The Chester Township Board of Trustees met in regular session Thursday, July 22, 2004, in the Town Hall Meeting Room at 7:00 p.m. Chairman James A. Montague, presided.

All trustees and the clerk present

PLEDGE

The Scouts led the audience in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. The Girl Scouts present were from Troop 912 and one Boy Scout who was present were here to observe this evening’s meeting.

PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION TO GIRL SCOUTS

Mr. Montague said the Girl Scouts and the Boy Scouts have always been most cooperative whenever there was a community project to be done. Mrs. Mula read the Citizens Proclamation to the Girl Scouts of Troop 912 and the audience at this time for the Beautification Project of the Front Flower Bed in Front of the Town Hall done by the girls and their leaders.

BUDGET HEARING

Clerk Austin presented and explained the 2005 budget to the Board. We are pretty much at a 50% mark in the tax collections. Some additional income has been received through restitution through the Prosecutor’s Office which was used to pay for some of the prosecution’s expenses. Mrs. Austin said she will be reallocating some of the General Fund monies to other funds where those dollars will be needed. This will not be done until such time when it becomes necessary to reallocate those funds. She has met with the Police Chief and the Road Superintendent and had discussion as to what they have done so far this year. The dollar amount on the Certificate of Estimated Resources for cemeteries will be higher than the amount that is brought in. The rest of the current Certificate of Estimated Resources seems to be right on target. The Certificate has not been updated to include the rent received from the Harold Drive property which is not needed to be done at this time since that money is not necessary to pay expenses with; she will wait and do it with other funds as they come through the year. All expenses are current; there are no expenses that are behind; there are no outstanding invoices.

Questions regarding the budget answered by the Clerk.

ROAD DEPT.

Road Superintendent Mascella said two of the roads being paved at this time have a poor sub-base will require additional work. These roads will have additional work done on them next week by Ronyak.

The assessments for Sherman Road have been received. A public hearing date needs to be set by the Board of Trustees followed by sending out letters to the residents who will be affected by this paving project.

The Clerk will check for the availability of the Geauga West Library or the Fire Dept. if the library is unavailable.

Mr. Mascella reported that the new tractor has been received; it works wonderful. The Harold Drive house will be power washed by the Road Department. Striping of township roads which have previously been striped in the past will cost approximately $9,000.00.

Question answered from the audience regarding a replacement levy for the Road Department.

2004-309. Mr. Montague moved to approve a Road Replacement Levy of 1 mill for

five years; this is a replacement of a 1 mill from 1984. Mrs. Mula seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

Question raised by a Cedar Road resident regarding the lack of a school flashing signal before the entrance to the Middle School. A follow up will be done by the Board of a letter which was sent to the School Board regarding this situation several months ago. A letter will also be addressed to the County Engineer regarding the speed limit on Cedar Road.

CLERK’S FOLDER

2004-310. Mr. Montague moved to approve and sign minutes dated June 24, July 1, and July 15, 2004. Mr. Stevens seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

2004-311. Mr. Montague moved to approve and sign Road Dept. Payroll Time Sheet dated July 17, 2004. Mrs. Mula seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

2004-312. Mr. Montague moved to approve and sign Purchase Orders #PO 40130

payable to Waste Management of Ohio, Inc., Chardon, Ohio, for $1,916.53 for balance of clean up day expenses from Fund 1-A-26, and approve Voucher Warrant

#VW 45410; approve and sign Purchase Order #PO 40131 to TAC Computer, Oakwood Village, Ohio, for $3,354.00 for the third and fourth quarter maintenance contract and Voucher Warrant #VW 45426 from Fund 9-A-10. Mrs. Mula seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

2004-313. Mr. Montague moved to approve and sign Payroll Warrants #PY 45360

through 45399; Payroll Withholding Warrants #PW 45400 through 45409; Voucher

Warrants (# VW 45410 was approved in the previous motion) #VW 45411 through 45425 (Voucher Warrant #VW 45426 was approved in the previous motion). Mr. Stevens seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

Clerk’s Note: The ending check number on July 15, 2004, was #45359; the

beginning check number on July 22, 2004, is #45360.

2004-314. Mr. Montague moved to approve a renewal of a Chesterland Fire Rescue Levy in the amount of 1.80 mill; this expiring levy was first passed in 1999. This is a five year levy. Mr. Stevens seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

2004-315. Mr. Montague moved to enter into an agreement with Thomas Marous, Auction Gallery, Newbury, Ohio, for the expenses associated with the public auction to be held Saturday, August 14, 2004: Vehicles - $500.00 per vehicle; household/personal - 5% of sale; real estate - 4% of sale; labor - $10.00 per man hour; Chairs - $50.00 for use of 300 chairs; trucking - no charge. Mrs. Mula seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

2004-316. Mr. Montague moved to approve up to $3,000.00 for advertising expenses associated with the public auction to be held Saturday, August 14, 2004, from Fund

01-A-26D. Mr. Stevens seconded. Mr. Montague said the ad for the Plain Dealer is $1,200.00; all of the $3,000.00 may not be needed for advertising. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

2004-317. Mr. Montague moved to approve a Press Release by the Board of Trustees for the public auction to be held Saturday, August 14, 2004. Mrs. Mula seconded and read the Press Release to the audience. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

Mr. Montague said the times will be staggered for items to be auctioned, and there will be open houses for the house on three dates previous to the auction.

Mrs. Mula explained that Mr. Marous is an appraiser, who will be appraising the items before the auction in order to obtain fair prices at the auction. The Board of Trustees will be responsible for setting the minimum price for the vehicles and house. All bidders for the house and the vehicles must be pre-qualified.

2004-318. Mr. Montague moved to approve $478.74 payable to Geauga Unibody,

Chester Township, for the detailing and repair to the 1999 Mercedes Benz, 2001 Mercedes Benz and the 2002 Range Rover which will be sold in the public auction on

August 14, 2004. Mr. Stevens seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

2004-319. Mr. Montague moved to approve payment of $625.00 to Lenora B.

Johnston, Beavercreek, Ohio 45434 for the purchase of two cemetery lots, sites 3 and 4, in Lot 433, Section C, of the Chester Township Cemetery. Clerk’s note: Mrs. Johnston purchased four sites in 2001 and wishes to sell back sites 3 and 4. Mrs. Mula seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

Clerk Austin asked for the Board’s input regarding the positive pay with paper checks being returned versus receiving the information on a CD Rom. Mrs. Mula would like to see copies of the canceled checks on the CD Rom.

Clerk Austin said all of the checks from the Bank One account have cleared except for one. Stop Payment has been issued on the one outstanding check per the advice of legal counsel. She recommends that the Bank One account be closed.

2004-320. Mr. Montague moved to approve closing the Bank One account for Chester Township effective immediately. Mrs. Mula seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.

PUBLIC INPUT

The Board and Clerk answered concerns and question from the audience.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business before the Board, Mr. Montague adjourned the meeting at 8:49 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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