Chester Government Update
The Chester Township Board of Trustees meeting on Nov. 5 began with approval of minutes...
The Chester Township Board of Trustees meeting on Nov. 5 began with approval of minutes.
In road department business, the following expenditures were approved: $12,880 payable to Chardon Oil for 7,000 gallons of gasoline; $3,800 to Lake Erie Construction for guardrail repair on Cedar Road; $5,000 to Herda’s Truck Repair for vehicle maintenance; $6,000 to Cuyahoga Materials for asphalt; $4,000 to N&N Services for underground storage tank system maintenance; and $5,400 to J&L Door for installation of a new truck bay door.
In fire department business, wage increases to $23.35 per hour were approved for full-time firefighters Frank Virant and Mike Fulton upon successful completion of required training. Trustees thank them for their service to the community.
In police business, Chief Mark Purchase was authorized to sell a 2013 Dodge Charger with 137,917 miles on govdeals.com.
Fiscal Officer Patricia Jarrett provided the board with recommendations for computer upgrades resulting from a security audit conducted by the Ohio Township Association Risk Management Authority (OTARMA).
Town hall roof repairs in the amount of $1,950 were approved, as was the sale of eight cemetery deeds.
The board continued discussion regarding spending for available funding COVID dollars with no actions being taken.
As the township approaches the end of the fiscal year, a motion was approved transferring monies from various fund accounts into other accounts to enable spending to continue from the various funds. It is a routine occurrence as the board and fiscal officer, in establishing budgets at the beginning of each year, try to appropriate monies as close as possible to the planned spending rather than simply overfund each account.
Trustees and Jarrett met in a special public meeting at 7 a.m. Nov. 12 to approve the following COVID-related expenditures: $1,629.96 for non-contact thermometers; $1,881.65 for binder lifts for patient transfer to EMS cots; $8,000 for personal protective equipment, disinfection services and supplies; $2,634.67 for wages for a quarantined employee; and $7,525.33 for replacement of carpeting with tile.
In addition, they approved $157,574.74 for wages for public safety services (police). The money represents the remaining CARES Act funding available to the township. Through guidance from Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz, the township is able to allocate CARES Act funds to cover wages and expenses of township safety forces. Over the last several years, expenses for the police department have exceeded revenue and these monies will help offset some of those costs.
An updated Certificate of Estimated Resources was provided by the Geauga County Auditor and approved by the trustees.
Through reorganizational changes by Fiscal Officer Jarrett in 2020, the township has saved approximately $34,000 in salaries in the fiscal office. A portion of that money – $14,000 – was allocated to replace tile flooring in the uncarpeted sections of town hall.
At the end of the meeting, an executive session was held discussing employment and personnel matters. No action was taken and upon return to public session, the meeting was closed at 8:46 a.m.
Submitted by Ken Radtke Jr., Chester Township Trustee
