‘Intolerant Bullies’
In an editorial titled “Corrosive Movement,” a group of citizens objected to the Tea Party’s call for citizens to express their opinions in a board meeting. As a bystander, it appears the 1st Amendment and the right of citizens to be vocal about the safety of our children is something this group does not understand or appreciate. I want to thank them for letting everyone know who they are: intolerant bullies. I would suggest to those signing the editorial that anyone wanting respectful public dialogue should begin by being respectful and not lobbing attacks.
Their attacks on both Mr. Albright and the Tea Party are typical. The woke cancel culture often accuses others of what they do. I am not clear how supporting a school board member is corrosive or acting in a “unique” claim for morality.
I personally want to thank Mr. Albright for his willingness to serve on the board and to stand up for the children. Chardon needs more board members like Mr. Albright. It is the board that should step back and review its policies/practices.
Board members have a duty to the constituencies they represent. Their duty is to the public not the board. Any board policy, bylaw, or practice that interferes with a board member’s right to be heard publicly, to gather information or to voice their opinions “publicly” is interference with their duty and their 1st Amendment rights.
While formal action (spending money, board action, setting school policy) can only be taken by the board in public meetings, every board member has a right to act independently, to include communicating with their constituents. To the best of my knowledge, Mr. Albright has never said he represented the board in any independent action taken. The board censure appears inappropriate and appears to be the result of a board that misunderstands its duty or that lacks the conviction to do what is right.
It is my understanding that Mr. Albright was seeking to ensure that the policies created by the board — a dress code — was adhered to. As a new board member, it could be assumed that the school would enforce the rules. Not enforcing the rules encourages misbehavior. The portrayal that Mr. Albright targeted female students is libelous and wrongheaded.
It appears that this group would intimidate folks from being involved, but the children and their futures are too important to cower in a corner. We all agree concerned parents and citizens should be involved and speak up: loudly, quietly, respectfully, as the situation requires. The key is being involved. We all must work for good schools.
As a side note, I get a chuckle when I hear bold statements about our “democracy” or “representative democracy,” because it is a clear distortion of facts and a demonstration of ignorance. Our constitutional form of government is a “REPUBLIC” and for very good reasons. Quote: “What have you given us Mr. Franklin? A Republic if you can keep it.” Our “republic” is worth defending.
Walter “Skip” Claypool
Chester Township
Be Heard Chester Residents
Chester home owners, what kind of accessory storage buildings do you want to see in your neighborhood?
A public hearing scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, at 6:30 pm., will decide for you. The proposed zoning amendment, Z-2022-4 ,will become law in 30 days, if passed. Come and be heard.
As written, it will double the amount of ground floor storage area for a detached accessory building for a storage shed or private garage, but does not exclude a lean-to, a 20-foot high open-sided roofed structure or other unsightly buildings. The key is in the definitions contained in the Township Zoning Resolution:
“BUILDING” means a temporary or permanent structure, other than a mobile home, affixed to or resting on the ground and designed or intended for the support, enclosure, shelter or protection of persons, animals, chattels or property.
“BUILDING, COMPLETELY ENCLOSED” is a building separated on all sides from adjacent open space or from other buildings or structures by a permanent roof and by exterior or party walls, pierced only by windows and usual doorways.
The proposal almost doubles the maximum amount (size) of total ground floor area from the present 1,280 square feet to 2,500 square feet permitted for a detached accessory building, but does not accurately describe the type of accessory building that should be permitted, allowing for a loose interpretation.
Two key words are omitted — “Completely Enclosed” — buildings with four walls, a permanent roof, pierced only by windows and usual doorways. (This description includes a building with an overhang roof that protects, for example, firewood.) What a difference a phrase makes “completely enclosed detached accessory building” as opposed to “detached accessory building.”
Further, the amendment increases maximum height to 20 feet for ALL accessory buildings and structures, irrespective of their use (i.e., not just storage).
To consider an increase in storage size and related height of an accessory building may be appropriate in order to accommodate the growing number of recreational vehicles and travel trailers, boat trailers and tractors as well as other indoor storage uses involving personal property owned by our residents.
However, this proposal is loosely written and does not consider storage and height appropriate for the approximately 1,900 residential lots — including yours — that will be affected.
I base the above remarks upon my 25 years of experience on the Chester Township Zoning Commission and Geauga County Planning Commission.
Margaret Muehling
Chester Township
It’s That Time of Year Again!
Every year I like to write a few “new lyrics” to some classic favorite Christmas songs that commemorate the Newbury Township events over the year. For 2022, I thought a new twist on “The Christmas Song,” originally written by Mel Torme/Bob Wells and beautifully sung by Nat King Cole, was appropriate.
Happy Holidays!
The Christmas Song – Newbury
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Buildings wrecked, that’s how it goes.
Large machines wreaking havoc everywhere,
And school boards reap just what they sow.
Everybody knows just who’s to blame for all this mess,
Rubble is not a pretty sight,
Tiny tots who had called that school home,
Will find it hard to sleep tonight.
They know that some people just don’t care,
They like the piles of dirt and grass planted everywhere,
But others in this town, they look and sigh,
To see what could be built and then, just wonder why.
And so I’m offering a simple song,
To folks from one to ninety-two,
Let’s all just hope, that this won’t take too long,
Merry Christmas to you!
Phil Paradise Jr.
Newbury Township
No More Orange Bags
Don’t buy any more Waste Management orange bags!
Waste Management is discontinuing their Orange Bag program at the end of December. They have not made any announcements, and there’s no mention on their website, even though this has apparently been in the works for months. The only “official” information is on a sign attached to the box of Orange Bags that are still for sale at Giant Eagle in Chesterland.
The bags are not refundable and Giant Eagle is now stuck with unsold bags they can’t get a credit for. You won’t get anything for your unused bags, either, even though you paid for pickup when you bought them.
Waste Management’s stated reason for this is that someone has to get out of the truck to pick up each bag. Since their trucks can grab and empty a trash cart, each truck will only need a driver to make the rounds.
When our family moved to Chesterland in 1992, Waste Management offered pickup of household recycling bins. After WM discontinued that, we worked with Chester Township to create the Recycle Park, which helps everyone reduce the trash that goes into landfills. The Orange Bag program was “pay for what you need,” so it also rewarded residents who recycled and cut down on their trash.
Many families like ours have been able to hold our volume down to one $3.20 bag every few weeks. Now we’ll have to pay at least $21/month for pickup of a 64-gallon “wheeled trash cart” every week, which is way more than we ever use.
Suggestion: Waste Management should continue selling Orange Bags and allow residents to put them into compatible trash cans/carts without paying a monthly fee. Or they could offer less-frequent pickup plans (once or twice a month).
The sign on the shelf at Giant Eagle makes the generous offer that customers can still use their Orange Bags – by signing up for weekly pickup and putting them into the cart. So we can use them as ordinary trash bags, at the bargain price of $3.20 each, on top of the monthly pickup fee. Wow.
Please feel free to contact Ken Mantey at klmantey@earthlink.net or 440-729-2869 if you have any comments, concerns, or interest in helping/joining us find a better solution with or without WM.
We want to leave a cleaner world to our children and grandchildren. This is not the way to do it.
Vivian Singer
Chester Township
Parental Issue, Not Political
In response to an editorial titled ” Corrosive Movement,” the writers misinformed readers saying a flyer was sent out to the members of the Geauga County Tea Party. It was an email sent , not a flyer, to not only to The Tea Party but to many concerned parents in Geauga County. Why they singled out the Tea Party and lied I would like to know.
Mr. Albright was not the only one who addressed the issue of dress code. Why is he being singled out? Why are these parents not getting all the facts and just taking a few opinions.
I am a mother, grandmother and will be a great-grandmother. My boys attended Chardon Schools, my grandchildren have and hopefully my great-grandchildren will also. I have watched the changes in the school board and they have not been positive.
It’s my constitutional right to pick school board members who I feel will help all children in their best interest. I chose to vote Todd Albright to be on the Chardon school board because of his morals and beliefs.
This is not a political issue, this is a parent issue. The ones who are attacking his principals need to get to know him personally and not listen to the mud that is being swung against him.
We turn our children over to the school officials whom we hope also have the best interest for each child. Each child is unique and we, the parents, no matter what group we are connected with, have every right to voice our parental rights. It was not Mr. Albright or the Tea Party who was attacking anyone. So who is really at fault here?
Carol Byler
Hambden Township
