On Thursday, April 26, 2007,
the Board of Trustees of Nimishillen Township met in regular session at 7:00
P.M. at the Nimishillen Township Hall with the following members present:
Trustee President Lisa R. Shafer, Vice President Michael L. Lynch, Trustee
Allen E. Gress and Fiscal Officer Carlene Harmon.
President Shafer called the meeting to order and led the staff and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
INVOCATION: Mike Lynch gave the invocation.
FIRE DEPARTMENT: (Chief Rich Peterson)
Hire Brian Ferguson as Part Time Communications
Operator: Allen Gress motioned
to hire Brian Ferguson as part time communications operator, seconded by Mike
Lynch. Roll call voting: Allen Gress – yes, Mike Lynch – yes and Lisa
Shafer – yes. MOTION CARRIED. Res#07-207
Resolution to Approve Changes to Fire Department
Employee Handbook: Mike Lynch
motioned to approve changes to the Fire Department Employee Handbook as stated
by Chief Peterson (See attached), seconded by
Allen Gress. Roll call voting: Mike Lynch – yes, Allen Gress – yes and Lisa
Shafer – yes. MOTION CARRIED. Res#07-208
Establish Eligibility List for Hiring Firefighters:
Chief Peterson said they lost
firefighters / paramedics, Frank Walters and Andy Bolgiano, to the City of
Resolution to Approve Lawn Care Service Contract: After discussion and based on the prices (See attached) and the recommendation by Chief
Peterson, Mike Lynch motioned to obtain Custom Cut Lawn to maintain the mowing
of grass at the township’s fire stations, seconded by Allen Gress. Roll call voting: Mike Lynch – yes, Allen Gress – yes and Lisa
Shafer – yes. MOTION CARRIED. Res#07-209
Fire Department Community Pancake Breakfast: Chief Peterson reported the free community
pancake breakfast will be held on Sunday, May 20th, from 8 AM to 12
Noon at Fire Station No. 3 located at
ROAD DEPARTMENT: (Road Crew Member, Jamie May)
Award Road Sweeping Contract: Per the recommendation of road crewmember,
Jamie May, the Board elected to award the road-sweeping contract using a vacuum
type sweeper, which was specified in the letter. The following three quotes were
received: Sky Sweeping total cost of
$3,100.00, Buckeye Sweeping for a total cost of $3,650.00 and Davidson Property
Services for a total cost of $2,100.00. (See attached)
April 26, 2007
(Cont.)
After discussion,
Allen Gress motioned to award the road sweeping contact to Sky Sweeping for a
total of $3,100 based on the fact their quote meets the bid requirements with
Lisa Shafer amending the resolution to read as of June 1st, 2007,
Sky Sweeping will have thirty (30) days to complete the roads in Nimishillen
Township as specified in the contract, seconded
by Mike Lynch. Roll call voting: Allen Gress – yes, Mike Lynch – yes and Lisa
Shafer – yes. MOTION CARRIED. Res#07-210
Road Report: Allen Gress motioned to accept the Road Report for April 26, 2007, as
presented, seconded by Mike Lynch. Roll
call voting: Allen Gress – yes, Mike
Lynch – yes and Lisa Shafer – yes.
MOTION CARRIED. Res#07-211
ZONING DEPARTMENT: (Keith Lasure)
Zoning Report: Mike Lynch motioned to accept the Zoning Report for April 26, 2007, as
presented, seconded by Allen Gress. Roll
call voting: Mike Lynch – yes, Allen
Gress – yes and Lisa Shafer – yes.
MOTION CARRIED. Res#07-212
CONCERNS OF FISCAL OFFICER: (Carlene Harmon)
Transfers Per Res#07-021: There were no transfers.
Switching from Fuelman to SuperFleet: For
informational purposes, Mrs. Harmon reported the township will be switching
fuel companies from Fuelman to SuperFleet for all township vehicles.
Debt for Road Department and 2003 Levy: Mrs. Harmon said since the township will
possibly be making a decision to purchase a wheel loader, she explained to the
Board that since a substantial payment was made last year, the township garage
will be paid off in 2009. In the year
2009, she explained we will only pay $17,700.00. Mrs. Harmon said it is her opinion the Board
should consider stretching out the lease purchase, which would be the better
way to go.
CONCERNS OF CITIZENS: No
one signed up in advance to speak at tonight’s meeting.
CONCERNS OF
TRUSTEES: (Lisa R. Shafer, Michael L.
Lynch, Allen E. Gress)
Manhole-Adjusting Rings: Mrs. Shafer explained we currently share the cost of
Road Department Unionization: Mrs. Shafer reported there was a
union vote yesterday (4 to 1 in favor) and the union is coming to the
township. She explained that once SERB
officially certifies the votes, the Board will begin the collective bargaining
process with the union for the road department.
April 26, 2007
(Cont.)
Mike Lynch
explained that he is not anti-union but he does not feel there’s a place for
the union in a small government such as ours.
He stated we are on a tight budget and he feels the Board does
everything they can for the employees but it is their right to organize.
Set Work Session to Discuss
Collective Bargaining: A work session was set for
Wednesday, May 9th at 6 PM at Station No. 2 to discuss road issues.
Driveway Culverts: Lisa Shafer reported that the township will not be going out replacing
driveway culverts for residents – this is the homeowners’ responsibility. This is per the Ohio Revised Code unless it
is causing a safety issue on township roadways.
After discussion, Allen Gress motioned effective April 26, 2007, a
permit for driveway culverts will be required to be obtained from the zoning
inspector at a cost of $10.00, and included with the permit will be a list of
requirements for culverts, seconded by Mike Lynch. Roll call voting: Allen Gress – yes, Mike Lynch – yes and Lisa
Shafer – yes. MOTION CARRIED. Res#07-213
ZBA Position: Lisa Shafer stated there was a work session before tonight’s regular
meeting for the purpose of interviewing Zoning Board of Appeals
candidates. There were two excellent
candidates that applied, one being Floyd Fernandez, who now sits on the Zoning
Commission Board and is the alternate on the Zoning Board of Appeals, and
township resident Larry Marks.
After
discussion, Mike Lynch motioned to appoint Floyd Fernandez to the Zoning Board
of Appeals to finish Phyllis McKean’s term, which will expire December 31,
2007, seconded by Allen Gress. Roll call
voting: Mike Lynch – yes, Allen Gress –
yes and Lisa Shafer – yes. MOTION
CARRIED. Res#07-214
Advertise for Zoning
Commission Candidate: Lisa Shafer motioned to advertise
for thirty (30) days to fill the open seat on the Zoning Commission, which will
expire December 31, 2011, seconded by Allen Gress. Roll call voting: Lisa Shafer – yes, Allen Gress – yes and Mike
Lynch – yes. MOTION CARRIED. Res#07-215
OLD BUSINESS:
Hosting
Soliciting Ads for Township Newsletters: Mike Lynch reported a legal opinion was
received from Stark County Assistant Prosecutor, Lisa Barr, which states it is
her opinion and advised that the township is without authority to solicit
advertising from local businesses in order to offset the costs of publishing
township newsletters. (See attached)
April 26, 2007
(Cont.)
Repair / Lease 1988 Trojan Front-End Loader: Scott Hartzell from Southeastern Equipment
Company explained the different financing options. After discussion, Allen Gress motioned to
enter into a five (5) year lease agreement for a Case 521 D Wheel Loader in the
amount of $15,473.54 annually for a total principal balance of $70,216.00, seconded
by Mike Lynch. Roll call voting: Allen Gress – yes, Mike Lynch – yes and Lisa
Shafer – no. MOTION CARRIED.
Res#07-216
DISMISS STUDENTS:
Since it was almost
8:00 PM, Lisa Shafer dismissed the Louisville High School Government Class
students, and the elected officials signed their papers.
CURRENT EVENTS:
Allen Gress reminded
everyone of the Groffre Annexation hearing on May 16th at 7 PM at
the
APPROVE THE APRIL 12, 2007 MINUTES:
Before approving the
April 12, 2007 Minutes, Mike Lynch motioned to exclude Trustee Allen Gress’
personal comments to the press from the minutes, seconded by Lisa Shafer and
amending it to strike Trustee Gress’ personal comments and press release from
the minutes because this was not a Board action and must be removed from the
minutes and with those changes, the Minutes for April 12, 2007 are
approved. Roll call voting: Mike Lynch – yes, Lisa Shafer – yes and Allen
Gress – Abstained. MOTION
CARRIED. Res#07-217
APPROVE ALL PURCHASE ORDERS, FINANCIAL REPORT AND PAY
BILLS:
Mike Lynch motioned
to approve all purchase orders, financial report and pay bills in the amount of
$65,551.27, seconded by Allen Gress.
Roll call voting: Mike Lynch –
yes, Allen Gress – yes and Lisa Shafer – yes.
MOTION CARRIED. Res#07-218
SIGN CHECKS AND ADJOURN:
Mike
Lynch motioned to sign checks and adjourn, seconded by Allen Gress. Roll call voting: Mike Lynch – yes, Allen
Gress – yes and Lisa Shafer – yes. MOTION CARRIED. Res#07-219
The
meeting adjourned at 8:00 PM.
_________________________________ __________________________________
ATTEST:
Carlene Harmon, Fiscal Officer Lisa
R. Shafer, President
__________________________________
Michael L. Lynch, Vice President
__________________________________
Allen
E. Gress, Trustee