Richfield Township Trustees
October 21, 2004

The Richfield Township Board of Trustees opened their regular meeting at 7:12 p.m. on October 21, 2004 with the following in attendance:

Shano Cica-Mraz, Trustee Chairperson
Laurie Peters Gilmore, Trustee Vice-Chairperson
David Wyatt, Trustee
Laurie Pinney, Clerk & Zoning Inspector
Linda Bowmer, Township Administrator
John Slagter, Township Legal Council
Tom Trotter, Township Legal Council
Four residents

Motion made by Ms. Cica-Mraz and seconded by Mr. Wyatt to approve the minutes of September 23 and October 7, 2004 as amended. The motion passed with unanimous approval.

Motion to approve warrant items 10859 – 10884 made by Ms. Cica-Mraz, seconded by Ms. Gilmore and received unanimous approval.

The Clerk report was provided by Ms. Pinney. Additional spending approval is required to meet upcoming obligations related to legal counsel for park and recreation issues. A motion was made by Ms. Cica-Mraz and seconded by Mr. Wyatt to open a blanket certificate in the amount of $5000 to cover upcoming legal expenses related to park and recreation issues. The motion passed with unanimous approval.

The Zoning report was provided by Ms. Pinney. Rising Valley Park has contacted the township regarding obtaining Board of Zoning Appeals approval for proposed construction on park property. A motion was made by Ms. Cica-Mraz and seconded by Mr. Wyatt to waive the application fee for Rising Valley Park Board’s in the event they are required to obtain BZA approval. The motion passed with unanimous approval. Ms. Pinney also provided information on two upcoming planning & zoning seminars being offered by Summit County.

The Road report was provided by Ms. Gilmore. The road crew has completed crack sealing and patching the township roads. The first shipment of salt has been received and all of the trucks are prepared for snowplowing. The final week of brush chipping was done last week. The township has been getting prices to have the service building on Boston Mills Road insulated and heated. Prices have been obtained from Kizys Construction, Broadview Heating and Cooling and Bedford Heating. A motion was made by Ms. Gilmore and seconded by Ms. Cica-Mraz to approve spending of up to $13,000 for work on the service building at 3038 Boston Mills Road, including insulation, drywall, running a gas line to the building and installing a heating system. The motion passed with unanimous approval. The bids for snowplow services for the senior snowplow program have been received. Invitations to bid were sent out and two bids were received. S & K Maintenance, who provided the service to the township last year, came in with a bid of $12 per plow. Luther Farms, who provided the service two years ago, came in with a bid of 11.50 per plow. A motion to contract with Luther Farms for the senior snowplow program, at a rate of $11.50 per plow, was made by Ms. Gilmore, seconded by Ms. Cica-Mraz and received unanimous approval. Funding for this program is from a matching program of a Community Development Block Grant. Village of Richfield Mayor Mike Lyons has sent a letter to the township, requesting the Trustees to consider the possibility of contributing to the cost of a traffic signal at the intersection of Columbia and Brecksville Roads, within the Village. The possibility of utilizing township funds that are currently in a police capital improvement fund was discussed. The Clerk was requested to obtain a prosecutors opinion regarding the ability to use these funds for a traffic signal or other purpose.

The Administration report was provided by Ms. Bowmer. The Summit County Health Department has cancelled the November 16 flu shot clinic that was scheduled for the Richfield Senior Center, due to a shortage of vaccine. Four clinics will be held on October 29 at locations within Summit County, with the times and locations yet to be announced. Information on flu shots will be put on the township website as soon as it is received. Ohio Edison has contacted the township about the participation contract in the efficiency safety program and a meeting is scheduled for November 3 to discuss the contract with Ohio Edison representative Robin Patton. Ms. Bowmer has been contacted about serving on Jury Duty and may be out of the office up to one week in early November. Trash pickup will be delayed for some residents during the Thanksgiving holiday week. Residents who have pickup on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday will not be affected. Residents having pickup on Thursday or Friday will be delayed one day. The pickup schedules for Christmas and New Years will be unaffected. The Richfield Halloween Parade will kick off from Broadview Road at 5:45 p.m. on October 31, followed by a party at the fire station and trick or treating from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Announcements: Ms. Cica-Mraz reported that the Rising Valley Park Board has approved the installation of an automated gate north of the playground area. Safety vehicles will have through access. Ms. Cica-Mraz also reported on the status of the JEDD and Light Industrial-office district. Richfield Township and Village of Richfield representatives will be meeting with City of Cleveland representatives to discuss extension of the water. The developer has been prepping the road, moving a gas line and has taken out some trees in anticipation of upcoming development. Mr. Wyatt reported that Time Warner is considering buying out Adelphia in NW Summit County.

Citizens Forum: Rich Fleming of 2780 Columbia Road had a question about the source of the police capital improvement funds. He also inquired about updating the township website and obtaining information on legal spending for the current year.

Ms. Cica-Mraz made a motion to go into executive session to discuss pending litigation, personnel issues and property acquisition for public purpose. The motion was seconded by Ms. Gilmore and received unanimous approval.

A motion was made by Ms. Cica-Mraz and seconded by Ms. Gilmore to go out of executive session at 10:15. The motion received unanimous approval.

A motion was made to adjourn at 10:17 by Ms. Cica-Mraz. The motion was seconded by Mr. Wyatt and received unanimous approval.


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Last updated: 02/25/2006