Bainbridge Township Trustees unanimously voted Nov. 23 to hire longtime Chester Township Zoning Inspector Steven Averill as their assistant zoning inspector, with a plan for him to eventually succeed current Zoning Inspector Karen Endres.
Bainbridge Township Trustees unanimously voted Nov. 23 to hire longtime Chester Township Zoning Inspector Steven Averill as their assistant zoning inspector, with a plan for him to eventually succeed current Zoning Inspector Karen Endres.
Trustees first approved separating the job descriptions of assistant zoning inspector and planning and zoning coordinator, a consulting position currently held by former Geauga County Planning Director David Dietrich.
After trustees approved continuing Dietrich’s consulting contract with the new single title of planning and zoning coordinator, at $25.62 per hour, Trustee Jeff Markley said that created a vacancy for the assistant zoning inspector position.
“This is exciting,” Trustee Lorrie Sass Benza said.
Benza said Tuesday in a phone interview the upcoming development of the former Geauga Lake property has created a pressing need for additional expertise at the township zoning level.
“With the Geauga Lake property being developed, Bainbridge is facing significant zoning and redevelopment issues,” Benza explained. “In years past, it was standard protocol to have, in addition to our zoning inspector, at least a part-time assistant zoning inspector.”
Benza said when the economy took a major downturn in 2008 and new building came to an abrupt halt, the position was no longer needed.
“But now, it’s picking up again in a significant way,” she explained. “We saw a need to once again fill that position.”
Benza said township government in Ohio is unique and experienced township zoning inspectors, especially those with additional county expertise, are a major asset to local government.
“We were able to get somebody with solid knowledge and experience who can help lead Bainbridge Township into the future,” she said.
Benza added trustees believe it is important to have a succession plan, to keep continuity in the zoning department with a zoning inspector who knows the township’s unique needs.
“Our goal is to have somebody who can step into that position once our zoning inspector, Karen Endres, decides to retire at some point in the future,” Benza said.
“We understand how hard Karen’s office has been working on economic development,” Markley said during the Nov. 23 meeting. “Karen has understood how the pursuit of economic development is very, very important.”
Markley said Endres has been working diligently with the Bainbridge Township Zoning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals, and on updating Bainbridge’s zoning plan over the past decade, as well as the unique demands of the past two years.
“It’s been a busy year,” Endres admitted.
“Geauga Lake will bring on its own additional challenges,” Markley added. “Getting some help for Karen is the least we can do. There will be additional costs, but we are weighing the need to do it.”
Trustee Kristina O’Brien said everything fell together. She entertained a motion to hire Averill as assistant zoning inspector full time at a beginning salary of $50,000 per year.
The vote was unanimous.
Benza said Tuesday Averill will begin his duties sometime in December, after notifying Chester Township Trustees.
Reached by phone last Tuesday, Averill said he planned to inform trustees that night and declined to give further comment until Wednesday. He has served Chester Township for almost 10 years.
