Chester Government Update
On Jan. 5, the Chester Township Board of Trustees held the first meeting of the year, which is the organizational meeting...
On Jan. 5, the Chester Township Board of Trustees held the first meeting of the year, which is the organizational meeting. Bud Kinney was elected chairman and Ken Radtke was elected vice chairman.
Compensation for the trustees and fiscal officer was also established per the Ohio Revised Code, payment for zoning commission and board of zoning appeals meeting attendance was approved and advance on real estate taxes was requested.
Establishing township representation for the Drug Enforcement Representative program, the Geauga Health District Advisory Council and the Volunteer Firefighters Dependents Fund Board was also completed.
Regular business at the start of the year included establishing a regular meeting schedule, which is 7 p.m. every other Thursday beginning on Jan. 5. Spending authorization was set at $1,000 for each trustee, the fiscal officer and each department head. Vacation payout balances were also approved.
At the beginning of each year, it is necessary to establish purchase orders and certify money in accounts so approved expenses can be legally paid. Monies were established in multiple accounts including general fund, police, fire/EMS and road accounts. Trustee liaisons for each township department, the zoning commission and board of zoning appeals and the Chester Park Board were established.
An after the fact motion for the purchase of a front axle at $1,079.47 from Cerni Motors for Chester Road Department truck no. 4 was approved. The board began a review of the schedule and cost for conducting Senior Cleanup Day and the Chester Clean Up. Costs for labor and equipment totaled about $16,000 in 2016. The cost for roll-offs and disposal was approximately $7,500. While this is a valued service for many residents, one concern is that early spring is a prime time for road repair and maintenance after winter. Discussion will continue.
Kim Alabasi and Barry Leven of the Chester Recycle Committee presented a draft EPA grant application for an electronics waste bin (e-bin) at the Chester Recycle Park. The cost is approximately $6,000 and would be a 50-50 split between the township and the EPA. Monies from paper collection would be used to offset township cost.
The board agreed to get another proposal for management of BWC claims currently managed by CareWorksComp and also approved the fire department’s records retention procedure.
Discussion continued regarding the analysis of security cameras, internet speed versus price and the transfer of the phones to the county and the transfer of permitting authority to the Geauga County Engineer for township ditch elimination applications. No decisions were made.
Trustees discussed overhanging branches in the road right-of-way on Sherman Road. First Energy will assist the township with the removal because of powerlines intertwined with the branches.
The meeting concluded with an executive session discussion regarding employee compensation with no further action taken.
As a reminder, if one wishes to be notified of regular meetings, special and emergency meetings, including agendas, please contact town hall at 440-729-7058 or via email to mlflorentine@chestertwp.org.
Submitted by Ken Radtke Jr., Trustee
