CANFIELD — Following a presentation on the city’s natural gas aggregation program, a partial city council decided Wednesday to table the program until all council members could be present.

The move to table came after Tom Bellish from Buckeye Energy Brokers Inc. presented a variable rate aggregate plan that he expects will beat the price he said Columbia Gas customers are paying. Bellish said the price under the proposed plan would follow the MYMEX numbers on the New York Stock Exchange. He said that number is $0.29 and his plan adds $0.256 for a total of nearly $0.55 per BTU. He said Columbia Gas adds $0.325 and is at $0.747 per BTU.

City residents on the current natural gas aggregation program are paying $0.747 per BTU. That caused City Councilman Chuck Tieche to question the big drop in rates.

“Over the past winter there was a natural gas shortage, making the price higher,” Bellish said. “Over the summer, natural gas production saw a surplus, bringing the price down.”

He said the proposed plan is a variable rate plan that could be locked in at any time. The present rate was set at approximately $0.66 per 100 cubic feet. He expects it to drop to $0.62 in the coming months.

“City council will be the ones who decide to lock in for the remainder of the two-year term,” Bellish said. “I am projecting $0.55 for October.”

With Mayor Don Dragish and Council President Christine Oliver absent from the meeting, the question arose as to whether the program could be approved by council.

Attorney Mark Fortunato looked up the city ordinances and informed council they could vote with only three members and pass the ordinance by a 2-1 vote.

“I would rather wait and table items A and B until the next meeting,” he said. “I want to better understand the programs.”

Tieche and fellow council members Mark Graham and Bruce Neff agreed to postpone the items until a full council could be present.

Item A was an agreement to have Buckeye Energy Brokers Inc. handle the natural gas aggregation program, and item B was the agreement with IGS Energy to serve as natural gas supplier.

A meeting will be set as early as next week, depending on council members’ approval. The meeting will be posted in advance on the city’s website.

In another utility matter, council approved in a 3-0 vote to provide water to properties at 7185 and 7195 West Akron-Canfield Road. The property includes a commercial building and a single-family home with an unusual situation.

City Manager David D’Apolito said the property in question is divided east to west between the city and township. The home rests in the township, while the rear deck is in the city. Because of the location, the property could not be annexed into the city, as it would make another property an island for the township, which is against the law.

The property is owned by Darlene and Joseph McBenn. The couple has been to multiple meetings in Canfield Township and the city to ask for help getting city water to the home. The couple wanted to renovate it so it could be rented or sold.

“We came up with an agreement for an extra-territorial sewer and water user,” D’Apolito said. “The agreement says that should the opportunity arise to annex, the property owners at that time must do so. If the opportunity arises and the property is not annexed, the city can shut off the water at that time. The agreement is a win for both the McBenns and the city.”

Fortunato said a city ordinance allows council to enter into this type of agreement.

During public presentation, Jim Guterba from Findley Avenue said the drain from his home to the street had a blockage or could have broken clay tile.

“We have a lot of large trucks coming down our street,” he said. “I don’t think the road was made for it.”

Public Works Superintendent John Rapp told council his crew went out and checked the city’s lines, and all were clear.

“The blockage is in the lateral from Mr. Guterba’s line,” D’Apolito said. “That makes it his responsibility.”

Guterba said he already has spent $7,000, only to learn there was a blockage that would cost him around $18,000 to fix.

In other business, council:

•Approved an 8.5% water rate increase effective Oct. 1. Also approved was a $12.75 per quarter debt service fee that will pay for the recent water tank restoration and a maintenance program. Fortunato said the increase will cost minimum water users approximately $6 more per month.

•Approved a G1800 Kubota tractor as surplus so it could be sold. D’Apolito said the tractor was stored at the Red Gate property and was in disrepair. The year of the tractor is unknown.