Chester Government Update
The Chester Township Board of Trustees meeting on Aug. 12 began with an executive session regarding employee matters and the purchase of property. No actions were taken upon return to public session...
The Chester Township Board of Trustees meeting on Aug. 12 began with an executive session regarding employee matters and the purchase of property. No actions were taken upon return to public session.
In road department business, Superintendent John Onyshko provided an update on that assessment of the “Heath Road dip” and the need to identify a solution and implement the repairs. Two large trees at the salt dome near Miss Pat’s Day Care will be removed and Truck #2 will be placed on govdeals.com for auction with a minimum starting bid of $22,000.
There was discussion about accepting asphalt grindings from paving projects going on in the township. Onyshko responded that the township has plenty of grindings, but will attend. Expenditures of $8,500 were approved for road drainage projects on Rand and Woodside drives to Podojil Excavating and the board also approved advertising for another road worker, with applications due Oct. 15.
The board unanimously agreed to participate in the National Opioid Settlement Agreement, which may result in a settlement between $35,000 to $50,000, depending on municipality participation.
A charity car wash by the West Geauga High School Girls Soccer Boosters on Sept. 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. was approved.
Trustee Skip Claypool commented that a number of landscape companies have been parking on busy roads without proper traffic control and flagging where needed. Police Chief Mark Purchase will prepare a letter explaining the requirements, which will be distributed to landscapers as unsafe conditions are encountered.
Trustee Joseph Mazzurco is working with the Chester Park Board to identify some priorities for Parkside Park, including year-round restroom use, improvements to the parking lot and installation of bocce courts. Cost estimates for the projects will be developed.
Upon exiting an executive session at the end of the meeting, a memorandum of understanding between the board and the Teamsters to increase road employee Tom O’Brien’s compensation was approved followed by a second executive session concerning the purchase of property. Upon return, no actions were taken, and the meeting was closed.
On Aug. 16, the trustees held a special meeting in Chardon with the Geauga County Budget Commission. All members of the board were present as was Fiscal Officer Patricia Jarrett. Chester’s 2022 temporary appropriations were approved. The Budget Commission provided some additional comments concerning carryover and planning to help improve the forecasting accuracy.
On Aug. 19, another special meeting was held regarding employee matters and the purchase of property. Melissa Fisco and Mike Esposito along with Fire Chief John Wargelin participated in the executive session. Upon exiting the meeting, a resolution was approved to hire outside legal counsel David ‘Chip’ Comstock, of Bonezzi Switzer Polito & Hupp Col L.P.A., to provide legal advice on matters relating to the Chester Township Fire Department. The board also passed a motion to hire Matthew Collins as a fulltime firefighter/paramedic.
Several motions were passed regarding some financial matters, including approving $97,799 to OTARMA Service Center for renewal of property and liability insurance. The payment represents a premium increase of about $6,000, which was attributed to the township’s purchase of new equipment, the increased cost for building replacement and an increase by OTARMA.
By majority vote, application for funds to the American Rescue Plan was approved with trustees acknowledging the future debt burden Congress is creating by their present actions.
Submitted by Ken Radtke Jr., Trustee
