The Chester Township Board of Trustees met in regular
session Thursday, July 28th,
2005 at 7:00 p.m. Charles R. Stevens, presiding.
All Trustees and the Clerk were present.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
PUBLIC INPUT/QUESTIONS
Bill Godale, a Chester
resident spoke on the problems he is having with zoning on his property. After a discussion, Mr. Godale was asked to be specific as to what records he
wished from the township and they would be provided.
TRUSTEE DISCUSSIONS
A discussion was held on the upcoming tax levies for the
township.
2005-406 Mr.
Stevens moved to approve a Certificate of Need to be submitted to the
Geauga County Auditor’s Office for a
police protection levy at a rate of 2.5 mills for five years, which levy is a renewal levy of 2.5 mills. (first voted on in 1980).
Mrs. Mula seconded. Roll call vote: Mr.
Montague, yes; Mrs. Mula, yes; Mr.
Stevens, yes.
Motion passed
A discussion was held on the Road and Bridge levy. It was brought before the Board that the Road
Superintendent was inclined to ask for a replacement levy instead of a renewal
levy because he did not feel that the township would be able to provide the
service and level of maintenance the township now receives on funds received
from a renewal levy. Future road projects were also discussed and
the additional funding needed for them. Several comments were made from the public
regarding a replacement levy vs. a renewal
levy and the problems the Township might have in passing a levy which would
cost the taxpayers additional money.
2005-407 Mr. Stevens moved to
approve a Certificate of Need to be submitted to the Geauga County Auditor’s
Office for the road and bridge levy at a rate of 1.5
mills for five years which levy is a replacement levy of 1.5
mills.
(first voted on in 1990)
Mrs. Mula seconded. Roll call vote: Mr.
Montague, yes; Mrs. Mula, yes; Mr.
Stevens, yes. Motion passed.
Chesterland Fire Department president Bill Laditka was
present to discuss the upcoming fire levy. Mr. Laditka
stated that this year the department was only going to seek a renewal levy, and
possibly next year ask for additional funds for extra manpower and equipment
needed.
2005-408 Mr. Stevens moved to
approve a Certificate of Need to be submitted to the Geauga County Auditor’s
Office for a fire protection levy at a rate of .50
mills for five years which levy is a renewal levy of .50
mills.
(first voted on in 1985) Mrs. Mula
seconded.
Roll call vote: Mr.
Montague, yes; Mrs. Mula, yes; Mr.
Stevens, yes.
Motion passed.
2005-409 Mr. Stevens moved to
award the bid and sign the contract for the widening and asphalt resurfacing of
Caves Road, TR 157 to
Shelly & Sands, Inc. for the amount of
$316,983.60 per the Geauga County Engineer’s
recommendation. Roll call vote:
Mr. Montague, yes; Mrs.
Mula, yes; Mr. Stevens, yes. Motion passed.
2005-410 Mr. Stevens moved to
award the bid for the removal of a main structure at 9144
Mayfield Road according to specifications, to
Baumann Enterprises, Inc. as this was the
lowest and best bid, for the amount of $7,700.00,
with the understanding that the contractor will sign a “Holds Harmless” letter
to the Chester Board of Trustees.
Roll call vote: Mr.
Montague, yes; Mrs. Mula, yes; Mr.
Stevens, yes.
Motion passed.
2005-411 Mr. Stevens
moved to approve filing a Notice of Appeal for Chester
Township vs.
Bank One, et al, Geauga County Common Pleas Court; Case No.
04 M 188 and continue to retain Thrasher, Dinsmore &
Dolan and Richard Johnson for this appeal. Mrs.
Mula seconded.
Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.
A discussion was held on the Geauga Bicentennial Board of
Manager’s request for sponsorship. Mr. Stevens
offered to look into what level they are looking for.
Mr. Stevens discussed with
Captain Mark Purchase of the police department and Chuck Mascella, road
superintendent as to how they handle their BWC paperwork.
Each department is now handling their own records. Chairman Stevens stated that he was going to
recommend to the Board that we have copies of all reports that are filed for our records
in the town hall. We do keep files on all cases, but we have
none of the starting paper work as to what happened, who approved it, what time
was lost, etc.
All we presently have is correspondence after the claim is filed. Also, Mr. Stevens feels that the township review the claims prior to
the Dept. Heads on signing off of them. Possibly, it might be cheaper paying an
employee for their time off, rather than them filing for worker’s compensation.
Mr.
Stevens offered to follow up on this. Mr. Stevens
also stated that the township could have a 10% savings rebate if we could
maintain our loss at 15% less than last year. Meyers Reese’s proposal for a worker’s
compensation group will be at the next Trustee’s meeting.
CLERK’S FOLDER
2005-412 Mr. Stevens moved to
approve minutes dated June 23, June 30, and July 14,
2005. Mrs. Mula
seconded.
Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.
2005-413 Mr. Stevens moved to
transfer $3,100.00 from the General Fund,
Appropriation # 1000-930-930-0000, Contingencies,
to Appropriation #1000-110-312-0000,
Auditing Services. Mrs. Mula
seconded.
Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.
2005-414 Mr.
Stevens moved to transfer $5,000.00 from the
General Fund,
Appropriation # 1000-930-930-0000, Contingencies,
to Appropriation # 1000-120-381-0000, Property Insurance Premiums.
Mrs. Mula seconded. Vote:
Unanimous.
Motion passed.
2005-415 Mr.
Stevens moved to transfer $6,000.00 from the
Police Department,
Appropriation #2081-760-750-0301, Motor Vehicles, Motor Vehicles
to
Appropriation # 2081-210-399-0000, Other –
Other Expenses. Mrs. Mula
seconded.
Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.
2005-416 Mr.
Stevens moved to void Purchase Order # 79-2005 to Squire, Sanders
and Dempsey, as it listed an
incorrect appropriation account number. Seconded by
Mrs. Mula. Vote:
Unanimous. Motion passed.
2005-417 Mr.
Stevens moved to approve Purchase Order # 80-2005 to Joseph Orosz
for $2,500.00
out of Appropriation # 2081-210-318-0000, to attend the International
Association Chief of Police (IACP)
conference. Mrs. Mula
seconded.
Vote:
Unanimous.
Motion passed.
2005-418 Mr.
Stevens moved to approve Purchase Order # 81-2005 to Shuttler’s
Uniform Inc. , 5350 Mayfield Road,
Lyndhurst, OH 44124
for $2,800.00 out of
Appropriation # 2081-760-740-0000 for body armor – two new
issue, two replacement
equipment. Mrs. Mula
seconded.
Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.
2005-419 Mr. Stevens moved to
approve Purchase Order # 82-2005 to Preston Ford, Inc.,
13580 West Center Street, Burton,
OH 44021
for $4,100.00 out of Appropriation
# 2081-760-740-0000 for motor replacement
in cruiser C-8. Mrs. Mula
seconded.
Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.
2005-420 Mr.
Stevens moved to approve $1000.00 to
University Hospitals, Geauga
Regional Branch for a required physical
examination for a new hire full-time position out of Police Dept. Appropriation #
2081-210-599-0000. Mrs. Mula
seconded.
Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.
2005-421 Mr.
Stevens moved to approve Voucher Warrants # 47604 through
Voucher Warrant # 47644. Mrs. Mula
seconded.
Vote: Unanimous. Motion passed.
Clerk’s note: The
ending Voucher Warrant was #47577, the beginning Voucher Warrant was # 47604.
Voucher Warrants # 47578 through Voucher Warrant # 47603
were
shipped to Key Bank for micro
coding testing. See Resolution 2005-405 dated
July 21, 2005.
The Clerk noted that we have been
advised by Key Bank that there seem to be a coding error and she had not yet
heard from Key Bank yet on the results of the testing.
2005-422 Mr.
Stevens moved to sign a cemetery deed to Debbie Naro,
276 Lake Street,
Nashua, N.H.
03060, Lot 405, Section C, Site
#1.
Mrs. Mula discussed a memo
she had circulated to the computer committee requesting a mutually acceptable
date to meet.
She will follow up with Capt. Mark
Purchase and Road Superintendent Chuck Mascella as to their availability.
Mr. Stevens stated that a
vendor in the community did what they thought was right.
They came onto township property and repaired a piece of
equipment and in their opinion, a small tree was in
their way which they cut down without permission. No one gave them permission to make the
repair, nor to cut the tree down. The vendor did not charge for the repairs. The Trustees came to the conclusion that the
vendor should be thanked for making the repairs, but also the vendor should
replace the tree with another one. Mr. Stevens
offered to draft a letter for the Board’s approval next week.
Clerk Karen Austin announced that the 2006 Budget Hearing
will take place at 11:30 a.m.
on August 15th and that she will be out of the state. Mrs. Mula
offered to attend in her place.
Clerk Karen Austin also reported that Key Bank has made a
recommendation that we reduce our regular account balance and put approximately
$50,000 more into our “sweep” account.
Note to residents:
The Geauga County Engineer’s Office wishes to inform the residents of
the improvements of Mulberry Road
from State Route 306 (Chillicothe Road)
to Thwing Road. The project will start August 1, 2005 and will last approximately 30
days.
The road will remain open to traffic while work is in progress.
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 8:57 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
_____________________________ _____________________________
Charles R. Stevens,
Chairman Karen
M. N. Austin
CPA, Clerk
_____________________________ _____________________________
Patricia M. Mula,
Vice-Chairwoman Approval Date
_____________________________
James A. Montague, Trustee
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