my trust is fractured. It’s like how do I know that you’re putting in 30 feet of line, cause I have no trust for that. … It’s not that hard to measure. … It’s like this on every project.

“Who’s the point man on this? Are you?” he asked Binger.

“Should be,” Binger replied.

“What are you doing to this point?” Doyle pressed.

“I can’t work with a contractor if we don’t have one,” Binger responded.

Doyle continued, calling the situation “absurd.” Richardson asked why the village is at a standstill and said it happens again and again.

Marling tried to steer the conversation in a different direction, saying he would take care of all the issues raised “in the morning.”

Councilman Jerry Olack then spoke up, saying, “This is why we hired a village administrator.”

Later in the meeting, Richardson brought up a letter that was sent to residents, directing them to contact Newman and schedule their meter replacement. If they do not, the letter said their water service would be shut off. She said 61 or 62 residents had failed to do so and asked how the village would proceed.

This led to an exchange between her and Warner over why neither he nor Binger had replied to emails she forwarded to them from Newman. Warner said he did not have time to sit in the office all day responding to emails, saying his department lacks the necessary manpower and that he is constantly dealing with waterline breaks and other issues. Richardson said he was in an administrative position that requires a certain amount of clerical work and emails.

“I think we need some leadership here,” Richardson said, continuing to ask for information on how the meter installation will be completed.

“I’ll respond to every email from now on,” Warner said. “Every email. … I didn’t know my job description said ‘sit and email all day.'”

At that point, Doyle asserted to Binger, “Jay, you have to pick up the slack here.”

Following about 90 minutes of similar discussions, Olack made a motion to enter a closed-door session with the mayor and solicitor present. All members voted to go into executive session, which lasted about 30 minutes. When the open session resumed, council passed the motion to terminate the contract with Ft. Steuben as recommended by Stecker and then voted to adjourn.