BELLAIRE — Bellaire officials are investigating the alleged theft of water by a trucking company that reportedly has been “straight piping” in order to obtain the resource.

That was among the issues discussed by Bellaire Village Council during a Feb. 20 meeting. Members also touched on a resident’s property that was damaged by a village employee.

Mayor Edward Marling told council that village officials had discovered that a trucking company has been straight piping water, which means it is bypassing the meter in someone’s house by hooking a pipe up directly to the water source so the village cannot measure how much water is being used and bill the company for it.

Marling said there is already a pending case against the company for theft of water, so this would be the second case against it if proof is obtained. Solicitor Paul Stecker advised council the village does not have to wait to catch the company in the act, and he said pictures are reasonable to detect the theft of water that has taken place.

Meanwhile, a village employee damaged a resident’s property while plowing roads during a recent snowfall. The resident submitted an estimate for the indoor/outdoor carpet, blockwork and a bench they said were damaged.

Councilman Mike Doyle said he is unhappy with the way the damaged property situation has been handled by the village. He added he would be unhappy if that were his residence and feels that all the village does is mess with people. Councilwoman Elizabeth Dugmore agreed there needs to be a standard when dealing with such issues. Council said the accident report along with all estimates and pictures should be submitted so decisions can be based on facts and not made haphazardly.

Council decided to table the discussion until its next meeting at 6 p.m. March 6 to decide if and when the village will pay the claim.

Marling informed council an accident had occurred on Hospital Road where a vehicle coming down the hill wrecked into one of the concrete barriers and knocked it into an existing hole there. Another cement blockade has been put up along with “road closed” signs at the site of the slip in an effort to resolve such issues.

Some village employees recently left their positions, including Glen Chambers of the water department, who gave two weeks’ notice, and meter reader Zack Morgan, who reportedly walked off the job and was terminated.

Meanwhile, the village is still searching for someone to fill the administrative assistant position at the municipal building. The job is listed on OhioMeansJobs and has received one application so far.

Clerk Mary Hagliozou let council know that Susan West, Ohio Valley Farmers Market director, submitted an application for a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area event, which allows people to drink alcohol while walking around a specified area, from 4-8 p.m. June 6. The event is Art in the Park, which has already been approved by council. Although there is already a version of the DORA in place from Thursday through Saturday, when there is a planned event an application must be submitted to ensure the applicant understands that regardless of what businesses may participate in the event, the applicant is responsible for the cost of security during the event.

Councilwoman Janet Richardson asked who was participating, noting the application only named the Ohio Valley Farmers Market and that there would be vendors, activities and music.

Council, including members Bill Schmitt, Robert “Bubba” Kapral, Dugmore, Doyle and Richardson approved of the DORA event.

Owner of Flanagan’s Sports Cafe Sean Flanagan also requested to have a DORA event on March 17 for St. Patrick’s Day. His business is the only one participating in the event, but Richardson said some businesses had expressed concern because they were not notified of previous DORA events.

It was then pointed out that the DORA application asks for the businesses participating, and all businesses in the perimeter of the DORA that have a liquor license and have been approved through the state of Ohio can participate. The businesses should communicate with each other. The application approval discussion will continue to the next meeting.

Council then approved of Bellaire Volunteer Fire Department’s request to have a Firemen’s Festival June 27-28 at Union Square Park.

Resolutions were also read during the meeting, including Resolution 2025-1116, a resolution freezing the wages of all village employees and declaring an emergency. Richardson, Dugmore, Schmitt and Kapral voted yes, while Doyle voted no.

Resolution 2025-1117 would freeze extraordinary spending by the village and declare an emergency.

Doyle asked council for a definition of “extraordinary,” and Richardson said the ordinance is designed to make officials more mindful of spending and described extraordinary as anything outside of the normal operating costs.

Council went on with a discussion regarding the spending freeze. Doyle asked, “Who makes the determination of extra or routine operating costs?”

Fiscal Officer Marla Krupnik expressed concern regarding possible situations where purchases have been approved because the purchase order was presented and the money was available, but council will not approve the spending because it is “not necessary.” However, Richardson cited a previous discussion that involved the purchase of defibrillation equipment for the village and Christmas lights that were deemed unnecessary.

Doyle asked if the resolution would place any liability on Krupnik, while Stecker said the language was a “little murky and could put the village in a bind.”

He suggested imposing a limit of $25,000 that could be spent without council’s approval, but Richardson said $15,000 would be preferable.

After discussion, Dugmore made a motion to table the resolution for further discussion and council approved with a roll call vote.

Ordinance 2025-04 calls for hiring an assistant water treatment plant superintendent and sets the salary at $54,371.20 per year. Council declared it an emergency, dispensing with the second and third readings, and approved the ordinance.

Ordinance 25-06 would authorize the mayor to execute a contract with the Regional Council of Governments for the purpose of administration and collection of municipal income tax in the village. It received a first reading with no action taken.

Krupnik mentioned that Gary Zavatsky, water treatment plant superintendent, died Jan. 11. According to the employee handbook, when an employee retires, there is a payout of sick hours, up to a maximum of 400, but it does not address what happens if an employee dies before retirement. Krupnik asked that council pay his accrued hours out to the family.

Stecker advised council it could vote to pay the hours but needed to clarify this is on a case-by-case basis and is not setting a precedent.

All council members voted to pay out the sick leave benefit hours to his family.