In a move one characterized as "extending an olive branch," Chester Township Trustees decided to invite all five Chester Township Park Board members to a…
In a move one characterized as “extending an olive branch,” Chester Township Trustees decided to invite all five Chester Township Park Board members to a joint meeting late in the month in an effort to comply with a judge’s recommendation that the two groups learn to get along.
During a public court proceeding at the Chester Fire Station Aug. 25, former 11th District Court of Appeals Judge Mary Jane Trapp reviewed her 220-page report on the ongoing difficulties between the park board and trustees
Geauga County Probate Judge Tim Grendell requested the in-depth report, which took Trapp months to research and prepare.
Trapp found the park board is an all-volunteer organization that has a list of impressive accomplishments, but needs to improve its organizational procedures.
In addition, both boards need to improve communications and learn to work together, Trapp’s report concluded. Grendell gave them 45 days to respond to the findings.
Wednesday night, trustees discussed Trapp’s report and what actions they needed to take on it.
“I think what’s important is looking at the process and moving forward in a positive manner,” Trustee Ken Radtke said. “We’ve given $400,000 to the park board the last three years,” Radtke said. “I don’t think it’s an issue of funding; there’s been no financial difficulty in funding the parks. But we’ve received $600,000 less a year in our general fund because of reductions to the local government fund and the elimination of some taxes. We’re now facing a $300,000 deficit.
“The output from the report will include a level of bureaucracy and increased expense, so we’ll probably end up putting some costs together and looking at a levy for the park because of the shortfall in the general fund,” Radtke concluded.
He recommended both boards hold a joint public meeting “so we can get rid of all the cobwebs.”
Trustee Mike Petruziello said he had received a letter from the park board that day, listing several bills they wanted trustees to pay.
“I think we’ve jumped through hoops for the park board this year,” Petruziello said. “If you want to respond to the judge’s report, I’m not opposed. I don’t want to, but I will if I have to.”
Trustee Bud Kinney said the report had recommended the boards work together and should meet as part of the process.
“So we want to put the olive branch out again and meet with them,” Petruziello said. “I’ll prepare a letter and ask for a date so we can have a meeting.”
Petruziello pointed out Trapp’s report had recommended the park board meet on nights different from trustee meeting nights.
“They still have park board meetings on the same Thursdays that we have meetings,” Petruziello complained. “That’s got to change.”
Resident Ven Paoletto, a frequent critic of the park board, said she had three recommendations.
First, the park board should meet at times different from trustees; second, the people needed to be informed about how much the township has spent on park upgrades; and third, the park board should not have five members.
“If they’re spending this kind of money, they should be elected,” she said. “And they have more people on their board than you do, to run the whole township.”
Paoletto’s husband, Mike, added, “Don’t be too nave. They’re mocking you right now by having the park board meeting tonight.”
He said when he and his wife asked questions of the park commission, his wife gets the response, “What are you, against children?”
“When you say that, you’re trying to hide something,” he said.
Mike said the park board recently added two more members, neither of whom were qualified. He called the park board “a dog and pony show.”
“Our relationship with the park board has had its challenges,” Radtke acknowledged. “But we need to have a discussion with them about how we can repair our relationship.”
“I hope they have the integrity to work with you,” Paoletto told trustees. “I hope that happens.”
Reached by phone Friday, park board member Joe Weiss took issue with many of the comments made at the trustees meeting.
He admitted his board met at the same time as trustees Thursday night, but said his group hadn’t been able to change its meeting schedule yet.
“We all have busy schedules and we set our meeting schedule last summer,” Weiss said. “We haven’t changed it yet. The truth is that we’ll eventually change it.”
Weiss denied the park board ever accused Ven of being against children.
“They come to the meetings and constantly attack us,” Weiss said. “At one meeting, Ven Paoletto told us that her kids never got to play on a field as good as ours, so why should other kids? It’s a sad situation when we’re all volunteers, we all work hard to make a great park for everyone to enjoy, and there are people who feel the need to attack us for it. They’re not happy with anything we do.”
Weiss said his board has the legal authority to impose up to 0.5 mills of inside millage for operating expenses without it going to a vote of the people, but they have chosen to go to trustees for funding instead.
The letter he sent to Petruziello was a list of expenses that included a recent electric bill and supplies needed for upcoming Christmas decorations.
Weiss said the two new members are highly qualified and bring a lot of expertise to the board.
“Ruth Philbrick is a member of the Master Gardeners with 30 years’ experience and Al Parker is a landscape architect who has done a lot for this township,” Weiss said. “It’s wonderful to have five members because all have different categories and know how to deal with different problems.
“Why the negative spirit toward something that’s positive for the community?” Weiss asked. “This is our town. They’re unhappy with the report because the report tells the truth.”
