Crime & Safety

Blog Recap: Richmond Heights Council Meeting of Jan. 18

Clayton-Richmond Heights Patch provided live coverage throughout the night.

The Richmond Heights City Council meeting of Jan. 18 has concluded. The following is a look at what happened during the meeting. A complete recap will be printed Jan. 19.

9:27 P.M.: The council has entered its second closed session. Come back Jan. 19 for a recap of the meeting.

9:24 P.M.: There have been a few heated exchanges over the proposed amendments. The council has approved the judge resolution with two amendments.

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9:16 P.M.: The council is voting on several amendments with regard to the judge resolution. There appears to be disagreement over the compensation and length of tenure of the judge.

9:10 P.M.: The council is now in open session again and is reviewing the resolution regarding a new municipal judge.

Find out what's happening in Clayton-Richmond Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

9:01 P.M.: The council remains in closed session.

8:29 P.M.: The council remains in closed session. The council is scheduled to vote later on whether to appoint Stephen O'Brien to the position of municipal judge starting Feb. 23.

8:20 P.M.: The council has heard a first reading of new sections of the city's code to conform with the new St. Louis County smoking ban. It is now holding one of two closed sessions of the night.

8:14 P.M.: The council has approved the amendment to increase death benefits to police and fire officials' families. The vote was 8-1. Lore abstained from the vote. Beck and the remaining council members approved it.

8:08 P.M.: The council is discussing who would be responsible for maintaining the police and fire pension fund if it were to become underfunded.

8:04 P.M.: District 1 Councilman Paul Lore has expressed concern about approving the ordinance to increase death benefits until an audit verifies that the pension fund is sound. District 2 Councilman Michael Jones, who is a council representative to the police and fire pension board, says the funds are present. "I support it, and I will vote for it," he said.

8 P.M.: Council is examining whether to amend an ordinance to increase death benefits available to the families of Richmond Heights police and fire officials.

7:56 P.M.: City staff will draft legislation setting the time for putting out trash bins at 3 p.m., City Manager Amy Hamilton said.

7:53 P.M.: The real issue isn't people who put out their trash a few hours early but those who leave their bins out for a period of days, Beck said.

7:51 P.M.: The council is discussing at which time solid waste containers should be placed outside the day before they are picked up. Several representatives indicate the time should be earlier, perhaps at 3 p.m., to keep people from moving their containers in the dark, creating a possible safety hazard for residents.

7:41 P.M.: The council is discussing the .

7:37 P.M.: District 2 Councilman Jim Thomson extended his thanks to St. Louis County Councilman Pat Dolan for attending a recent District 2 meeting.

7:35 P.M.: Mayor James Beck said the council will be going into closed session to talk about Hadley Township at the end of the meeting. The goal is to get ideas together to present to the public.


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