The Chester Township Board of Trustees met in regular session Thursday, October 21, 2004, in the Town Hall Meeting Room at 7:01 p.m. Chairwoman Patricia M. Mula, presided.

All trustees and the clerk present.

PLEDGE

The Board led the audience in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

CLERK’S FOLDER

2004-481. Mrs. Mula moved to approve and sign Purchase Order #PO 40195 to

Universal Oil, Inc., Cleve., Ohio, for $13,650.00 for 7,000 gallons of Marathon

Supreme Diesel fuel from Fire Fund 10-A-09 for $3,785.00 and Road Fund 04-A-05 for $9,865.00; #PO 40194 to Treasurer of State, Cincinnati, Ohio, for $660.00 for 3^rd qtr. UAN fee from Fund 01-A-26 and Voucher Warrant #VW 46032. Mr. Stevens seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

2004-482. Mrs. Mula moved to approve and sign Voucher Warrants #VW 46005

through 46025; #VW 46027 through 46031; #VW 46033 through 46039 and declare

# 46026 void due to operator error. Mr. Stevens seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

Clerk’s note: The ending # used on 10-14-04 was #46004; the beginning # used on 10-21-04 is #46005

2004-483. Mrs. Mula moved to approve authorization for the Township Clerk to execute an appropriation transfer of funds within the Motor Vehicle Fund for $2,500.00 from line item account 2-B-01 Motor Vehicle License Tax Salaries to line item account 2-B-04 Motor Vehicle License Tax Other Expenses for repairs. Mr. Stevens seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

2004-484.Mrs. Mula moved to approve and sign a Resolution to amend the

permanent appropriation for the Fire Fund from $945,000 to $995,000 and move to increase the permanent appropriation by $50,000 to Fund 10-A-11, Contracts. Mr. Stevens seconded. Roll Call Vote: Mr. Montague, yes; Mr. Stevens, yes; Mrs. Mula, yes. Motion passed.

2004-485. Mrs. Mula moved to approve $5,000.00 payable to Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P., Cleveland, Ohio, for all legal services as bond counsel in connection with $255,000.00 Road Imp. Bonds, Series 2004, from Fund 16-A-01H. Mr. Stevens seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

2004-486. Mrs. Mula moved to approve and sign letters to Rudy Schwartz, Art Temple and Foresight Engineering regarding proposals for bids for the surveying of boundaries in the Commercial and Restricted Industrial Districts of Chester Township. Mr. Stevens seconded. Letter read to the audience regarding the above-listed motion by Mr. Stevens. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

2004-487. Mrs. Mula moved to approve and sign a letter addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Cosmo Patriarca, Cleveland, Ohio, regarding a water problem on Ward Drive at a property they own. Mr. Stevens seconded. Mr. Montague read the letter to the audience. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

2004-488. Mrs. Mula moved to approve and sign a letter addressed to Sally Bell, Adm., Dept. on Aging, regarding creation of a senior citizen clean-up day in 2005. Mr. Stevens seconded. Letter read to the audience by Mrs. Mula. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

Zoning Inspector Mike Joyce explained the recent house bill which was passed regarding notification of applications for gas and oil wells within respective townships along with his understanding of the parameters of this house bill. The request must be made by the Township Clerk for such notification.

Mrs. Mula read the letter to the audience.

2004-489. Mrs. Mula moved to approve and sign a letter addressed to Tom Tugend, Deputy Chief of ODNR, Col., Ohio, requesting notification of applications for gas and oil wells within Chester Township. Mr. Stevens seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

2004-490. Mrs. Mula moved to approve and sign a letter addressed to Bill Martin, Chairman, Kiwanis Club, regarding waiving of the fee for a special event banner for the annual Christmas Tree sale. Mr. Stevens seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

2004-491. Mrs. Mula moved to approve snow plowing contract 2004-05 with the Geauga County Engineer for the purpose of providing snow and ice control on 12.14 miles of county roads by Chester Twp. for the winter season of 2004-05. Mr. Stevens seconded. Roll call vote: Mr. Montague, yes; Mr. Stevens, yes; Mrs. Mula, yes. Motion passed.

Discussion of a letter of request received from tenant Melissa Mikolic at 8566 Parkside Dr., requesting to purchase a puppy for her children. Mrs. Mula read the Application to Keep An Animal which was prepared by the Prosecutor’s Office for use in the past.

2004-492.Mrs. Mula move to approve an Application to Keep An Animal by

Melissa Mikolic, 8566 Parkside Dr., Chester Township which is to be completed by the tenant and added to the Lease for the rental of this property. Mr. Stevens seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

CHESTER PARK DISTRICT

The members of the Chester Park District were present to explain their need for additional funding in order to operate the park. Explanation of events which have been cut and/or eliminated by the Park District; i.e., the Holiday lighting in the park, and the expenses involved for the operation of the park for upkeep of the park.

Mrs. Mula asked that a detailed financial report be provided to the Board of Trustees for the consideration of additional funding.

Questions from the audience answered by the Park District regarding finances at this time.

Mrs. Mula said she has observed the lights being left on in the park after hours and requested a financial report be forthcoming from the Baseball Federation.

CHESTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Mr. Montague gave an oversight of the history of the Chester Elementary School project and where the project stands at the present time beginning with the purchase of the school in 1984 by the Board of Trustees in office at that time.

All trustees concur that this matter needs a great deal of future discussion to possibly include the rental homes on Parkside Drive and storefront on Mayfield Road which the township owns. Suggestion made that several community organizations meet and perhaps discuss possible solutions and uses.

JOAN SPELLMAN

Mr. Montague said he has had contact with Joan Spellman’s attorney who was unable to get anywhere with her regarding the monetary situation she still owes the township. He suggests writing a letter to the Prosecutor’s Office for further action to be taken at this time.

2004-493.Mrs. Mula moved to have Legal Counsel prepare any monies due from Joan

Spellman in regard to the lease – taxes, sewer assessments. Mr. Stevens seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

PUBLIC MEETING

Discussion ensued among the Board members regarding Mr. Stevens’ improvement of communication to the Township. He has suggested a newsletter be used for this purpose; none of his ideas were followed through with. He feels an information forum needs to happen to inform the residents on topics of concern which he has been advised of by some residents. Mr. Stevens and Ms. Austin will be holding a meeting at the Geauga West Library to address the concerns of the public including levy updates.

Mrs. Mula feels the Board as a whole should be included in such a forum. A form of providing information could be through a full page ad in the Chesterland News for less money than a newsletter to the community.

Discussion ensued regarding the Clerk’s Assistant’s hours, duties and overtime hours and who is the Clerk’s Assistant supervisor.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business before the Board, Mrs. Mula adjourned the meeting at 9:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

________________________________ ______________________________

Patricia M. Mula, Chairwoman Karen M. N. Austin, CPA, Clerk

________________________________ _____________

Charles R. Stevens, Vice-chairman Approval Date

________________________________

James A. Montague, Trustee

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