Chester Government Update
The Chester Township Board of Trustees meeting on Dec. 27 with department heads opened at 7 a.m. with an update from Chester Township Administrator Mark Purchase regarding the initial evaluation of transitioning from the Geauga County ADP services to a third party contracted service with the township...
The Chester Township Board of Trustees meeting on Dec. 27 with department heads opened at 7 a.m. with an update from Chester Township Administrator Mark Purchase regarding the initial evaluation of transitioning from the Geauga County ADP services to a third party contracted service with the township. Equipment costs, expenses, time frames and other matters need to be considered on the ongoing project.
The board approved the carryover of some vacation time for a recent road department hire as well as an updated Chester Township Apron and Drive Pipe Policy. Funds of $87,911 were approved to purchase a truck chassis to be outfitted as a dump/plow truck.
In fire department business, $1,646 was approved to repair radiant heaters and $1,900 was approved for software for the fire inspection program.
There was a discussion about the proposed parks amendment for the zoning resolution, and a meeting was scheduled for Jan. 3, 2024, between the board of trustees and the zoning commission to discuss the document.
In a reorganizational session, Craig Richter was reappointed as chairman and Joe Mazzurco as vice chairman. Various trustee representative assignments were approved, including Drug Enforcement Representative, Health District Advisory Committee and Stormwater Phase 2 Representative. Trustee liaisons for each department will remain the same as 2023.
The establishment of statutorily defined compensation for the board of trustees and fiscal officer was also approved along with spending authorizations in the amount of $1,000 each for trustees and department heads, $3,500 for the township administrator and $350 for the township administrative assistant.
The public meeting schedule was established as every two weeks beginning Jan. 11, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. The requirement to advertise all meetings as well as notification to the media and those citizens who requested to be informed was also approved.
An executive session regarding public employee compensation was held and upon returning to public session, motions for a 3% annual wage increase and motions to reappoint Police Chief Craig Young, Road Superintendent John Onyshko and Fire Chief Bill Shaw to their positions for calendar year 2024 were approved.
The board approved pay for the zoning commission and board of zoning appeals attendance in 2023 and trustees thanked these individuals for their dedication and time. The board also approved $275 for the Ohio Township Association, which will enable township employees to participate in various webinars for training purposes. Trustees also approved after the fact the rehiring of Sean Day to serve as school safety officer through the Chester Police Department. The cost for the school safety officer is paid by the West Geauga School District through a mutual agreement with Chester Township.
The Chester Fiscal Office is in the process of closing out 2023 and a thank you letter to the West Geauga Chamber of Commerce for a successful first year was approved. The meeting closed at 9:49 a.m.
Submitted by Ken Radtke Jr., Chester Township Trustee
