Chester Government Update
The Chester Township Board of Trustees held a special meeting on March 19...
The Chester Township Board of Trustees held a special meeting on March 19. Due to the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic, the trustees, fire, police and road department heads and administrative staff saw the importance to update staff on policy and procedures to keep the township and all its employees safe. Trustees reviewed current policies and procedures from department heads and township administration.
With the recommendations of Fire Chief Wargelin the board unanimously approved the hiring of three full-time positions to the Chester Township Fire Department. Congratulations to Lt. Eon Osborn, firefighter William Bulman and firefighter Ryan Zittkowski. The ability to hire the full-time fire positions was the vision of trustees and from township residents. Thank you to all involved.
Trustees held a special meeting at 3 p.m. March 23. With the COVID-19 constant changes, updates to policy and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s updates, the trustees and staff felt the importance to meet again. Consultations with legal, the prosecutor’s office and township employees were held due to the seriousness of the crisis. Township government will provide business as usual, but with protocols recommended by state and local authorities and always with the safety of residents and employees in mind.
Call town hall at 440-729-7058 and continue to check the township website for updates. Stay healthy and safe; the trustees as township leaders are here for all the residents.
The trustees meeting on March 26 opened with an executive session to consider the compensation of public employees; on return to public session, no actions were taken. The board approved the Feb. 20, March 12 and March 19 meeting minutes. In road business, with spring in the air, the board approved the return of seasonal employee Gary Huston; he has been returning for many years. The board also moved to advertise for an additional seasonal worker for the road department.
In fire department business, $2,000 was approved for Resource Management Consultants LLC from appropriations of grants. Also accepted was the resignation of Daniel Santry as of March 27. The board approved a resolution for the Ohio Township Association Risk Management Authority for Faithful Performance of Duty.
Patricia Jarrett and Ken Radtke were appointed to the Chester Township Volunteers Peace Officers and Firefighters Dependents Fund Board for 2020. Motion 2020-87 was amended to reflect an appropriation change. Trustees moved to accept Chester Township permanent appropriation totaling $8,084,056.72. The 2020 NOPEC event sponsorship totaling $1,500 was awarded in the amount of $300 to each of the following groups: Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions Club, Perennial Gardeners and Chester Historical Society.
Trustees then went into an executive session to consider employee compensation. After returning from executive session, the board moved to approve the COVID-19 policy and the meeting adjourned.
The Recycle Park is looking for committee members. Those interested may find information on Chester News, the township website or by emailing Mary Lou at mlflorentine@chestertwp.org.
Submitted by Joseph C. Mazzurco, Chester Township Trustee
