On Thursday, February
14, 2008, the Board of Trustees of Nimishillen Township met in regular session
at 7:00 P.M. at the Nimishillen Township Hall located at 4422
Mike Lynch called the special
meeting to order and led the staff and audience in the pledge of allegiance.
NOTE:
There is no recording of
tonight’s meeting due to a malfunction of the recorder and/or CD. The written minutes of tonight’s meeting are
from the township secretary’s notes and memory.
INVOCATION: Trustee Lynch gave the invocation.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
LISA SHAFER MOTIONED TO ENTER
INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION at 7:05 PM WITH ATTORNEY JEFF JAKMIDES TO DISCUSS
PENDING LEGAL ISSUES seconded by Allen Gress.
Roll call voting: Lisa Shafer –
YES, Allen Gress – YES and Mike Lynch – YES.
MOTION CARRIED. RES#08-143
LISA SHAFER MOTIONED TO
RETURN FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION at 8:05 PM seconded by Allen Gress. Roll call voting: Lisa Shafer – YES, Allen Gress – YES and Mike
Lynch – YES. MOTION CARRIED. RES#08-144
Due to several cases coming
up and the cost to the township, Lisa and Mike agreed it would be better to
utilize the services of the Stark County Prosecutor’s office, which would be at
no cost to the township.
LISA SHAFER MOTIONED THE
TOWNSHIP WOULD NO LONGER RETAIN ATTORNEY JEFF JAKMIDES AS THE TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY
AND WOULD UTILIZE THE STARK COUNTY PROSECUTORS AT NO CHARGE seconded by Mike
Lynch. Roll call voting: Lisa Shafer –
YES, Mike Lynch – YES and Allen Gress – NO.
MOTION CARRIED. RES#08-145
FIRE DEPARTMENT: (Chief Rich Peterson)
January 2008 Fire Report: Chief Peterson reported there were 109 incidents, and
the Board accepted the January 2008 report.
Update on Septic System at Fire Station #2: Chief
Peterson reported he met with Mr. Asconi and a gentleman from Hammontree. It was decided to wait until the weather
breaks before designing a system and then go from there.
Firefighter Resignations – Eric Foutz and Lisa Weber: Chief Peterson reported both Eric Foutz and Lisa Weber
resigned as firefighters but want to be rehired as civilian part-time
dispatchers.
LISA SHAFER MOTIONED TO
ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION FROM ERIC FOUTZ AND FROM LISA WEBER EFFECTIVE
IMMEDIATLEY seconded by Allen Gress.
Roll call voting: Lisa Shafer – YES, Allen Gress – YES and Mike Lynch –
YES.
MOTION CARRIED. RES#08-146
LISA SHAFER MOTIONED TO
REHIRE ERIC FOUTZ AND LISA WEBER AND RECLASSIFY BOTH AS CIVILIAN PART TIME
DISPATCHERS @ $10.00 / HOUR
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY seconded by Allen Gress.
Roll call voting: Lisa Shafer – YES, Allen Gress – YES and Mike Lynch –
YES. MOTION CARRIED. RES#08-147
Water Leak at Station #3: Chief Peterson reported Spring Electric looked at the
water leak and advised immediate action be taken to stop the flow of water from
entering the automatic transfer switch, electrical service conduits and main
telephone conduits. The letter from
Spring Electric outlines recommended action that needs to be taken. (Letter attached)
ROAD DEPARTMENT: (Interim Road Superintendent, Jamie May)
Excuse Jamie May from Tonight’s Meeting: Due to the
number of hours the road crew has been working for the past several days and
with more snow / ice in the forecast, Mike Lynch excused Jamie from tonight’s
meeting.
Road Report:
LISA SHAFER MOTIONED TO ACCEPT
THE WRITTEN ROAD REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 14, 2008 seconded by Allen Gress. Roll call voting: Lisa Shafer – YES, Allen
Gress – YES and Mike Lynch – YES. MOTION CARRIED. RES#08-148
(Report
attached)
ZONING DEPARTMENT: (Keith Lasure, Zoning Inspector)
Zoning Report:
LISA SHAFER MOTIONED TO ACCEPT THE WRITTEN ZONING REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 14, 2008
seconded by Allen Gress. Roll call
voting: Lisa Shafer – YES, Allen Gress –
YES and Mike Lynch – YES. MOTION CARRIED. RES#08-149 (Report attached)
Discussion on #19 on the 2/14/08 Zoning Report: After discussing a possible zone change on
Zoning Report for
CONCERNS OF THE FISCAL OFFICER: (Barry Evans)
Discuss Policy for uses of Fire, Road and General Fund
Monies: Allen
Gress talked about the use of the different funds and how to possibly better
categorize them and better show what monies are coming from what fund. Some discussion followed.
Resolution for Wage Adjustment for Assistant Fiscal
Officer: FISCAL OFFICER BARRY EVANS REQUESTED A WAGE ADJUSTMENT
FOR ASST. FISCAL OFFICER TILLIE KINSLEY TO $14.00 / HOUR RETROACTIVE TO JAN. 1,
2008 AND TO REMAIN ON THE
TOWNSHIP LIFE INSURANCE AT
THE CURRENT RATE OF $20.00 / MONTH so moved by Allen Gress and seconded by Mike
Lynch. Roll call voting: Allen Gress –
YES, Mike Lynch – YES and Lisa Shafer – YES.
MOTION CARRIED. RES#08-151
CONCERNS OF CITIZENS:
No one signed up to speak at
tonight’s meeting.
CONCERNS OF TRUSTEES: (Mike Lynch, Lisa Shafer & Allen Gress)
Appoint Zoning Commission Board Member: After discussion and because there are three applicants
for the ZC, the trustees agreed to interview each applicant. Interviews will be held on Thursday, February
28th, starting at 6:00 PM with the regular trustees meeting to
follow at 7:00 PM. The township
secretary will contact the applicants.
Fire Department Pay Increases: Lisa Shafer explained that the Fire Department has
not had an increase in salary since 2004 and proposed at 3% increase for 2005,
2006, 2007 and 2008 for a total increase of 12%. She stated we have a new state of the art
facility and should be compensating our employees thus protecting our greatest
asset – our people. The total with a 12%
increase would be $86,544.80. The
fire department personnel have sacrificed many years in hopes to achieve
success with the fire levies with no success.
Mr. Gress wanted to know how to explain to the community about a raise.
Mrs. Shafer explained that the fire levy was not about pay raises, it was an
attempt to move our fire department to full time status and this has nothing to
do with raises.
Allen Gress stated that Mike
and Lisa were jumping into raises with no salary study. Mr. Lynch responded
that there had been a study done. The study was submitted in writing and Lisa
Shafer held a copy for the audience to see.
Barry Evans reported that he
had done an analysis stating the money is there and the financial outlook is
good.
After discussion and after
several motions placed on the table LISA SHAFER MOTIONED TO INCREASE ALL FIRE
DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL’S HOURLY RATE AND SALARIED PERSONNEL BY 12% EFFECTIVE
IMMEDIATELY seconded by Mike Lynch. It
was also stated that Chief Peterson’s car allowance remains the same and not be
subject to any increase. Roll call voting: Lisa Shafer – YES, Mike Lynch – YES
and Allen Gress – NO. MOTION CARRIED. RES#08-151
Fire Department Salary Study of Adjoining Fire
Districts: Allen Gress was going to suggest a salary
study for adjoining fire districts but since the 12% increase has been motioned
and passed, he said this is now a moot point.
Policy for Burial of Indigents: Mike
Lynch explained an indigent recently passed away at Green Meadows and we were
informed the township had to set a policy as to how much we would pay for the
burial of indigents.
After discussion, MIKE LYNCH
MOTIONED THE TOWNSHIP WOULD PAY A TOTAL OF $250.00 FOR THE BURIAL OF INDIGENTS
seconded by Lisa Shafer. Roll call
voting: Mike Lynch – YES, Lisa Shafter –
YES and Allen Gress – YES. MOTION CARRIED. RES#08-153
Flooding / High Water: Lisa
Shafer wanted to thank the road department for a job well done during the
recent rains which produced high water and flooding and said the fire
department did an excellent job rescuing people who drove into high water and
were stranded.
Good Neighbor Program – Vacant House at 4151 Broadway: Mike Lynch said Rev. Scott Spencer brought to his
attention that there’s a program where the township or government offices can
buy vacated homes for $1.00 and then sell or donate said homes. The
board decided to table this until more information can be obtained.
Grass Fire Truck: After discussion, the Board asked Chief Peterson to gather information
and get prices and report on it at a later date.
BWC Claim for Chris Blake: A letter was received from Frank Gates stating they
felt this was a good case for a lump sum settlement.
After discussion, ALLEN GRESS
MOTIONED TO AUTHORIZE FRANK GATES TO PURSUE A LUMP SUM SETTLEMENT REGARDING THE
CHRIS BLAKE BWC CLAIM seconded by Lisa Shafer.
Roll call voting: Allen Gress – YES, Lisa Shafer – YES and Mike Lynch –
YES. MOTION CARRIED. RES#08-154
Resolution Regarding Participation in a Joint Project
Between the City of
After discussion,
MIKE LYNCH MOTIONED TO AUTHORIZE THE TOWNSHIP’S PARTICIPATION IN A JOINT
PROJECT WITH CITY OF LOUISVILLE, STARK COUNTY AND ST. JOSPEH CARE CENTER FOR
THE ST. JOSEPH CARE CENTER DRAINAGE / RETENTION BASIN PROJECT seconded by Allen
Gress. Roll call voting: Mike Lynch – YES, Allen Gress – YES and Lisa
Shafer – YES. MOTION CARRIED. RES#08-155
Mike Lynch recommended that
any settlement monies received from the Selective Insurance lawsuit would be
used to fund the township’s portion of the St. Joseph Care Center Drainage /
Retention Project. After discussion:
ALLEN GRESS MOTIONED TO
EARMARK ANY MONEY RECEIVED FROM SELECTIVE INSURANCE TO PAY FOR THE ST. JOSEPH
CARE CENTER DRAINAGE / RETENTION PROJECT seconded by Mike Lynch. Roll call voting: Allen Gress – YES, Mike
Lynch – YES and Lisa Shafer – NO BASED ON THE BELIEF THAT THE MONIES CANNOT BE
EARMARKED FOR THIS PURPOSE. MOTION CARRIED. RES#08-156
Update on
OLD BUSINESS:
BWC – 2% Premium Rebate Program: This was
tabled from the Jan. 24th meeting.
Barry Evans reported we are already doing the things necessary to
qualify our township to receive the BWC 2% premium rebate. Some of the criteria include: Attend at least 8 out of10 safety council
luncheons, which can be a mix of regular luncheons, and attend seminars with
the CEO or senior level manager (board president) attending at least one of
those.
Drug Policy: Lisa Shafer explained she incorporated the drug policies into one
policy. The policy was presented to the
trustees for review. Lisa Shafer asked
the township secretary to send it to the prosecutor’s office for an opinion and
then resubmit it to the Board for approval into the handbook.
NEW BUSINESS:
Keith Lasure reported on the
Emerald Ash Borer Program stating Adam Caruthers from the Ohio Department of
Agriculture came to see him about the possibility of placing traps at various
locations in the township where there are Ash trees. Anyone interested can contact the township
office at 330-875-9924. (Flyer attached)
APPROVE MINUTES:
LISA SHAFER MOTIONED TO
APPROVE THE JANUARY 24, 2008 WRITTEN MINUTES seconded by Allen Gress. Roll call voting: Lisa Shafer – YES, Allen
Gress – YES and Mike Lynch – YES. MOTION CARRIED. RES#08-157
APPROVE PURCHASE ORDERS, FINANCIAL REPORT AND PAY
BILLS:
LISA SHAFER MOTIONED TO
APPROVE ALL PURCHASE ORDERS, FINANCIAL REPORT AND PAY BILLS IN THE AMOUNT OF
$9,311.03 seconded by Allen Gress. Roll
call voting: Lisa Shafer – YES, Allen Gress – YES and Mike Lynch – YES.
MOTION CARRIED. RES#08-158
SIGN CHECKS AND ADJOURN:
LISA SHAFER MOTIONED TO SIGN
CHECKS AND ADJOURN AT 9:05 PM seconded by Allen Gress. Roll call voting: Lisa Shafer – YES, Allen
Gress – YES and Mike Lynch – YES. MOTION CARRIED. RES#08-159
______________________________ __________________________________
ATTEST:
Barry Evans, Fiscal Officer Michael
L. Lynch, President
__________________________________
Lisa R. Shafer, Vice President
__________________________________
Allen
E. Gress, Trustee