SPECIAL WORK SESSION
SEPTEMBER 23, 2004
The Richfield Township Special Work Session was called to order at 6.10pm on
September 23, 2004.
Roll call: Township Trustees present: Shano Cica-Mraz, David Wyatt and Laurie
Gilmore, Township Administrator: Linda Bowmer. Richfield Village: Mayor Mike
Lyons and Township Liaison Bobbi Beshara.
In the absence of the Clerk, Ms. Bowmer took the minutes. The purpose of the
work session was to discuss renewal of the police contract that will expire
September 30, 2004. The present contract allows for the contract to be renewed
for one additional year with a 5% increase in rate with the approval of both
parties. The Township had asked for this extension and the Village had declined.
The Village proposed either a 3-month extension at a rate of $410,000/annually
or an extension for 3 months at 5% increase with the eventually negotiated rate
retroactive to October 1, 2004.
The reason for the 3-month extension was to give the Village more time to study
the numbers. Department heads had been asked to submit their budgets for next
year and Council have yet to determine the time frame of the contract and the
rate to be charged. Mayor Lyons and Council members Hooper and Lanford still had
lots of questions.
Ms. Mraz asked how the Village had come to the $410,000 figure. Mayor Lyons
replied that it was loosely based on the $408,883 figure the Summit County
Sheriff’s office had provided to the Township for annual police protection.
Ms Gilmore expanded on the Summit County Sheriff’s proposal pointing out that
$25,000 of their annual rate is a one-time charge for the purchase of new 800
MHZ radios. This would bring their annual contract price down to $383,883. The
Sheriff would require a 3-year contract and anticipated a 2-4% increase each
year, although there were no guarantees. Ms Gilmore also obtained detailed
information on personnel and vehicle costs used to calculate the Sheriff’s
proposal.
Township trustees presented a survey done by township road service personnel
over a 3-week period showing a problem of visibility of the police in the
township. They expressed their desire for a 3-year contract, more police
patrolling for township roads and more accountability and responsiveness,
possibly a quarterly meeting with the trustees, council and both fire & police
chiefs. Mayor Lyons and Ms Bershara promised to take these points back to
Council.
Ms. Mraz made a motion to adjourn the work session at 6.55pm, seconded by Mr.
Wyatt, motion carried unanimously.
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Last updated: 02/25/2006