By Ryan Clark
NKyTribune reporter
With the appointments Tuesday night, it became official.
The new board, known as the Board of Architectural Review and Development, now has its members, and they will oversee the new Neighborhood Development Code. With their naming comes the end of two eras: The Board of Adjustment and the Urban Design and Review Board are no more.
“Both of these boards have served Covington extremely well,” Mayor Joseph U. Meyer said in the commission’s regularly scheduled legislative meeting Tuesday night (which again met virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions).
“I would like to specifically, on behalf of the entire commission, thank all of the people who have served on the Urban Design and Review Board, and the Board of Adjustment, for their service, and say ‘Welcome aboard’ to those who will be starting out on the new board Oct. 15,” he said.
The initial Board of Architectural Review and Development members are (with terms):
• Rebecca Weber – two-year term, effective Oct. 15, 2020
• Elzie Barker – two-year term, effective Oct. 15, 2020
• Steven “Cody” Chitwood – three-year term, effective Oct. 15, 2020
• Dr. James Schafer – three-year term, effective Oct. 15, 2020
• Janet Creekmore – four-year term, effective Oct. 15, 2020
• Larry Mosteller – four-year term, effective Oct. 15, 2020
• Ella Frye – four-year term, effective Oct. 15, 2020
The city will be reaching out to these members to begin training so they will be ready to start their terms Oct. 15, Mayor Meyer said.
“They will jump into action,” he said.
New hires in Parks and Rec, Code Inspection
Benjamin Oldiges, a 10-year veteran of Boone County Parks and Recreation and a Community Center Director for Cincinnati Recreation for four years, was officially hired Tuesday night as the new Division Manager for Covington’s Parks and Recreation department.
This came after a discussion last week, when Commissioner Tim Downing wanted to know who vetted all of the almost 300 candidates for the position. It sparked a debate about the proper way to advertise for city jobs, though everyone said they had no real issue with Oldiges’ qualifications.
Joseph Meimann was also recommended to be hired as the city’s Full-time Code Inspector, and no one questioned his qualifications, either.
Both hires were approved unanimously, and both will start Oct. 1.
City to Consider Crown Act next week
Commissioner Michelle Williams reported that she will present an amendment to the Human Rights Ordinance at next week’s caucus for the city in support of the Crown Act, which stands for “Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.”
The act was created in 2019 to ensure protection against discrimination based on “race-based hairstyles by extending statutory protection to hair texture and protective styles such as braids, locs, twists, and knots in the workplace and public schools.”
According to the act’s website, “black women are 1.5 times more likely to be sent home from the workplace because of their hair” and black women are 80 percent more likely than white women to agree with this statement: “I have to change my hair from its natural state to fit in at the office.”
The Crown Act hopes to end hair discrimination in the workplace and schools.
According to Williams, seven states are combatting hair discrimination by supporting the act, as well as one city in Hamilton County.
“Covington is going to be the next city to adopt this, and we’re going to be happy to do this,” she said. “All residents should be treated equally and fairly, and Covington is definitely a city that is moving forward in always ensuring that all resident are treated equally. We will, under no circumstances discriminate — we’re happy to do this for everyone.”
Williams noted that Commissioner Downing brought this to her attention, and she also thanked Teri Meyer of the Human Rights Commission and Michael Bartlett, the city solicitor.
Façade Incentives Approved
Commissioners approved façade incentives for two businesses as part of the city’s Small Business Program:
• ZW properties/ 1928 Madison Ave. Located in the Austinburg Neighborhood, the city is recommending a $4,200 façade incentive. The owners will add new paint to the exterior, and they have already added $75,000 worth of improvements on the interior, including renovations to apartments and retail space.
• Center for Great Neighborhoods/131 Holman St. Located in the Westside Neighborhood, the city is recommending a $6,000 façade incentive. The owners will add new paint, windows, storefront and cornice, with an additional $176,000 of interior improvements for apartments and a coffee shop.
Coronavirus Relief Funding
Commissioners agreed to request its Coronavirus Relief Fund Reimbursement money, in the amount of $2,902,575, from the state.
Settlement Agreement Approved
Commissioners agreed to settle a disputed litigation involving window installation at the Stewart Iron Works building during a previous construction project. The settlement is for $39,500.
Lease Renewal Approved
Commissioners agreed to a one-year lease renewal with the Commonwealth of Kentucky for an extension between the city and the Kentucky Human Rights Commission, which leases space within City Hall.
Next meeting
The next regularly scheduled Covington Commission meeting will be a caucus meeting held at 6 p.m., Oct. 6. The meeting can be followed live on Fioptics channel 815, Spectrum channel 203, the Telecommunications Board of Northern Kentucky (TBNK) website, the TBNK Facebook page @TBNKonline, and the TBNK Roku channels.
