RICHFIELD TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
JANUARY 6, 2005
7:00 p.m.
Richfield Township Trustees
January 6, 2005

The Richfield Township Board of Trustees opened their regular meeting at 7:08 p.m. on January 6, 2005 with the following in attendance:

Laurie Peters Gilmore, Trustee Chairperson
David Wyatt, Trustee Vice Chairperson
Shano Cica-Mraz, Trustee
Laurie Pinney, Zoning Inspector & Clerk
Linda Bowmer, Township Administrator
Dale Canter, Richfield Police Chief
Joe Stopak, Richfield Fire Chief
Four residents

A motion was made by Ms. Gilmore and seconded by Ms. Cica-Mraz to approve the minutes of March 4, November 17, December 2, 9, 16 and 29, 2004 and January 5, 2005. The motion passed with unanimous approval.

A motion was made by Ms. Gilmore and seconded by Ms. Cica-Mraz to approve warrant report items 10987 to 11042. The motion passed with unanimous approval.

The Clerk report was provided by Ms. Pinney, who reviewed House Bill 148, which took effect November 5, 2004, and amended certain requirements for the office of Clerk. The increased bonding requirement was met, with issuance of a new bond on the effective date of November 5. The bill also set forth specific requirements for the clerk’s quarterly attendance at trustee meetings. The following schedule will be followed for the next year’s Clerk reports: January 20, April 21, July 21, & October 20. Information on the preceding quarter will be presented with each report.

The amounts set aside for spending on legal matters must be determined before current invoices can be paid. A motion was made by Ms. Cica-Mraz and seconded by Mr. Wyatt to approve the following spending for legal counsel: $5000 each in General, Glencairn zoning appeal, Briarwood Estates, Property acquisition and development, Personnel and Rising Valley Park and $10,000 in JEDD. The motion passed with unanimous approval.

Ms. Gilmore reported on Organizational Resolution #01-2005, giving a summary of changes made from the 2004 Organizational Resolution.

Mr. Canter provided the Police report. There were 121 township calls in December. A complete written report of township calls will be provided.

Mr. Stopak provided the Fire report. There were 94 total calls in December, with 16 EMS and 11 fire calls in the township. The department was busy in December, with weather-related calls and has had a number of requests from groups and businesses for training on AED’s and CPR.

The Zoning report was provided by Ms. Pinney. The township has been notified that a hearing date of January 13 has been set for review of a zoning violation at 3892 Deer Run Oval. The property has changed hands, but the new owners were made aware of the violation before they took title to the property. Ms. Pinney inquired whether the Trustees are interested in continuing to pursue the case. A motion was made by Ms. Cica-Mraz and seconded by Mr. Wyatt to enjoin the new owners to the case and ask for a postponement to allow the new owners the opportunity to come before the Board of Zoning Appeals, with a waiver of the application fee, to attempt to bring the property into compliance. Up to $2000 in legal counsel will be set aside for this issue. The motion passed with unanimous approval. Ms. Pinney also reminded the Trustees and public that a work session has been scheduled for January 13, 7:30 p.m. for a joint meeting with the Zoning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals to discuss possible updates to the Zoning Resolution and the Comprehensive Plan.

The Road report was provided by Ms. Gilmore. The road crew has been out in full force with the recent bad weather. The Ohio Turnpike Commission has sent a notice that they are in collective bargaining negotiations and in anticipation of a possible strike have developed a plan to establish a flat fee for each vehicle class, with a set fee, irrespective of distance traveled.

Ms. Bowmer provided the administration report. The paperwork is being prepared for the reimbursement of CDBG funds. The Senior Snowplow grant ended in 2004, so the township will pick up 100% of the costs of the snowplow program for the rest of the season. Ruth Jocek, of the village, has contacted Richfield Township about providing funds for the Healthy Communities/Healthy Youth program and will likely attend a future meeting to make a presentation. The Ohio Township Association Winter Conference will be held in Columbus February 2-5. Ms. Pinney is planning on attending three days and Ms. Bowmer two days.

Ms. Gilmore reported that the bid specs for the modular office unit addition to the Boston Mills Service Building would be ready in about a week. A motion was made by Ms. Gilmore and seconded by Ms. Cica-Mraz to authorize Ms. Bowmer to send out requests for bids. The motion passed with unanimous approval.

Ms. Gilmore reported on the police contract negotiations. A joint work session had been held on January 5 with the Village of Richfield to discuss the contract proposal. After further discussion of the data provided by the village on township police costs, a motion was made by Mr. Wyatt and seconded by Ms. Gilmore to approve a one year contract in the amount of $394,000 payable in quarterly amounts of $98,500 and retroactive to January 1, 2005. The motion passed with unanimous approval.

Motion was made at 8:25 p.m. by Ms. Gilmore to adjourn; seconded by Ms. Cica-Mraz and received unanimous approval.

This page last updated on: 02/25/2006

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