Minutes of the Meeting of the Rootstown Township Trustees,
November 28, 2006The regular meeting of the Rootstown Township Trustees opened at 5:30 p.m. on November 28, 2006. Those in attendance were Trustees Bonnie Howe, Diane Dillon and David Armentrout, JoAnn Townend, Chief Palmer, Darrell Stephens, Jim Mahood, Van Black and Julie Carpenter.
Resolution No. 2006-198 - Motion was made by David Armentrout and seconded by Diane Dillon to accept the minutes of November 14, 2006. Upon roll call the vote was as follows: Bonnie Howe, abstained; Diane Dillon, yea; David Armentrout, yea.
ROAD SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
We do not qualify for the grant through Master Minds. The cost to the Township would be $100.00 per mile to inventory our road signs. To test the reflectability would be an additional $10.00-$15.00 extra per mile. The total cost would be approximately $4,000.00. Darrell will get more information.
Darrell spoke to Bob Park regarding the new person designing the sign at the Park. Diane also talked to him.
Darrell completed the Township roadway mileage report and submitted to the County Engineer. We have approximately forty-miles of road.
Darrell reviewed the General Driving Rules and Regulations form. Julie forwarded it to the Prosecutor’s Office.
Darrell gave the Board a copy of his 2007 budget for equipment.
Darrell is still investigating prices for mailboxes. He would rather not put a hole in the door of the Zoning Office. Diane will give Darrell booklets of mailboxes.
The Road Crew repaired a fire hydrant on State Route 18 and another on State Route 44 across from the E-Check Facility.
Resolution No. 2006-199 – Motion was made by David Armentrout and seconded by Diane Dillon to authorize the Portage County Prosecutor’s Office to begin filing a civil action declaratory judgment in order to determine whether the Township or Rootstown Water Company is the owner and party responsible for the care, maintenance, repair and replacement of the fire hydrants located in Rootstown Township. Upon roll call the vote was as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea; Diane Dillon, yea; David Armentrout, yea.
Darrell viewed the Epling project and it seems to be going good. Darrell is still preparing a list of equipment that needs to be purchased next year.
There was one funeral since the last meeting.
The bench at the cemetery has been removed and the tree was replanted along the road.
Bonnie asked that the benches at the Townhall be stored for winter.
The Board agreed to table the cremation policy until the first of the year.
Diane would like to see the Township purchase a black instead of white fence for the cemetery.
Darrell said since a Road Crew employee will be off due to his son being sick he would like to ask Roy Hummel to be on call as a sub-contractor to snow plow. JoAnn will e-mail Jason to check the policy as to hiring him part-time or as a sub-contractor.
Dave suggested having Al Mellott’s assist the Road Crew to evaluate the condition of our existing roads. Darrell said the County would also assist at no charge.
Diane asked Darrell to price bigger lettering road signs.
ZONING INSPECTOR’S REPORT
There were 3 acts of business.
Jim gave the Board Mr. Mehl’s inspection reports for their review. The Board agreed to invite Mr. Mehl to the January 23, 2007 Board meeting to discuss his plan of action to come in compliance with County standards.
Jim spoke to Mr. Baumgardner and gave him a list of residents who live on Pine Drive in Marsh Creek Development. Jim said Mr. Dave Krummel owns these houses and are leasing them. According to Zoning Regulations you cannot lease homes. Mr. Krummel requested copies of the Zoning code and Jim also included the Board of Zoning Appeals minutes stating that there will be no rentals. Dave said Mr. Krummel was unable to attend the Board meeting tonight. Jim added that this rule was set during phase 1 of the project and Mr. Krummel was in charge of phase 2. The Board asked Jim to contact Chris Meduri for advice.
The Board also asked Jim to ask Chris Meduri regarding to the Zoning code during a public hearing do all three Trustees have to be present or does a majority count for the vote?
They will be tearing down the Burger King behind Cracker Barrel.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The annual pizza party was held last Saturday for the poster winners of the elementary school. There were 89 in attendance.
The Chamber of Commerce will be having their Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony this Saturday at the fire station.
Chief Palmer forwarded Julie the Employee Manual to be typed. She gave it to Chief Palmer to review and then will forward to the Prosecutor’s Office.
Chief Palmer gave the Board a copy of the budget and expenditures of this year. They have spent about 66% of the including the EMS line.
NEW BUSINESS
Dave reminded JoAnn of the 2nd payment for the Swinehart property is due January 1, 2007.
The streetlight at Stoneridge and Lexington has been installed.
Resolution No. 2006-200 – Motion was made by David Armentrout and seconded by Diane Dillon to ask Ohio Edison to install streetlights at the intersections of New Milford Road and Jennifer and New Milford Road and Kelly. Upon roll call the vote was as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea; Diane Dillon, yea; David Armentrout, yea.
The Board agreed to schedule a Records Committee Meeting for December 12, 2006.
Resolution No. 2006-201 – Motion was made by David Armentrout and seconded by Diane Dillon to authorize the donation of $250.00 to Rootstown Local Schools for costs relating to publishing the Township newsletter in the Rootstown Communicator Newsletter. Upon roll call the vote was as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea; Diane Dillon, yea; David Armentrout, yea.
The Board acknowledges receipt of a letter from the Portage County Board of Commissioners’ announcing the creation of a Port Authority to provide additional economic development for Portage County including the Townships.
Resolution No. 2006-202 - Motion was made by David Armentrout and seconded by Diane Dillon to enter into executive session at 7:15 PM to discuss personnel matters. Upon roll call all yeas and no nays.
Resolution No. 2006-203 - Motion was made by David Armentrout and seconded by Diane Dillon to exit executive session at 7:25 PM. Upon roll call all yeas and no nays. Dave spoke to Mike Lorentz; owner of the duplexes on Lynn Road. He said the Army Corp. of Engineers would not allow them to landscape their property because it will disturb the wetlands.
FISCAL OFFICER
Resolution No. 2006-204 – Motion was made by David Armentrout and seconded by Bonnie Howe to elect Joan L. Beardmore, Warren Township in Washington County and David L. Foglesong, Colerain Township in Hamilton County to the OTARMA Board of Directors for a four-year term. Upon roll call the vote was as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea; Diane Dillon, yea; David Armentrout, yea.
JoAnn presented the Board a letter from ODOT regarding Ohio LTAP staff sponsoring training on work zone traffic control, snow and ice, asphalt and pavement preservation. The Board agreed to forward it to Darrell to coordinate with the surrounding Townships.
JoAnn received two (2) resumes for the vacancies on the Zoning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals Board.
Resolution No. 2006-205 - Motion was made by David Armentrout and seconded by Diane Dillon to authorize JoAnn Townend, Fiscal Officer to purchase a fax machine in an amount not to exceed $270.00. Upon roll call the vote was as follows: Bonnie Howe, yea; Diane Dillon, yea; David Armentrout, yea.
Resolution No. 2006-206 - Motion was made by Bonnie Howe and seconded by David Armentrout to pay bills on file with the Fiscal Officer. Upon roll call all yeas and no nays.
Resolution No. 2006-207 - Motion was made by Bonnie Howe to adjourn at 7:35 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
_________________________________
Bonnie Howe
Chairperson__________________________________
JoAnn Townend
Fiscal Officer