The Chester Township Board of Trustees met in regular session Thursday, June 3, 2004, at 6:31 p.m. in the Town Hall Meeting Room.  Chairman James A. Montague, 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

 

2004-242.  Mr. Montague moved to approve and sign Purchase Order #PO 40089 to State of Ohio UST Fund, Columbus, Ohio, in the amount of $1,300.00 for the 2004 annual fee assessment of financial responsibility for the petroleum underground storage tank from Fund 1-A-26.  Mrs. Mula seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

2004-243.    Mr. Montague moved to approve and sign Purchase Order #PO 40090 to

Schloss Materials Co., 13700 McCracken Rd., Cleve., Ohio, in the amount of

$30,000.00 for the purchase of asphalt materials from Fund 4-B-02.  Mr. Stevens seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

2004-244.    Mr. Montague moved to approve and sign Voucher Warrants #VW 45002

through 45029 and declared # 45000 and 45001 void which will be used by the UAN to use as supply checks.  Mrs. Mula seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

Clerk Austin explained that there are still checks left over from Bank One which are under lock and key and which will all be voided and will be kept for audit purposes.  The new numbers beginning from 45000 are the Key Bank checks.

 

Clerk’s Note:  The ending # on May 27, 2004, was 43118; the beginning # on June 1, 2004, is 45002.

 

2004-245.  Mr. Montague moved to approve and sign a letter addressed to Glenn Battles, 11281 Heath Road, Chester Township, thanking him for use of his property as a training ground in fire arms by the Police Department.  Mr. Stevens seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

Discussion of letter from Rebecca Schlag regarding Joyce, et al., v. Dinardo, et al., GCCCP Case No. 03M000417.

 

2004-246.Mr. Montague moved to authorize the Prosecutor’s Office to represent

The Prosecutor’s Office represent the Trustees and the Zoning Inspector to settle the matter and sign the Judgment Entry in the case Joyce, et al., v. Dinardo, et al., GCCCP Case No. 03M000417.  Mrs. Mula seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

ROAD DEPT.

 

2004-247.Mr. Montague moved to enter into Executive Session pursuant to ORC

121.22 regarding Road Dept. personnel and invite the Road Superintendent to join the Board.  Mr. Stevens seconded.  Roll call vote:  Mr. Stevens, yes; Mrs. Mula, yes; Mr. Montague, yes.  Motion passed.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

The Board, the Clerk and the Road Superintendent entered into Executive Session at 7:05 p.m.

 

The Board, the Clerk and the Road Superintendent re-entered regular session at 7:07 p.m.

 

2004-248.Mr. Montague moved to hire Michael Sobolewski, a Chester resident, for

seasonal part-time help for the summer at $9.50 per hour with no benefits and not to exceed 1499 hours and to start June 7, 2004.  Mrs. Mula seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

Comments and concerns from the audience members were handled by the Road Superintendent regarding a hanging basket and numerous accidents at the intersection of Sherman and Caves.  Mr. Mascella will draft a letter for the Board of Trustees to the County Engineer requesting a speed study on Caves Road.

 

LANCE YANDELL AND BOB BREMIC

 

Phase I of the beautification project, which is the hanging of baskets along a portion of Chillicothe and Mayfield Roads, is completed.  Next year the baskets will be planted with more color.  All of the necessary funding has been raised for the baskets.  The Americana banners will be in place next week.  The Chamber of Commerce is considering sponsoring a Beauty Pageant and having the winner ride in the Fourth of July Parade. 

 

The Board expressed their appreciation for what Mr. Yandell and Mr. Bremec are doing with this Beautification Project along with all of the work the Chamber of Commerce does all of the time.  The donations for the baskets amounted to $3,000.00; $2,500.00 is now needed to be raised for the banners. 

 

REGULAR MEETING CONTINUED AT THE FIRE STATION, I

 

The Board, Clerk and interested audience members exited the Town Hall at 7:30 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at the Fire Station I at 7:42 p.m.

                            

CHESTER FIRE RESCUE, INC.

 

Chairman James A. Montague turned the meeting over to Bill Laditka President of Chester Fire Rescue, Inc. introduced the members of the Fire Rescue Board who were present.  A Power Point presentation followed:

 

Mr. Laditka presented the history of Chester Fire Rescue, Inc. which was formed in 1943 by a group of interested citizens.  In 1960 rescue calls began.  In 1970 the Fire Station I opened.  In 1987 Station II opened.  In 1991 they put on a full-time person.  In 1994 Station II Annex opened.  In 2003, financial problems caused Station II to be closed.  Chester Fire Rescue is a non-profit organization.  In the late 1980’s, the membership was changed to include people who were not Chester residents due to a need for more assistance.  Currently there are 38 members and two probationary members.  The five trustees run the business of the corporation who are voted in by the membership.  The Fire Chief who is responsible for fire and rescue services and is also voted in by the membership.  Explanation of the number of training hours required for Chester Fire personnel.  Maintenance of equipment schedule explained.  Budgetary items explained as to the cost to operate the station including the cost of personnel and equipment. 

 

Mr. Laditka provided a bar graph showing that in 2004 there is 100% coverage for fire and paramedic service to the Chester Township residents.  He stated that they are in the process of developing a five year Stragic Plan, and policies are being implemented that guide and protect personnel. 

 

 

Fire Chief Russell referenced the following:

 

In order for the department to function property, they will need to hire a full-time administrator to ensure that all laws, guidelines, and fire service mandates are being met, and that the fire department is functioning to the expectations of the community on a daily basis.  They will also need to hire full-time firefighter paramedics who can meet the demands of this profession and increase funding to ensure being able to continue to provide safety for our community.

 

The ISO (Insurance Services Office) is an agency that helps measure, manage, and reduce risk for professionals in many fields, not just the fire service.  This is done by supplying date, analytics, and offering decision-support services.  ISO is the agency that sets the communities’ fire equipment class rating by reviewing:  types and number of apparatus and hose and equipment carried, reserve apparatus, capacity of apparatus pumps and tanks, ladders, specific fire flow for a sustained period of time.  The ISO rating for Chester Township is an 8.

 

Fire and medical dispatch operations:  In the past there was one dispatcher, multiple responsibilities, two radio channels, and financial obligations when dispatch was provided by the Chester Twp. Police Department.  Presently there are four to six dispatchers who perform dispatch functions only, all necessary radio channels, there is a Hub for Fire Dept.’s and Police Dept.’s, services, other counties, regional MABAS center, Lifeflight patch point at no extra cost which is provided by the Sheriff’s Department.

 

Fire Chief William Russell said there are no plans to return to dispatch provided by the Chester Township Police Department or to reopen Station II.

 

In conclusion, Mr. Laditka informed the Township Trustees that after reviewing all of the information which was provided to them on ambulance billing, they agree to move forward on the implementation of the program. 

 

Mr. Montague acknowledged all of the work the CAC did on this project.  He would now like the Board of Trustees and the Fire Dept. Trustees to meet and review all of the information presented this evening.  The Board of Trustees would request that the Trustees of the Fire Dept. pursue ambulance billing. 

 

Mrs. Mula also acknowledged all of the work which has gone into these presentations both from the CAC and the Trustees and Fire Chief of Chester Fire Rescue, Inc.

 

Mr. Laditka said they would also like to have a study done regarding the future of Chester Fire Rescue, Inc.  He asked the Township Trustees to consider hiring a professional consulting firm to assess the community’s needs and the benefit for the department to remain a private corporation or be incorporated into the Township.

 

Mr. Laditka added that Bob LaMoreaux will be celebrating his 50th anniversary on June 4, 2004, as a member of the Fire Department.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADJOUNRMENT

 

There being no further business before the Board, Mr. Montague adjourned the meeting at 9:30 p.m.

 

                                                                                 Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

______________________________                    ______________________________

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

 

 

 

______________________________                    ____________

Patricia M. Mula, Vice-chairwoman                      Approval Date

 

 

 

______________________________

Charles R. Stevens, Trustee

 

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