RICHFIELD TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MAY 20, 2004

The regularly scheduled Richfield Township Trustee Meeting was called to order at 6:20 pm on May 20, 2004.

Roll call: Trustees present: Shano Cica-Mraz, David Wyatt and Laurie Gilmore
Township Administrator: Linda Bowmer
Township Legal Counsel: John Slagter, Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLP

In the absence of the Clerk, Ms. Bowmer took the minutes. Ms. Gilmore made a motion to enter into executive session at 6:22 p.m. to discuss pending legal matters regarding the proposed JEDD and fire service contract, seconded by Mr. Wyatt; Ms. Mraz – Yes, Mr. Wyatt – Yes; Ms Gilmore – Yes; motion carried unanimously.

Ms. Mraz made a motion to end the executive session at 7:00 p.m., seconded by Mr. Wyatt, Ms. Mraz – Yes, Mr. Wyatt – Yes, Ms Gilmore - Yes; motion carried unanimously.

The meeting was recessed for a ten-minute break at 7:01 p.m. and resumed at 7:11 p.m. with Clerk Laurie Pinney taking over the minutes, and with Richfield Fire Chief Joe Stopak and ten residents in attendance in addition to the original attendees.

Motion made by Ms. Cica-Mraz and seconded by Mr. Wyatt to approve pending warrant items 10507 through 10561. Motion passed by unanimous approval.

Motion made by Ms. Cica-Mraz and seconded by Ms. Gilmore to approve minutes of May 4, and May 6, 2004. Motion passed by unanimous approval.

Fire Chief Joe Stopak provided the fire department report. A written breakdown of calls was provided to Ms. Bowmer. In addition to regular fire services, the department provided a tour to ninety-three Hobbits pre-schoolers, ran the fire safety house at Hillcrest, with over eight hundred attendees and assisted with a mock drill at Revere High School for prom week.

Police Chief Dale Canter was unable to attend the meeting, but provided a written report, which was read by Ms. Bowmer.

The Administration report was provided by ms. Bowmer. The Sprint wireless tower on Boston Mills Road has been flooding almost daily with the recent heavy rains. The township has granted permission for Sprint to enter the property and drainage has now been installed. Ms. Bowmer reminded the Trustees of the upcoming TASC meeting, scheduled for June 15. Summit County Prosecutor Sherry Bevan-Walsh will be the speaker. Ms. Bowmer will respond on behalf of the township regarding attendees and everyone should let her know if they are planning on attending. Additionally, Ms. Bowmer reviewed letters received by the township regarding the “Quality of Life" project and from the Cuyahoga Valley Community Council, requesting the township’s continued membership in the Council.

A motion was made by Ms. Cica-Mraz and seconded by Mr. Wyatt to approve the $960 membership fee to the Cuyahoga Valley Community Council. The motion received unanimous support. Mr. Wyatt volunteered to represent Richfield Township in CVCC matters. Ms. Cica-Mraz asked Ms. Bowmer to have her name removed as the township contact and replace her name with Mr. Wyatt’s.

Ms. Gilmore provided the Road report. The tire recycling is scheduled for June 5 and the drop-off point is in Macedonia. Further information is available at the township office or on the website. Ms. Gilmore is planning on discussing with Mayor Lyons the possibility of having a joint Richfield Township/Richfield Village tire collection. A possible date would be in October and Ms. Gilmore would propose that Richfield residents receive the drop-off service for free, with a charge of one dollar per tire for non-residents. Also, Ms. Gilmore reported that the township is looking at replacing a culvert on Newton Road and has asked the Summit County Engineer to provide specs for the project.

Ms. Pinney provided the zoning report, with updates on the Zoning Commission’s work on the comprehensive plan and the cases on the agenda for future BZA meetings, scheduled for May 24, June 7 and June 21. Monastery Marcha, located on Broadview Road, has made application for a zoning certificate for a bell tower on their property. The construction of the tower consists of three poles, each similar in size to a flagpole and over the maximum height allowance of eighteen feet and requiring a variance from the BZA. Citing the fact that the tower could only minimally be viewed as an actual structure and the fact that religious institutions have certain exemptions from zoning, Ms. Pinney requested that the Trustees waive the normal fee for an appeal application.

A motion was made by Mr. Wyatt and seconded by Ms. Cica-Mraz that the application fee is waived for a variance appeal for the height of the bell tower. The motion passed with unanimous approval.

Ms. Pinney concluded her report with the notice that the BZA would have one of its twice-yearly free meetings on June 21. All area variance requests for residences will have the fee waived for this meeting.

Mayor Mike Lyons and members of the Richfield Village Safety Committee were present to discuss the terms of the proposed fire service contract. Committee members Rick Hudak and Andy Ellis were present; member Charles Kozelka was not in attendance. The items discussed included the payments for materials but not labor for some services, the reimbursement of net insurance payments and the contribution to capital improvements. Following extensive discussion of each party’s position on the above matters, it was agreed that the contract would be further discussed at the next Richfield Village Council work session. The Trustees and public will be notified of a date and time as soon as a meeting can be scheduled.

The meeting was recessed at 9:05 p.m. for a fifteen minute break and reconvened at 9:20 p.m.

Ms. Cica-Mraz discussed a proposal for the Cleveland Metroparks to take over the Hinckley Township responsibilities of Rising Valley Park. Ms. Cica-Mraz will attend a Hinckley Township Trustees meeting to discuss the issue and will place further discussion on a future Richfield Township Trustees’ meeting agenda. Ms. Cica-Mraz provided a brief update on the JEDD progress.

Mr. Slagter addressed the Trustees and attendees regarding the modification of a consent judgment entry for operation of a concrete plant in the Light Industrial-Office District. The original consent entry was made in June 2000 and was modified in March 2002. This latest proposed modification provides the township with greater controls and requires the location of the concrete plant on a site further away from residential areas.

A motion to accept the Resolution for further modification of the consent judgment entry was made by Ms. Cica-Mraz and seconded by Ms. Gilmore. The motion passed with unanimous approval.

Citizens Forum – Tom Sadar, of West Streetsboro Road, asked about a possible time frame for adoption of the JEDD. Ms. Cica-Mraz responded that they would like to see the issue in public hearings by this Fall.

A motion was made by Ms. Cica-Mraz and seconded by Ms. Gilmore to adjourn at 9:54 p.m. The motion received unanimous approval.


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Last updated: 02/25/2006