Chester Government Update
The Chester Township Board of Trustees meeting on May 7 opened with an executive session for a conference with an attorney for a pending or imminent court action...
The Chester Township Board of Trustees meeting on May 7 opened with an executive session for a conference with an attorney for a pending or imminent court action. On return to public session, no actions were taken.
Next on the agenda was a presentation by J. Wesley Kerns, of Squire Patton Boggs, serving as bond counsel for the City of Lyndhurst. Kerns explained that the city is proposing to issue a series of bonds to be used by Hawken School on the Lyndhurst and Gates Mills/Chester campuses. Because bond money will be spent in Chester, IRS regulations require approval from the trustees for that use; there is no other obligation or liability.
Next, the board approved meeting minutes. In Chester Road Department business, foreman Randy Reese announced his retirement effective May 15, 2020. The road department and trustees will honor Randy and they thank him for his 26 years of service to the township.
In Chester Fire Department business, the board accepted the resignation of part-time fire fighter Jacob Platt effective May 10, 2020.
Police Chief Mark Purchase recommended and the board approved the purchase of two 2020 Ford Explorers at state bid of $65,492. Emergency equipment for the new vehicles in the amount of $14,199.56 was also approved. Upgrades for the optics for the patrol rifles through to Great Lakes Outdoor Supply in Chesterland was approved. Chester will receive a trade-in value credit of $200 per unit, which shall be applied towards the purchase of six new EOTech EXPS2 Sights.
In new business, the board approved $1,100 payable to Petroleum UST Release Compensation Board for the annual assessment fee for underground fuel storage tanks.
The 2020 Memorial Day proclamation was approved and Trustee Claypool was selected to present the proclamation at the Chester Township Memorial Day services at 10 a.m. May 25 at the Chester Township Cemetery.
Certificates of estimated property tax revenue as provided by the Geauga County Auditor in relation to renewal of the levies road department 2.5-mill and police department 0.5-mill were received
In other business, trustees refunded the deposit to Tikvat Yisrael Messianic Synagogue for the gazebo for the National Day of Prayer that was canceled due to COVID-19.
The park pavilions, playground and restrooms are scheduled to reopen May 25.
The planning committee questionnaire has been mailed out and there were a few issues with the mailing lists – some residents did not receive a survey. Radtke was working with the mailing company to iron out the issues.
The board then went into an executive session to consider considering the appointment, employment, promotion and compensation of public employees. After returning from executive session, they moved to advertise in the Chesterland News and the township website for a Chester Township Board of Zoning Appeals alternate position and Road Superintendent, with letters of interest and applications to be received at Chester Town Hall by mail, in person or email to mlflorentine@chestertwp.org by 4 p.m. May 29.
Submitted by Joseph C. Mazzurco, Chester Township Trustee
