BELLAIRE — Water department employees reported walking through sewage in basements of homes in the village, raising health concerns discussed at a Thursday council meeting.

The employees, including meter reader Zach Warner, go into homes in Bellaire to check on and fix water meters, but Village Administrator Jay Binger and Warner raised the concern that they are working in unsuitable conditions.

Binger said the village needs to think about moving water meters outside or, if the person is a repeat offender, implement a hazard fee or make sure the person has the basement cleaned up before employees have to go in there.

“You just have multiple issues in the house,” Warner said. “I mean, there’s people that just don’t clean up after themselves, let their animals freely roam and use the restroom in their house, broken sewage waste.”

Warner added he thinks some safety precautions should be taken when village employees enter homes.

Councilwoman Janet Richardson said the village needs to look into this issue, but in the meantime she said the village should get the employees some personal protective equipment to guard them from the conditions.

In a related matter, Police Chief J.J. Watson emphasized that landlords in the village must have their rental properties inspected before they put any tanks in. If landlords fail to have the inspection done, they will be cited to the mayor’s court.

Mayor Edward Marling started the meeting with a moment of silence to recognize the death of village water department Superintendent Gary Zabatsky. The village will now be looking to fill his position.

Council members, including Richardson, Bill Schmitt, Robert “Bubba” Kapral, Elizabeth Dugmore and Mike Doyle, voted to approve two ordinances to increase the salary of two employees: Fiscal Officer Marla Krupnik and Watson.

Ordinance 25-02 increased the salary of the chief of police effective Jan. 1. The chief’s new salary is $70,560 annually, which is a 5% increase from the former salary. Council voted to suspend the three public readings required by law and declare it an emergency. Members then approved it unanimously.

Ordinance 25-03 increased the salary of the fiscal officer effective Jan. 1. The new salary is $71,400 annually, which is a 5% increase from the former salary. Council again voted to suspend the rules, declare it an emergency and then approved it unanimously.

The village has some events coming up throughout the year. Village cleanup day will be March 29. Bellaire resident Susan West sent council a letter asking to reserve the Union Square Park for the Art in the Park event she wishes to have on June 21. Council approved of the date for Art in the Park.

Clerk Mary Haglioizou read a letter from the Rev. Daniel Heusel of St. John Church and Dominic Marinacci to have a Labor Day car show with registration from 10 a.m. to noon and judging at 11 a.m. with awards at 3 p.m. Sept. 1. The two wish to have Guernsey Street from 34th to 37th and 35th Street from Belmont St. to Guernsey St. closed for the show. Council unanimously approved the car show date.

Assistant Fire Chief T.J. Bell attended the meeting to ask council’s permission to have a Firemen’s Festival June 27-28. He said the fire department has had festival meetings and brought the possible date to council. Bell said he will get the festival situated and let council know, so information can go up on Bellaire’s website.

Haglioizou’s last day as mayor’s assistant will be in March, as she plans to leave the position to see her family and grandchildren more. However, she will still tackle the role of clerk of council. Richardson said the village is looking to fill the position when Haglioizou leaves but also to bring someone on to train with her before she concludes her work in that role.

Right now Haglioizou works full time as mayor’s assistant and clerk of council, but after she leaves the assistant post, the village would like to separate those two positions, so the mayor’s assistant role will become a part-time position.

The village plans to start a “spending freeze” to pause spending on all “extravagant” purchases, such as Christmas lights and other purchases of that nature. The village plans to spend money only on emergency purchases, which could include emergencies that arise at the water treatment plant. The village also plans to put a wage freeze on employees’ wages for now, meaning wages will not increase during the pause. These freezes stem from the fact the village budget is tight right now.

Solicitor Paul Stecker questioned the spending freeze, ensuring the village will still be paying all its necessary bills but pausing spending on extravagant purchases. Richardson assured Stecker this is only a freeze on non-emergency purchases. Any emergency expenses have to be approved by the mayor and the fiscal officer.

Stecker and council agreed to put together a resolution for the freeze on spending and for a wage freeze so council can officially vote on both matters.

Bellaire will now be transitioning from using a tax administrator, Janice Sable, to working with the Regional Income Tax Agency, which is a service that provides a range of professionally administered tax services. Sable has been working as the tax administrator for 51 years. Richardson described that term of service as “amazing” and “extraordinary.” However, Sable recommended the village switch to the RITA program. Village leaders still want to have some sort of part-time worker for tax administration so residents can ask questions as they transition to RITA.

Council entered a closed-door session at the beginning of the meeting for potential litigation and an unspecified police problem.