Brentwood aldermen, in a two and a half-hour meeting Monday, passed three bills, put one on hold and heard complaints from residents about the condition of Manchester Road sidewalks and business driveways between Brentwood Boulevard and Hanley Road.
Julie Pozzo said the area along Manchester has been going downhill for 30 to 40 years and wanted to know why. Denise Soebbing said the city should pressure the businesses to clean up.
“Sweep up the dirt. Sweep up the gravel that’s on your driveway. That takes 15, 20 minutes,” Soebbing said. “It just costs a broom and a dust pan.”
Mayor Pat Kelly said MoDOT has jurisdiction over the road and sidewalks, and that MoDOT had $1 million to invest in the corridor, but it isn’t as likely now that the recent tax increase was defeated statewide. He also said occasional flooding of the area makes the area not as attractive to investors.
A bill to shorten terms for aldermen and the mayor from four years to two was put on hold after a little more than 10 minutes of discussion.
Alderwoman Maureen Saunders and Mayor Pat Kelly were both for reducing term lengths to two years, though Saunders said it should go to the voters instead of a vote of the board of aldermen.
Alderman Andy Leahy said state law allows terms to be lengthened by voters, but doesn’t specify how to shorten them. He said the best way, to follow state laws, would be for the BOA to vote to shorten the terms, then take it back to the voters to ask if they should again be increased. City attorney, Frank Albrecht said that could be confusing.
Alderman Tom Kramer said the voters have already spoken, and the terms should remain at four years. Alderman Patrick Toohey was also for keeping it at four years.
Kelly asked for a show of hands of residents in the audience, how many would like to return to two years, and about a dozen hands went up, which he determined was a majority.
Both Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster and Representative Gina Mitten have been asked for their opinions on the process, and the bill was put on hold, pending hearing back from them.
Also in the meeting, Chiodini Architects was approved to oversee renovations of the Brentwood Community Center, and an asphalt contractor was approved for four asphalt projects in the city.
Alderman Kramer said he had done some digging, and confirmed that concrete work along the sidewalks will kick off the Brentwood Boulevard repaving project this fall. Milling and paving of the roads is set for next spring and summer. Brentwood Boulevard from Eager Road to Marshall Avenue, and Eager Road from I-170 to Hanley Road are included. He said the Eager Road portion was a surprise.