The Chester Township Trustees met in regular session on July 21, 2005 with the following officeholders present:  Trustees,  Charles R. Stevens, James A. Montague, Patricia M. Mula and Clerk, Karen M. N. Austin.  Chairman Stevens opened the meeting at 7:01 p.m.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

PUBLIC INPUT/QUESTIONS

 

There were no comments from the public.

 

POLICE DEPARTMENT

 

Police Chief Orosz stated that he would like approval for a purchase order up to

$2,500.00 to attend the International Association of Chief of Police’s annual conference in Miami, Florida on September 24 through September 28th.  The last conference the

Chief attended was five years ago.  The Chief further stated that he would supply all receipts to the Clerk upon his return.

 

2005-388    Mr. Stevens moved to approve up to $2,500.00 for Chief Orosz to attend the

International Association of Chief of Police’s annual conference in Miami, Florida,

September 24 through September 28.  Mrs. Mula seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

Chief Orosz further stated that the Division of Liquor Control revoked a permit from the

Clark gas station.  As of July 26th, the station will no longer be able to sell beer or wine.

After a hearing before the Division, earlier this year, it was determined that they were selling beer or wine to minors.

 

The Chief also stated that car #90 had a hitch installed on it so that they could transport their speed trailer to various locations in the community.

 

ROAD DEPARTMENT

 

Bid openings on the Widening and Asphalt Resurfacing of Caves Road, TR 157 were discussed.

 

2005-389    Mr. Stevens moved to waive the reading of the bid specifications.  Mrs. Mula

seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

Five bids were received and opened.

 

Shelly & Sands, bid guarantee attached                         $ 316,983.60

The Shelly Company, bid guarantee attached                   375,618.00

Schloss Paving Co., bid guarantee attached                      346,172.00

Burton Scott LLC, bid guarantee attached                        354,235.00

Ronyak Brothers, bid guarantee attached                          340,035.50

 

2005-390    Mr. Stevens moved to forward the bids to the Road Superintendent and then

to the County Engineer’s Office for their review.  Mrs. Mula seconded.  Vote:    Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

The total cost of the Asphalt Paving of Various Roads contract was discussed.  Road Superintendent Chuck Mascella felt that he may not have enough money in his budget to do all the roads.  He further stated that he may have to “drop” a road from the list he had previously prepared.  Several possible solutions were discussed by the Board of Trustees and the Road Superintendent.  Final decision on which course of action would be taken would be left until it was shown if the Road Department’s Budget could afford the entire project or not.

 

2005-391    Mr. Stevens moved to award the bid and sign the contract for the Paving

and Asphalt Resurfacing of Various Roads to the Schloss Paving Company, 13700 McCraken Road, Cleveland, OH 44125, in the amount of $ 454,792.50.  Mrs. Mula seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

2005-392  Mr. Stevens moved to purchase a spare wheel for the road department’s

loader for $900.00 from Southeastern Equipment Co., 590 Heisley Road, Mentor, OH 44060, from appropriation #2031-760-740-0000.  Mrs. Mula seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

A discussion was held as to the possibility of hiring summer help for the months of August and September.  Due to budget restraints, this may not be possible, although it was felt that an extra man was necessary.  There have been delays due to the April snow falls and the department has been behind schedule.  The road superintendent was again going to review his budget to see if there was funding for this extra part-time help.

 

A community note:  The Geauga County Engineer wishes to inform us of the replacement of the bridge structure on Caves Road ½ mile north of Fairmount Road.

Caves Road will be closed from Fairmount Road to Cedar Road beginning July 21st and will take approximately thirty days.

 

Mrs. Mula brought up the possibility of the Board recognizing the police officers for their outstanding efforts in regards to the electrocution death.  She would like them to come to a Trustee meeting at a later date.  Mrs. Mula offered to draft a letter and

Mr. Stevens will speak to the Chief of Police about an agreeable meeting date.

 

ZONING INSPECTOR

 

Mike Joyce spoke on the Tom Grant building on Mayfield Road.  He had been told that the property was going to transfer to a new owner in October, but the zoning inspector felt that the present owner should be referred to the Prosecutor’s Office to try and speed things up.  He felt that the new owner should not inherit the zoning violation.  Mr. Joyce was told to please start the procedures with the Prosecutor’s Office on this matter.

 

The bid openings for the removal of the structure at 9144 Mayfield Road were discussed.

 

2005-393 .Mr. Stevens moved to waive the reading of the bid specifications.  Mrs. Mula

seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

Three bids were received.

 

Baumann Enterprises, Inc., Garfield Hts., OH                       $   7,700.00

B & B Wrecking & Excavating, Inc., Cleveland, OH               13,700.00

Lightning Demolition, Euclid, OH                                            12,450.00

 

2005-394  Mr.. Stevens moved to forward the bids to the Zoning Inspector for his review and recommendation back to the Board.  Mr. Montague seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

Zoning Inspector Joyce stated that he would call the Prosecutor’s Office for the correct

waiver for holding the township harmless and give the bids to the Prosecutor’s Office for their review.

 

Mr. Joyce met with Tom Gallagher of the Bureau of Worker’s Compensation today

regarding accident incidents and a drug free program.  Grant funds were also discussed.

A maximum value grant up to $10,000 for the five year program is possibly available.

The BWC program must be started by the end of September for Phase One.

 

PRESENTATION BY GORTZ & ASSOCIATES

 

Mr. Jeremy Iosue from Gortz & Associates spoke on completing the first draft on the update to the Policy Manual, which he presented.  He also reviewed his proposal for the Employee Performance Appraisals.  This project would include the road department, police department, and town hall employees, meeting with trustees and department heads, drafting forms for the evaluations, meeting with the Board finalizing the forms and the administration guidelines, including the training of the administrators for this evaluation.  This would include on-site meetings.  Time spent would be 30 hours at a cost of $3,750.00.

 

If this was to be only for town hall employees, the cost would be $2,500.00 for 20 hours.

 

An employee handbook which would be available to all employees, and would be more readable and understandable than the employer’s policy manual, would cost an additional 30 hours at a cost of $3,750.00.  This would include each employee receiving information of the Ohio Ethics Laws also.

 

PRESENTATION BY CURRENT HEALTH CARE CARRIER

 

Dwight Milko, the Township’s current health insurance agent  reviewed our current program with the Board.  Mr. Milko spoke on a review of the Health Savings Account and an actual proposal based on the United Health Care Plan.  A HSA, he stated, is an

interest bearing account created to pay for eligible medical expenses.  Mr. Milko gave a summary report to the Board which spoke to the reasons why an employer would choose a HSA and the positive aspects of it, and also the reasons employers don’t choose to have a HSA account for their employees.

 

A discussion was held on the legalities of HSA’s for elected officials.  Mr. Milko stated he would get an opinion on this.  Also, he would give us a list of other entities that use

HSA’s and if they have unions involved.  Also, trustees suggested writing a letter to the Prosecutor’s Office asking for his opinion on this matter also.

 

Trustees wished to thank Dwight Milko and his staff who have helped our township

immensely.

 

TRUSTEES DISCUSSION

 

Mr. Stevens brought up the Terrorist Awareness Program and asked trustees and

department heads to let the secretary know if they wish to attend.

 

As the National Association of Towns and Townships will be meeting in Washington, D.C. and Ohio is the host state, the Geauga County Township Association would like each township to donate a gift.  Suggested items would be something that is unique to each township.   The Geauga County Township Association will match up to $150 for the cost of the item.  Mr. Stevens offered to follow-up on this.

 

CLERK’S FOLDER

 

A discussion was held on the levies needed for the November ballot.  The Police Department and the Chesterland Fire and Rescue levies, it is understood, will be renewals.  The Road Department possibly may ask for a replacement levy.

2005-395    Mr. Stevens moved to approve the Road Department’s time sheets for the.

period  July 3rd to July 16th.  Mrs. Mula seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

2005-396    Mr. Stevens moved to approve $71,133.00 to OTARMA, 315 S. Kalamazoo

Mall, Kalamazoo, MI 49007,  for renewal coverage for property insurance, from

Appropriation 1000-110-381-0000    $19,939.00  General Fund

Appropriation 2031-330-381-0000    $26,240.00  Road & Bridge Fund

Appropriation 2081-210-381-0000    $20,870.00  Police Fund

Appropriation 2111-220-381-0000    $ 4,084.00   Fire Fund

Mrs. Mula seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

2005-397    Mr. Stevens moved to approve Purchase Order #76-2005 to Southeastern

Equipment Co., Inc., P.O. Box 536, Cambridge, OH 43725 for a wheel for the loader,

for $900.00, out of Appropriation #2031-760-740-0000.  Mrs. Mula seconded.

Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

2005-398    Mr. Stevens moved to void purchase order # 77-2005, per the Clerk’s order.

Mrs. Mula seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

2005-399  Mr. Stevens moved to approve Purchase Order #78-2005 to Electolite, 8829 Mayfield Rd., Chesterland, OH 44026 for material, service call and labor for complete

replacement of the 480 volt sheathed line wiring for the park, for $8,820.00, out of

Appropriation #1000-930-930-0000.  Mrs. Mula seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

A discussion was held on the ball field lights being on all night at the park.  Complaints

were called in regarding this.  The Police Department tried to turn them off but was unable to because the box was locked.  Mr. Stevens stated that he has talked with the Park Board on this matter, and it will be taken care of.

 

.2005-400  Mr. Stevens moved to amend the Certificate of Estimated Resources in the amount of $185,000 to Revenue Account # 4301-921-9000 from the proceeds of the note from Key Bank for capital improvements on Sherman Road paving 2005.

Mrs. Mula seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

2005-401  Mr. Stevens moved to amend permanent appropriation in the amount of $185,000 to account #4301-760-790-9000 Capital Project – Capital Outlay – Other Capital Outlay – Sherman Rd., paving, 2005.  Mrs. Mula seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.

Motion passed.

 

2005-402  Mr. Stevens moved to move $2,000 from Appropriation #1000-930-930-0000, Contingencies, to Appropriation #1000-110-213-0000, Medicare.  Mrs. Mula,

seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

2005-403    Mr. Stevens moved to approve a cemetery deed to Laszlo Kovacs, Section C,

Lot 424, Site #3.  Mrs. Mula seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous..  Motion passed.

 

2005-404    Mr. Stevens moved to approve PY# 47531 through PY# 47577.  Mrs. Mula

seconded.  Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

Clerk’s note:  The ending check number on 7-14-05 was VW#47530 and the beginning number on 7-21-05 is PY#47531.

 

2005-405  Mr. Montague moved to approve the voiding of check number 47578 through check number 47603 for Key Bank MICR coding testing.  Mrs. Mula seconded.

Vote:  Unanimous.  Motion passed.

 

MINUTES

 

A tape recording of this meeting is kept at the Township Hall and is available upon request.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

There being no further business to be brought before the Board, Mr. Stevens moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:01 p.m.

 

 

                                                                      Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

_______________________________        __________________________________

Charles R. Stevens, Chairman                      Karen M. N. Austin CPA, Clerk

 

 

 

_______________________________        __________________________________

Patricia M. Mula, Vice-chairman                  Approval Date

 

 

 

_______________________________ 

James A. Montague, Trustee

 

 

 

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