Monday, November 3rd 08
Regular Meeting
President Doug Baum called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Trustees Lee Strad and Don Charnetzky were present as well as Fiscal Officer Steve Knox. Others in attendance were Louis Grooms, David Ross, Nancy Snyder, Joe Frascone, Nancy Cramer, Linda Zaleski, Ron Lidderdale, Clarence Flowers, David McCutchan, John Heppe, Harold Farber, Les Kovach, Paul Mosberger, Kelly Mosberger, Jason Overly, Jackie Faverty, Phyllis Strad, Beth Knox, Zoning Inspector Sharon Perrine, and Road Supervisor Mark Pahanish.
A motion was made by Charnetzky accepting the minutes and financials as presented. Seconded by Strad.
1st Public Speaks Session
Linda Zaleski stated that she is here representing the Zoning Commission and they are recommending various text changes for three different issues. The vote was unanimous by the Zoning Commission recommending the changes as presented.
A motion was made by Strad to have a hearing on the proposed zone text changes on the 24th of November at 7:30 at the Township Hall. Seconded by Charnetzky.
Ron Litterdale stated that Paul Mosberger had questioned Baum to add another subsection that would limit mining in certain areas that were heavily populated versus areas that were not. Baum said it may be possible, but it would be a very big undertaking. We will check with our attorney to see if we could do an RR1, which is rural residential in the Township that currently is not available in the Township.
Beth Knox stated that she was really shocked at how the Zoning meeting was handled on the October 15th especially by Lee Strad and his asking for a showing of hands as to who was in favor of the zoning change, when he knew that there was a majority in favor of the change before he asked for the vote. Strad stated that he did feel that the show of hands was relevant as it was an open meeting and anyone could have shown up. He went on to state that, like your letter says here, “do what the majority wants”. Mrs. Knox said no, that’s not what her letter said, it said “do what’s best for the majority of the township” there is a big difference there. Strad went on to say that he felt a majority of the residents of Pike Township wanted this zone change. Knox asked did you go to Deerwood Circle and talk to people about mining? Strad said yes. Do you think it’s okay to go out and drum up support for how you already know you’re going to vote? Strad asked if there was anything wrong with that? She said she did have a problem with that, because you are supposed to have an unbiased opinion, yet you went out and drummed up support on how you were going to vote. Strad said did Mr. Baum do the same thing, he said I think so. Mrs. Knox said that she is talking to him right now and not Mr. Baum.
Strad said that your letter to the Township Attorney and to the Prosecutor’s Office both came back that it was okay for him to go door to door in support of his position on the mining issue.
Monday, November 3rd 08
Knox said that she never sent any letter to the Township Attorney or the Prosecutor’s office, only to the Trustees asking the question.
Strad said that there was a letter from her that went to Charlie Hall asking the specific question. Didn’t Sharon give it back to you? She said no, she never received an answer on that. Strad then asked Sharon if she gave Knox a copy, and Sharon stated no. He went on to say that the letter from our attorney said that it was ethical and what a Trustee should do. She said so you feel it is okay to go out and be one-sided like that, and he said yes.
There was further discussion about how the two Trustees, Charnetzky and Strad, chose not to listen to all of the people who know zoning better than them including their own attorney, the BZA board including the President who has been on it for over 25 years and now resigned, and to your own Zoning Inspector.
She went on to state that she is actually not surprised at Strads’ vote at all, but she was surprised by Charnetzky’s vote because as a new Trustee, he didn’t listen to 4 individuals, who had nothing to gain in the process, who have been in zoning for a very long time, and he chose not to listen to them.
She then went on to tell Strad that she is very concerned about some of the things that he has been doing lately, and she wanted to know if he went to the building department to have Mark Pahanish’s remodel shut down? He said no. “Really, so the building department people are lying that you visited them?” He said yes(uh huh) multiple times. How can you sit there and say that? Strad said what’s the building department have to do with this? She said because she feels he’s out of line in his job and people need to know that. He said I’m sorry about that. So you’re saying that you didn’t go to the building department? He said he is just sitting here. She said so you’re not going to answer? He said no. She said well, that pretty much tells me and that you are way out of line and your crossing the line in your job. He said I’m sorry you feel that way, and she said I’m sorry you’re making me feel that way by the things you are doing.
There was more discussion on the show of hands that Mr. Strad asked for at the Zoning Meeting in question.
Charnetzky asked if Mr. Hall said whether or not he could or could not defend this in court? There was some confusion and the transcript was not available yet to determine what was said. The Trustees asked for copies of the transcripts when they are available.
Strad then stated that with the education training that the BZA now has, they have more to decide from than they did before. When they have a decision to make, they can make it from 600 feet all the way down to 50 feet. They have a lot more leeway than they did before. Baum disagreed.
Strad kept reiterating that they will make the “legal” decision, whatever that is, but they will make the “right” decision. There were many disagreements and one statement was that the Trustees have passed the buck onto the BZA Board because they didn’t want to make a decision themselves.
Monday, November 3rd 08
David Ross, stated that per Ohio Revised Code 519.12, he presented 161 signatures on petition to put the setback on the ballot. The required amount was 103 to put it on the ballot.
It will go on the ballot at the May 5th primary.
The Trustees acknowledged that they received the 161 signatures on petition and asked Sharon to take it to the Board of Elections.
A roll call was taken acknowledging that they received the petitions.
Roll Call Vote: Strad – Yes
Charnetzky – Yes
Baum - Yes
Nothing at this time.
Baum made a motion to put Jason on the BZA. There was no second at this time.
Charnetzky made a motion to appoint the person that was recommended by the Township Association to the 911 committee. Seconded by Strad.
Evanoff read his police report.
A motion by Charnetzky to pay the Stark County Township Association dues for 2009 including the Road Supervisor and the Zoning Inspector. Seconded by Strad.
Pahanish read the road report.
Road Crew would like to complain to the residents about putting plastic bags full of leaves in the dumpsters.
Containers to rent are $75 per box per month to store salt, plus $75 to deliver.
A motion was made by Charnetzky to rent a box to store salt in. Seconded by Strad.
Steiner mower price is 6,050 plus our mower. A motion was made by Charnetzky to purchase the Steiner with our trade. Seconded by Strad.
Perrine read the zoning report.
Monday, November 3rd 08
Working on the same issues she has been.
Nothing at this time.