Chester Government Update
The Chester Township Board of Trustees meeting on Jan. 13 began at 5 p.m. with an executive session...
The Chester Township Board of Trustees meeting on Jan. 13 began at 5 p.m. with an executive session. Both zoning board administrative assistants were invited in separately, and after the second assistant left, Chief William J. Shaw was invited in to the meeting.
The board re-entered public session and the first order of business was the swearing in of firefighters/EMT-Ps Jeremy Scalese and Matthew Collins as full-time firefighters.
Chief Shaw joined them and then invited officer Andrew Centrackio and firefighters Neil Perko and Lt. Andrew Nagy up to join him. Shaw explained how these first responders, along with several bystanders and dispatcher Heather Eskridge, saved a Chester resident’s life after an accidental electrocution. The elected officials thank all involved.
Trustees, along with the department supervisors, discussed updates to the COVID policy and alignment to current CDC guidelines.
In department business, trustees approved $102,271 for the replacement of three police vehicles that are currently a year behind the replacement schedule. With current supply chain issues, delivery is at least 30 weeks. The annual mileage certification, which certifies the 75,272 miles of public roads in the township, and payment of $3,100 for angle cylinders to repair a truck were approved for the road department. Trustees discussed fire department renovations and the need to review the contract and also approved $1,455 for the installation of a sediment filter for drinking water.
After an approval for a wage adjustment for the zoning administrative assistant and approving meeting minutes, the board moved on to new business.
Trustees scheduled a planning session with department supervisors at noon on Jan. 19. They also approved the new holiday, Juneteenth; a payout to employees for unused 2021 vacation days; the use of parks for 2022 by the West Geauga Baseball Federation; and a change order, reducing the cost by $5,489 and final payment to Earthwork LLC for a 2021 road project.
Payment of $2,670 to Mulberry Creek Greenhouse for the 2022 flower baskets was approved. Reducing the charge, elected officials will each donate one basket and Trustee Mazzurco volunteered to reach out to township organizations and residents to see if they will again give their support.
A three-year landscaping contract for Parkside and township buildings ended in 2021, so the board approved the advertising for new bid submissions.
After the approval of the financial transactions, Fiscal Officer Patricia Jarrett gave her report. Work continues on yearend and on interviews for the township administrative assistant. In addition, discussions on health insurance renewal have started.
Two elected officials attended the Geauga County Township Associate meeting and stated that the county auditor and prosecutor will be sending out guidance on a resolution that will allow the recent COVID money to be spent on any township expense. Also, University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center presented and discussed their desire to work with the township to provide additional services to residents.
Finally, after designating the recipients of monies from NOPEC, the board went into executive session. With no action being taking when trustees re-entered public session, the meeting was closed.
Submitted by Craig S Richter, Chester Township Trustee
