The Chester Township Board of Trustees met in regular session Thursday, November 11, 2004, in the Town Hall Meeting Room at 6:04 p.m.  Chairwoman Patricia M. Mula, presided.

 

Trustees Montague and Mula and the Clerk present.

 

6:00 P.M. EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

2004-520.    Mrs. Mula moved to enter into Executive Session regarding pending

litigation pursuant to ORC 121.22 with legal counsel from Thrasher, Dinsmore & Dolan.  Mr. Montague seconded.  Roll call vote:  Mr. Montague, yes; Mrs. Mula, yes.  Motion passed.

 

Board of Trustees entered Executive Session at 6:04 p.m.

 

Board of Trustees re-entered Regular Session at 7:15 p.m.

 

All Trustees and the Clerk in attendance.

 

CLERK’S FOLDER

 

Margaret Muehling, Chair of the Chester Township Zoning Commission, presented information to the Board regarding the need for boundary lines to be determined and read a letter to the Board explaining this information.  Names of companies which could perform such a task also given to the Board.  A representative of Foresight Engineering did make a presentation at a Zoning Commission meeting to perform this service; cost of $1,050.00. 

 

Mrs. Muehling said that Foresight Engineering did submit the most complete information to the Zoning Commission at a cost of $1,050.00 for this type of work to be done.

 

2004-521.    Mrs. Mula moved to approve up to $1,050.00 to Foresight Engineering

Group, Inc., Chardon, Ohio, for work described in the October 28, 2004, proposal and as recommended by the Zoning Commission from Fund 1-A-26.  Mr. Stevens seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

2004-522.  Mrs. Mula moved to approve and sign minutes dated September 23, 2004, September 29, 2004, October 7, 2024, October 28, 2004, November 4, 2004.  Mr. Stevens seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

2004-523.  Mrs. Mula moved to approve and sign payroll time sheets for the Road Department employees dated November 6, 2004.  Mr. Stevens seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

2004-524.    Mrs. Mula moved to approve an Inter-Fund Transfer Request within the

General Fund in the amount of $5,400.00 from line item 01-A-10 Outside Legal

Counsel to line item account 01-B-03 New Buildings and Additions, Land Purchases to pay bond payment on Salomone property.  Mr. Stevens seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

2004-525.  Mrs. Mula moved to approve and sign Payroll Warrants #PY 46143 through 46178; Payroll Withholding Warrants #PW 46179 through 46189;Voucher Warrants #VW 46190 through 46201 and #VW 42603 to 46215 and void #46202.   Mr. Stevens seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

 

Clerk’s note:  The ending # used on 11-4-04 was #46142; the beginning # used on

11-11-04 is #46143.

 

Mrs. Mula updated the Board on the problem(s) which have been occurring on the Administrative Assistant’s computer. 

 

Discussion of keeping e-mails in a Chester Township e-mail file with an Adelphia

e-mail address.  All copies of e-mail correspondence to be copied and sent to mlfende@adelphia.net for the time being. 

 

POLICE DEPT.

 

Chief Orosz updated the Board on the Collective Bargaining Agreement and asked that this matter be placed on the agenda of November 18, 2004.

 

Chief Orosz also requested that the pay increases for Chief Orosz, Captain Purchase and Clerk Hauxhurst and presented the various percentages used for the rest of the police personnel according to the union contract.  Discussion ensued between the Chief and the Board.

 

ROAD DEPT.

 

2004-526.Mrs. Mula moved to approve Dominion East Ohio covering the proposed

construction of gas main and service on S.S. side of Cassie Lane (install 50’ of 4” PLS (MD) MP L#24380 to extend gas service to House #13005) as approved by the Road Superintendent.  Mr. Stevens seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

2004-527.  Mrs. Mula moved to approve $1,147.00 for two new auger chains for Road Dept. trucks payable to Lacal Equipment, Inc., Jackson Center, Ohio, from Fund

4-A-07.  (Cost per chain $573.50).  Mr. Stevens seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

2004-528.Mrs. Mula moved to approve and sign the letter to residents on Marilyn

Drive regarding the water flooding problem.  Mrs. Mula read the letter at this time.  Discussion ensued regarding responsibility of county and/or government agencies.  This is a problem which has grown worse over the years and is not the responsibility of the township to rectify this situation.  Mr. Stevens seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

Discussion ensued regarding the cost of installing driveway pipes which are requested by residents.  The Road Superintendent will investigate the costs involved in these installations with a cost comparison of what other townships may be charging for such an installation. 

 

Mr. Cotman, President of the CAC, offered the committee’s services to investigate the possible charges for installation of driveway pipes to residents.  Mr. Mascella will also work in concert with the Citizens Advisory Committee on this matter. 

 

REGULAR MEETING

 

Mrs. Mula requested a work session be held with the Department Heads on appropriations for 2005.  All Board members concur that Thursday, December 9, 2004, beginning at 6:30 p.m. will be acceptable.  Clerk’s Office to notify the Department Heads including the Chester Fire Rescue, Inc. that their work session will begin at 6:30 p.m. on December 9th.

 

Mrs. Mula requested that sections of the Personnel Manual be attached to the minutes regarding the Assistant to the Clerk’s job description including the over-time policies for employees be attached to the October 28, 2004, minutes. 

 

Mrs. Austin added that the interpretation from the Prosecutor’s Office regarding House Bill 148 and the clerk’s right to hire additional clerical assistance to help her in performing the Clerk’s job will be addressed after the first of the year.

 

ZONING DEPT.

 

Mrs. Mula addressed the updating of the Zoning Inspector’s computer.  Zoning Inspector Mike Joyce explained the problems he has been experiencing with his computer.  Discussion ensued regarding the linking of Department Head computers to the Town Hall computer(s) and pros and cons of updating all computers being used by township employees. 

 

Decision is to advertise for quotes for upgrading and/or replacing of computer equipment used by township employees. 

 

REGULAR MEETING (CONTINUED)

 

Mrs. Mula said after bringing up the paying off of the loan for the Salamone property and the Tax Anticipated Note (TAN) in the past, she has spoken with the Prosecutor’s Office and the recommendation is that it would be prudent to do so. 

 

Clerk Austin explained the financial aspects of paying off these loans at this time. 

 

Mrs. Mula feels the money saved by paying off these loans is well worth the cost after discussion with legal counsel.

 

Mr. Stevens expressed his concerns about paying off the loans at this time.

 

Mr. Montague also expressed his concerns about paying off the loans but feels it is a prudent choice to pay off the loans. 

 

2004-529.Mrs. Mula moved to amend the Certificate of Estimated Resources and

pursuant appropriation (interest and principal for Salamone & TAN) by $200,000.00  Mr. Stevens seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

Mrs. Mula said she has had conversation with the Prosecutor’s Office regarding the acceptable method of payroll being signed while the Clerk is out-of-town for the Thanksgiving Holiday.  The recommendation is that the checks not be sent out of town as requested by the Clerk.

 

Discussion ensued regarding the payroll being submitted by the Department Heads before the Friday the Clerk is leaving on vacation.  The adjustments can then be made in the following payroll period.

 

Discussion that the Department Heads be advised that payroll that is due on November 20,  2004, be in the Town Hall by the morning of the November 19th.  Any adjustments will be made in the following pay period.   

 

2004-530.Mrs. Mula moved to cancel the trustees meeting of November 25, 2004,

and reschedule the trustees meeting on Wednesday, November 23, 2004, to 6:30 p.m. due to the Thanksgiving Holiday.  Mr. Stevens seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

 

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

There being no further business before the Board, Mrs. Mula adjourned the meeting at 9:45 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