The Chester Township Board of Trustees met in regular session Thursday, May 6, 2004, in the Town Hall Meeting Room at 7:01 p.m. Chairman James A. Montague, presided.

All trustees and the clerk were present.

PLEDGE

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

CLERK’S FOLDER

2004-195. Mr. Montague moved to approve and sign minutes dated April 22, 2004. Mrs. Mula seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

2004-196. Mr. Montague moved to approve and sign Voucher Warrants #VW 42925 through 42956. Mr. Stevens seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

Clerk’s Note: The ending # on April 29, 2004, was 42924; the beginning # on May 6, 2004 is 42925.

2004-197.Mr. Montague moved to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between

the Geauga County Board of Commissioners and the Chester Township Board of

Trustees regarding the septic system mapping. (Clerk’s note: a correction was made to section 6 changing the payment to the Board of County Commissioners of Geauga County.) Mrs. Mula seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

2004-198. Mr. Montague moved to approve $800.00 payable to Southeastern Equipment Co., Inc., 8757 Tyler Blvd., Mentor, Ohio 44060, from Fund 4-A-07 to cover the cost of the unit and its shipping. Mr. Stevens seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

2004-199.Mr. Montague moved to approve Purchase Order #PO 40085 to

Chesterland Fire Rescue, Inc. from Fund 10-A-11 for $447,000.00 for first half payment of the fire contract #PO 40086 to Southeastern Equipment Co., Inc., 8757 Tyler Blvd., Mentor, Ohio 44060, from Fund 4-A-07 for $800.00 to cover the cost of the unit and its shipping, #PO 40087 to Pavement Technology, Inc., 24144 Detroit Road, Westlake, Ohio 44145, from Fund 4-B-02 for $9,000.00 for 6,000 gallons of dust control. Mrs. Mula seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

2004-200. Mr. Montague moved to approve and sign a letter addressed to Rebecca Schlag, Assistant Geauga County Prosecutor, requesting direction on obtaining the domain name of chestertwp.org. Mrs. Mula seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

LANCE YANDELL – 7:15 P.M.

Mr. Yandell and Mr. Bremec, newly elected trustees of the Chamber of Commerce, explained the beautification of Chester Twp. Project which the Chamber of Commerce would like to install large flower baskets on every other utility pole in the center of town and on the alternate pole would be a seasonal flag which could be changed as the seasons change. They have the permission of CEI and the Illuminating Co. along with the approval of the Zoning Inspector.

Mr. Yandell is hoping that the employees of the Road Department water the hanging baskets throughout the time the baskets are in place. In checking, Mr. Yandell said that exclusively Service or Road Dept. employees maintained the baskets. Mr. Yandell also checked with the Kiwanis Club who used to display flags. The Kiwanis Club will be displaying the 50 remaining U. S. flags along the parade route for the 4^th of July but will not be doing anymore than that due to economics.

The hope is that there will be public support from the township. The baskets will be displayed in the spring and taken down in the fall. They will start with a total of 16 baskets; four going in each direction at the intersection of US 322 and 306. The initial donation for the baskets is $180.00 each and thereafter $50.00 per year for the new plantings. The donation for a banner is $150.00

2004-201.Mr. Montague moved to approve and accept the presentation of the

displaying baskets and banners and that the Road Dept. will maintain the baskets for the summer of 2004 for the Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Mula seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

JOSEPH WEISS – 7:30 P.M.

Attorney Joseph Weiss addressed the Board regarding the relocation of Joan Spellman from the Harold Drive residence now owned by Chester Township. They are proposing a rental fee which would be retroactive to the time the township obtained the property. He is suggesting $1,000.00 per month. His interest is to do what is right for Chester Township and for her. Healthwise, she is not able to relocate at this time.

Mr. Montague said the township, in a business sense, could rent to her. He would like to see this rental end at the end of June. We need to generate money out of the house. Prosecutor David Joyce said the case will not be completed until after Mr. Martinez appears in court in the middle of June. Mr. Montague said he wants to see her pay the taxes, the insurance and maintain the property through the end of June.

Mrs. Mula concurs with Mr. Montague but feels $1,000.00 is too low. Mrs. Mula would like to see her maintain the property and what is in the house. There are many people who are in this position of finding alternative living quarters, and there are agencies that could assist people in this situation in this search.

Mr. Stevens said he would prefer she did not go back into the house. He would prefer to go back in time and establish a time frame for her to move out and then get the house cleaned out. Mr. Stevens concurs with Mrs. Mula that $1,000.00 is too low for the monthly rent. Whatever the fair market value is should be followed.

All trustees concur that the end of June is more than generous for the township to agree upon. The rent should be retroactive from the time she came back into the house. June 30^th, 2004, will have to be the maximum deadline so the property can be sold before the beginning of the next school year.

Mr. Montague thanked Mr. Weiss for expediting this situation to the best interest of both parties.

The Board addressed concerns from the audience regarding this situation.

2004-202.Mr. Montague moved to set a meeting time on May 13, 2004, at 6:00

p.m. and to enter into Executive Session to discuss a settlement offer from one of the defendants in the law suit. Mrs. Mula seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

2004-203. Mr. Montague moved to set a meeting time on June 3, 2004, at 6:30 p.m. and move the meeting to the Fire Station I at 7:30 p.m. when a presentation will be made by the Fire Dept. regarding all matters and research they have been working on concerning the operation of the Fire Department. Mr. Stevens seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business before the Board, Mr. Montague adjourned the meeting at 8:35 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

_____________________________ _____________________________

James A. Montague, Chairman Karen M. N. Austin, CPA

Township Clerk

_____________________________ ____________

Patricia M. Mula, Vice-chairwoman Approval Date

_____________________________

Charles R. Stevens, Trustee

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