The contractor that replaced the roof on the Butler City Building earlier this year is back to repair leaks revealed during Saturday's rainstorm resulting in water damage inside.

City Council hired Fuller Home Building of Meadville based on its low bid of $143,623 to replace the roofs on the City Building and Public Safety Building. The City Building's roof cost $32,856, and the Public Safety Building's roof cost $110,767.

At that time, city officials said the bids were lower than the estimates of $40,000 and $171,000, respectively.

At Tuesday's council meeting, Mayor Ben Smith said the equipment that the contractor used failed to properly seal seams in the roofing material.

“The roof became a drain,” he said.

He said the contractor is taking responsibility for repairing water damage on the first, second and third floors. Most of the damage was done to the third and second floors.

“The contractor is taking full responsibility. There is no cost to the city,” the mayor said.

The city's and contractor's insurance adjusters were expected to assess the damage Wednesday, he said.

In unrelated business, council granted approval for Adelphoi Village to use three rooms in Specialty Outreach Services' facility at 301 First St. for classrooms.

Council approved a conditional use permit requested by Specialty Outreach to let Adelphoi use two rooms on the lower floor and one room on the first floor for classrooms.

Adelphoi is moving its alternative education program for students in grades six through 12 who are referred to the organization from its location at the YWCA on West Cunningham Street to Specialty Outreach's facility, the former Institute Hill School, officials said.

A conditional use permit was needed because the property is zoned for residential use.

In other business, council amended the rules for public participation at council meetings by eliminating the requirement to sign up no later than the Friday before meetings to address council.

Councilman Jeff Smith said the old policy did not reflect the spirit of the state's Sunshine Act, which requires public meetings to be advertised and gives people the right to attend and comment.

The new policy allows people to address council about items on the meeting agenda toward the beginning of the meeting and allows them to speak on any subject toward the end of the meeting, Jeff Smith said.

People addressing council will be limited to three minutes under the new policy, he said.

In addition, council agreed to bring in Ben Holland in his private capacity to assist in the search to hire a pension adviser at a cost of $5,000. Holland, who is Butler County's controller, will assist with the search, help prepare a request for proposals and take part in the interviews.

Ben Smith said the pension board recommended hiring Holland, and the city approached him about assisting in the search. The money to pay Holland will come from the pension fund, he said.

Council also appointed Ben Smith and Councilman Corey Roche, director of public safety, to represent council in negotiations with the International Association of Firefighters Local 114 for a new contract with the fire department and add others to the negotiating team if needed. The existing two-year contract between the union and city expires at the end of 2019.