MINUTES

NIMISHILLEN TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES

MAY 24, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
On Thursday, May 24, 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: Trustee Lynch gave the invocation.

 

FIRE DEPARTMENT: (Chief Rich Peterson)

 

Pancake Breakfast: Chief Peterson thanked everyone who attended the pancake breakfast at Station #3.  There were approximately 450 plates served.

 

Update on Station #2 Septic System: Chief Peterson said he received a voice mail message from the Health Department stating they want us to go ahead and proceed and get the PTI approval which is the permit to install.  The Chief said he talked to Mr. Bennett at Hammond Tree & Associates who is the one who did the original drawings and plans.  The cost was $2000 - $3000 two to three years ago.  Mr. Bennett and Chief Peterson will meet next week after Mr. Bennett pulls the file.  Chief Peterson said at that time, Mr. Bennett will give a price of what it will cost to finish and asked him to do the package for the approval of the permit to install to use the front system and also what it would cost and how much land would be needed to do one in the rear (or east side) of the building.

 

Firefighter Combat Challenge Assessment Dates – 6/2 & 6/3: Chief Peterson said this is the annual physical assessment for the firefighters and said the Board is welcome to participate.  The Mercy Medical Sports Team comes in and evaluates all the firefighters and records their times.  In the fall, the process is repeated to find out if there was any improvement.

 

Fire / EMS Community Awareness Day – Saturday September 29, 2007 at Fire Station #3 Using the Molly Stark Property.  Chief Peterson said he has an informal commitment from the Commissioners to use the facility.  They gave tentative approval to use it for training for search and rescue.  The second annual Heroes Memorial 5K Run and Fun Run will be the morning of September 29th at 8:00 AM starting at Station #3 going up thru Canaan Acres.  Events of the day will run from 12 Noon to 4:00 PM.

 

Firefighter / Paramedic Candidates Physical Assessment at Stark State College on 6/23:  The recommendations were passed for the employee handbook and hiring requirements which states this assessment would need to be completed.  Assessments were done last weekend for the captains and some other area firefighters.  The next assessment will be Saturday June 23rd.

 

 

Nimishillen Township Board of Trustees

May 24, 2007 (Cont.)

 

ROAD DEPARTMENT: (Road Crew Member, Jamie May)

 

Award 2007 Road Material Bids: Trustee Lynch explained the recommendations of award are not strictly based on the lowest bid, but plant location is taken into consideration when making the award for the fob plant price (our trucks/pickup).  Trustee Lynch read the list of vendors awarded the 2007 Road Material Bids.  (See attached)

 

TRUSTEE GRESS MOTIONED to accept the bids as presented, seconded by Trustee Shafer.  All voted yes.  MOTION CARRIED.  Res#07-235

 

Board Approval to Submit for Engineers Estimate for Paving and the Chip & Seal Program: Trustee Lynch asked the Board for informal approval to submit to the County Engineer’s office the 2007 paving and for them to give us a price.  The Board agreed. (2007 Nimishillen Township Paving and Proposed Chip & Seal Program attached)  Copies are available at the township office.

 

Five-Year Plan – Stark County Engineers List of Projects: Trustee Shafer explained Mike Rehfus with the Stark County Engineers was scheduled to speak at tonight’s meeting but due to a conflict, he was unable to attend.  Mr. Rehfus was going to present a list of projects they hope to accomplish within the next 5 years in Nimishillen Township with the additional revenue from the $10.00 license fee increase, which goes into effect in 2008.  The list is as follows:

 

Ø      Pave Meese Road, Broadway Avenue, Werner Church Road, Georgetown Street and Columbus Road

Ø      Replace bridge on Broadway Avenue and Easton Street

Ø      Improve intersections at Paris/Meese and Paris/Easton

 

The above listed projects are in addition to this years projects, which include the Miday Avenue bridge replacement and the Broadway/Georgetown intersection improvements.

 

Road Report: TRUSTEE LYNCH MOTIONED to approve the May 24, 2007 Road Report, as written, seconded by Trustee Gress.  All voted yes.  MOTION CARRIED.  Res#07-236 (Copy Attached)

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

 

TRUSTEE GRESS MOTIONED to go into Executive Session at 7:15 PM with Attorney Jeff Jakmides for the purpose of discussing legal representation for the SERB hearing and for the trustees to discuss road department personnel, seconded by Trustee Lynch.  All voted yes.  MOTION CARRIED.  Res#07-237

 

TRUSTEE SHAFER MOTIONED to come out of Executive Session at 8:00 PM, seconded by Trustee Lynch.  All voted yes.  MOTION CARRIED.  Res#07-238

 

 

Nimishillen Township Board of Trustees

May 24, 2007 (Cont.)

 

Upon return from Executive Session, TRUSTEE GRESS MOTIONED to hire Attorney Tracey Laslo at $150.00 per hour to represent the township in the SERB hearing filed by the labor union against Trustee Lynch.  Trustee Shafer added Management Performance International located in Cincinnati, OH now represents the township and after much consideration, the Board feels someone close to home is needed to represent the township and it’s now time to make a transition.  Trustee Shafer then seconded the motion.  All voted yes.  MOTION CARRIED.  Res#07-239

 

TRUSTEE GRESS MOTIONED to hire Attorney Jeff Jakmides for eight hours a month at $800.00 as the staff attorney to attend the trustees meetings and advise them, seconded by Trustee Lynch.  All voted yes.  MOTION CARRIED.  Res#07-240

 

ZONING DEPARTMENT: (Keith Lasure)

 

Zoning Report: TRUSTEE LYNCH MOTIONED to approve the May 24, 2007 Zoning Report, as written, seconded by Trustee Gress.  All voted yes.  MOTION CARRIED.  Res#07-241 (Copy Attached)

 

CONCERNS OF FISCAL OFFICER: (Carlene Harmon)

 

Transfers Per Res#07-021: May 19, 2007: $3,000 from 4-A-02 Retirement Contribution Road Department to 4-A-10 Insurance.

 

CBNT Question / Prosecutor’s Opinion regarding Dispatch Center Funds, Receipts and Disbursements: Fiscal Officer Harmon stated a representative from CBNT (Citizens for a Better Nimishillen Township) had requested information about the manner in which she receipts the dispatch funds.  Attached is the legal opinion received from Stark County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, David Bridenstine, which Mrs. Harmon read aloud.  Mrs. Harmon stated she also faxed the letter to the State Auditor and they agree with the letter.  Copies of the letter are available at the township office.

 

Risk Control Review Ohio Plan and Flood Coverage: Mrs. Harmon said she met with our new representative and at no charge to the township, they would like to come out and do a risk control review.  They would talk to all the department heads, look at all our facilities, go through our handbook and write up our weaknesses and present it to the Board.  Mrs. Harmon said they also asked her if the Board would be interested in another $500.00 to purchase $1,000,000.00 of flood coverage insurance with a $25,000 deductible.  This was not in the original quote.  After discussion, the Board agreed to wait until after the risk control assessment to make their decision.

 

Resolution to Pay Board on 2nd Bi-weekly Pay of Each Month:  After discussion, TRUSTEE LYNCH MOTIONED to pay the Board on the 2nd bi-weekly pay of each month, seconded by Trustee Gress.  All voted yes.  MOTION CARRIED.  Res#07-242

 

 

Nimishillen Township Board of Trustees

May 24, 2007 (Cont.)

 

CONCERNS OF CITIZENS:  One resident signed up in advance to speak at tonight’s meeting.

 

Mrs. Terri Huckels of 8370 Easton said she is speaking this evening on her own accord, as always, and the following general township issues are her opinion only:

 

Ø      Asked if personal recording devices are allowed at meetings.  Answer: Yes

Ø      The annexation meeting was disappointing in her opinion

Ø      Union in road department – employees should not be in fear of losing their jobs

Ø      Respect at meetings should run both ways

Ø      Residents having to sign up to speak at township meetings

Ø      City and Township getting along

Ø      Prayer at the beginning of each meeting – feels its hypocritical

 

The Board responded to Mrs. Huckels’ comments.  Discussion followed.

 

CONCERNS OF TRUSTEES: (Lisa R. Shafer, Michael L. Lynch, Allen E. Gress)

 

Set Work Session to Interview Zoning Commission Applicants:  Since only one person (to date) has applied and was already interviewed for the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Board agreed to table setting a work session.  The deadline for applications is Wed., May 30th at 3:00 PM.

 

Office Closed May 28th: Trustee Lynch reminded everyone that the administration office and road department would be closed on Monday, May 28th, in observance of Memorial Day.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

Trustee Gress brought up for discussion hiring a part-time road administrator.  Trustee Shafer said she received his ideas / changes on the job description for a part-time road administrator and liked the changes he made.  Trustee Lynch agreed.  The Board agreed to send the job description to the prosecutor’s office for a legal opinion and to make sure it’s good to go.

 

A work session was set for Wednesday, June 20th, 2007 @ 6:00 PM at Station #2 to discuss the job description for a part-time road administrator, employees and finances.

 

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR MAY 9TH & 10TH, 2007:

 

TRUSTEE LYNCH MOTIONED to approve the minutes for May 9th & 10th, 2007, as written, seconded by Trustee Gress.  All voted yes.  MOTION CARRIED.  Res#07-243

 

 

 

 

 

Nimishillen Township Board of Trustees

May 24, 2007 (Cont.)

 

APPROVE ALL PURCHASE ORDERS, FINANCIAL REPORT AND PAY BILLS:

 

TRUSTEE LYNCH MOTIONED to approve all purchase orders, financial report and pay bills in the amount of $148,157.64, seconded by Trustee Gress.  All voted yes.  MOTION CARRIED.  Res#07-244

 

SIGN CHECKS AND ADJOURN:

 

TRUSTEE LYNCH MOTIONED to sign checks and to adjourn, seconded by Trustee Gress.  MOTION CARRIED.  Res#07-245

 

The meeting adjourned 8:20 PM.

 

 

 

_________________________________                  __________________________________

ATTEST: Carlene Harmon, Fiscal Officer                  Lisa R. Shafer, Trustee President

 

 

 

                                                                                    __________________________________

                                                                                                                Michael L. Lynch, Trustee Vice President

 

 

 

                                                                                    __________________________________

                                                                                    Allen E. Gress, Trustee