Monday, November 17th 08
Regular Meeting
President Doug Baum called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Trustees Lee Strad and Don Charnetzky were present with Fiscal Officer Steve Knox arriving late. Others in attendance were Louis Grooms, David Ross, Nancy Cramer, Dave Collier, Clarence Flowers, Beth Knox, Bob Miller, John Miller, Nancy Snyder, 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
Nancy Snyder thanked the staff for doing a great job helping throughout the day at Dueber station during the election.
John Miller asked Mr. Strad how he could give false information to neighbors and keep everyone stirred up with this information like telling Nancy Edwards that they were planning on stripping in front of his house, and that no Trustee should take false information and do what he did. He also stated that if you asked the people in the room today to vote like the other night at the zoning meeting, on whether Mr. Strad was doing a good job in office and whether he was lying, take a vote on that and see how many would stand up in the room.
Strad answered that he did not give out false info…John stated that Strad tells too many lies.
Beth Knox asked about the BZA opening, and whether the Trustees were putting the first alternate into the position. The Trustees answered yes, that Bob Miller was put on the BZA as a permanent member. They now have to fill the second alternate position. Knox asked that before the Trustees fill the position that the public be allowed to express their opinions.
Knox then brought up the issue of Strad lying about his contact with the Stark County Building Department. Lee wanted to explain how it happened. Lee and Sharon drove by Mark’s house. Lee asked about the necessary permits. Two nights later there was discussion at a meeting. The question was should we do anything or not, and maybe we should check into things. Strad called the building department and asked if Mark got a building permit. Strad questioned Mark about whether he got a permit. Mark said yes. Strad stated that Mark forgot to get a building permit and that he didn’t want it to look like we were overlooking our own people so we went above and beyond.
Doug Baum then stated it wasn’t at a trustee meeting-it was at a BZA meeting. Sharon had contacted Doug about Mark’s porch. Doug made a point that they should check with Charlie. Charlie said he didn’t need a zoning permit.
Monday, November 17th 08
Don looked at Mark’s porch-you could tell that the roof had been there for a long time. Don stated that he felt that we have enough problems enforcing our laws without enforcing the county’s laws, and if we do it once we need to do it every time. Don felt Mark didn’t need a permit.
Beth Knox discussed how Joe Mezquita never got a permit although he was on the Township Zoning Commission, and that the township did nothing about that.
Knox then responded to Strad’s explanation. The problem that she had with it is that two weeks ago she point blank asked Strad if he contacted the building department, and he denied doing so. Lee answered that he must have had a memory lapse. Knox went on to state that Strad is an elected official, our tax dollars pay his salary, so he does not get to refuse to answer relevant questions regarding his job and how he does it. Knox questioned Strad regarding whether he should have to answer questions, his response was “I don’t know”.
Knox made a public records request to the building department and it states on the paperwork that the Trustees reported Pahanish. Lee confirmed that he was the only one who reported it, not Don or Doug. Knox went on to say this is an example of Strad abusing his position, and that a normal boss would call his road supervisor and tell him to check into whether he needs a permit. A normal boss would not do the underhanded behind the scenes phone calls to try to get his employee in trouble. Knox went on to state that she has personally witnessed how Lee treats the employees. She has witnessed Lee screaming the F-word in their face and knows that he has done so repeatedly. She then asked Strad if he felt that it was appropriate to treat employees this way. Strad responded with no. Knox went on to state that it’s time that the other elected officials step up and tell Strad when he is out of line. Strad had a screaming match in public regarding Mark’s permit, then he goes behind Mark’s back to report him, then Strad lies to the public about it, and then we get a different story tonight. Knox stated that this is exactly the type of behavior that she has been talking about with regard to how Strad does his job.
Clarence Flowers thanked the road crew for mowing the roads. It really helps seeing the deer before you hit them.
Arnie Adams was there for the fire contract. Baum stated that Steve had copies of everything in the folder and the contract is for $80,000 for the Fire Contract and $1,200 for the rental of the Dueber Fire Station. Both contracts are for the calendar year 2009.
Strad stated that he has the police contract for 2009. The cost went up some with the new monthly cost being $7,053.67 or $84,643.98 per year.
Resolution # 20-2008
A motion was made by Charnetzsky to renew the contract. Seconded by Strad.
Roll Call Vote: Strad – Yes
Charnetzky – Yes
Baum – Yes
Monday, November 3rd 08
Countywide wants permission to work extended hours for the construction project. They want to work longer hours so they can get the smell alleviated sooner.
September 15th, 2008 to September 15, 2009. Baum said that we really can’t stop them, but they are just asking for permission out of courtesy. The Trustees were unanimously in agreement.
There is a special meeting next Wednesday night for the wood burners and windmills review.
Baum also checked if we were able to have separate subdivisions. He said it looks like we are mostly R-1 and R-3’s which is the mobile park.
Perrine said it wasn’t feasible at the time that wouldn’t allow us to cut up the Township because of 6 or 7 allotments. It would be very difficult to create special zoning sessions.
Baum made a motion to appoint Jason Overly to be the second alternate on the BZA. Seconded by Charnetzky.
Roll Call Vote: Charnetzky – Yes
Strad – Yes
Baum- Yes
Prior to the motion above, Beth Knox stated that she was very concerned about putting Mr. Mosberger on the BZA. She doesn’t know Mr. Mosberger, but she feels it is very much a conflict of interest to have someone on the BZA who will rule on variances, on a change that they initiated. It’s almost like double dipping. She doesn’t even know why the Trustees would even consider someone in this situation for the position.
Nothing at this time.
Evanoff read his police report.
He stated that he had 6 reports with 10 traffic stops. 15 citations and 3 people got taken to jail out of those people.
Nothing at this time.
Pahanish read the road report.
Replaced culvert.
Finished up with Haut Street.
Got the trucks ready for the snow.
Had a tree taken down that was hitting the side of one of the buses.
Monday, November 3rd 08
Had to take the tractor down to Bakersville to get it fixed.
Rebuild mower deck.
International dump truck was having trouble. Tomorrow morning his truck has to go to Columbus because they have exhausted every other option.
Perrine read the zoning report.
She said she went to court on Friday for the property on Riceford. The judge gave them another 30 days to work on cleaning it up.
She asked whether they would consider getting a projector so that people can do PowerPoint presentations if necessary. They would like Steve to check on it at work. Baum said yeah, we can check on it.
Mrs. Knox asked where the Trustees got their job descriptions from. Was it from the ORC regarding job description, pay scale, ethics? Baum said he doesn’t know about any job description in the ORC, but there is a pay scale amount.
Knox went on to say she just thought there may be something on ethics, lying in office, and whether there was something that outlined those issues Suggestions as to where this information could be found included the Prosecutor’s office, the Ohio Ethics Commission, and the Attorney General’s office.
John Miller spoke again regarding the mining issue, and that no one likes mining but that property owners have rights.
Sharon stated that Attorney Hall has filed the petitions regarding the mining setbacks so that it will be placed on the ballot in May.
The trustees and Arnie discussed the Grooms property.