Regular Meeting
Regular Meetings
The Perry Township Board of Trustees meets in Regular Meeting format on the first and third Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM.
The meetings are held at the Township Hall located at
3111 Hilton Street NW
in Massillon. Regular Meetings include reports by Department Heads, the Law Director, and the Township Administrator. The public is welcome to offer comments during the Public Speaks portion of the agenda on township related matters.
Perry Township Board of Trustees
Regular Meeting
June 16, 2015 7:00 pm
Call to Order/ Pledge of Allegiance:
Excused absence: Trustee Craig Chessler, Zoning Inspector, Scott Weckbacher
Additions/Deletions to Agenda:
Public Hearings/Invited Guests:
Opening of 2015 Phase II Paving Bids
Fiscal Officer Schlegel inquired if there was anyone in the audience who would like to submit a bid; seeing none listed the three (3) bids before the Board.
|
Company |
Total Bid Amount |
|
Central Allied – Bid Bond |
$ 981,520.65 |
|
Northstar Asphalt – Bid Bond |
$ 943,447.20 |
|
Superior Paving – Bid Bond |
$ 941,992.50 |
|
|
|
Trustee Haines stated that based on that information makes a motion to table and have the Law Director and Road Superintendent review the content and come back to the Board in July; Seconded by Trustee Laubacher.
ROLL CALL: Mr. Haines, yes. Mr. Laubacher, yes.
Perry Rotary ~ Ron Manse: Turkey Trot Chairperson
Trustee Haines stated that it is not very often that we get the opportunity to thank the Rotary and added that at this time he would like to share some of the things that Rotary does for the Township. Trustee Haines briefly listed several of the ways in which Perry Rotary supports our community: the basketball preview, the potatoes of Perry programs to feed our local families, the winter coat drive, the adoption of local families in need at Christmas and this year’s second annual Cruise In at Waikem’s car lot coming up in August. Trustee Haines also indicated that one of the major fundraisers that the Rotary sponsors each year is the Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk and added that Mr. Ron Manse has been a key figure in this event.
Trustee Haines stated that on behalf of the Board of Trustees, we wish to honor the Rotary Club of Perry Township and sincerely thank and acknowledge our fellow Rotarian, Mr. Ron Manse, for all the numerous ways in which Perry Rotary supports our community. Trustee Haines stated that Mr. Ron Manse, for the last 18 years of dedication and commitment, has served as Chairman for the Perry Township 5K Turkey Trot that started out with 100 runners and has expanded to approximately 2500. The proceeds from this event have been given in the past to Siffrin, Perry Helping Perry, the Sharon Budd Project and others. Last, but certainly not least, the Township Park Department has been the recipient of the proceeds of the annual Turkey Trot in the amount of $5,000. In recognition of the Perry Township Rotary’s continued support and commitment to the Perry Parks, Trustee Haines presented Ron Manse with a plaque on behalf of the Board and Township community.
Mr. Manse thanked the Board and indicated that it is the people within the Perry Rotary Club and the community that are involved and give back to Perry Township. Mr. Manse briefly added that it is with great excitement and enthusiasm that the Rotary members enjoy the community involvement and every year we keeping looking for ways to continually do that (giving back). Mr. Manse added that Perry has also been a great part of the Rotary Club and added that Rotary is here to serve and thanked the Board very much.
Communications:
Public Speaks on items up for Board Approval: None.
Township Business requiring Board Action: None.
Unfinished Business: None.
New Business:
Trustee Haines made a motion to approve bills in the amount of $33,199.53 for the week ending June 9, 2015 and bills and payroll in the amount of $320,740.09 for the week ending June 16, 2015 for a combined total of $s353,939.62; Seconded by Trustee Laubacher.
ROLL CALL: Mr. Haines, yes. Mr. Laubacher, yes.
Fiscal Officer:
Trustee Haines made a motion to accept the meeting minutes from April 28, 2015; Seconded by Trustee Laubacher.
ROLL CALL: Mr. Haines, yes. Mr. Laubacher, yes.
Trustee Laubacher stated that he wanted to make mention that our Fiscal Officer has done an excellent job in getting some new equipment in here so that it will be able to help him record our information for the Board of Trustees’ meetings. Trustee Laubacher added that this new device will also help assist our secretary in transcribing the meeting minutes. Fiscal Officer Schlegel indicated that this was the first meeting that the new recorder was being used and added that it was his hope that all would go smoothly. Trustee Haines referred to the previous double cassette recorder’s size and how it took up half of Fiscal Officer Schlegel’s counter space. Mr. Schlegel briefly added that we had been using the previous recorder for over 20 years and gave a visual display of the new recorder and referred to it as the same size of a phone (cell).
Administration:
Consider Renewal of OTARMA ~ Ohio Township Association Risk Management Authority – 2015
Administrator Fetzer stated that it is once again time for the OTARMA renewal. The Ohio Township Risk Management Authority is a governmental risk-sharing pool whose members consist solely of Ohio Townships. OTARMA provides a broad variety of insurance coverage for all Townships and there are several benefits. Administrator Fetzer indicated that one of the current benefits this year is going to be the OTARMA announcement of the $1 Million Capital Distribution. Administrator Fetzer stated that Perry Township’s portion of that will be $10,818.79 and added that we will be receiving that in 30 to 60 days upon our renewal. The Township also enjoys many other benefits from the OTARMA program, supporting documents before the Board. Administrator Fetzer indicated that the Township received a $500 mulch grant through the MORE Grant Program in 2014 for our park system that was greatly appreciated. Ms. Fetzer added that the Township also enjoys much stability within OTARMA. The Board of Directors has 900 of the 1300 Townships in the State of Ohio under the OTARMA umbrella. The renewal application for this year is $161,622 and they are asking us to return that at our earliest convenience.
Trustee Laubacher referred to the supporting documents regarding the OTARMA renewal and inquired in regard to each of the Township’s departments paying into this; because of that the contribution is going to be distributed among each of the departments.
Trustee Haines stated that based on that information makes a motion to accept the renewal of the OTARMA for 2015 in the sum of $161,622; Seconded by Trustee Laubacher.
ROLL CALL: Mr. Haines, yes. Mr. Laubaucher.
Fire Department: None.
Police Department:
Road and Park Department:
Consider Eliminating Past Employees from the Payroll Records
Road Superintendent Masalko stated that the fiscal office requested if the names below could be eliminated from the Road/Park payroll records. These employees no longer work for the Road/Park Departments.
Mark Blaes Mark Martinet
Eric Coen Larry Sprunk
Michael Dotson Roger Tournoux
Clifford Lackey
Trustee Haines stated that based on that information, makes a motion to remove the above referenced past employees from the payroll records; Seconded by Trustee Laubacher.
ROLL CALL: Mr. Haines, yes. Mr. Laubacher, yes.
Law Director: None.
Zoning: None.
Parks/Recycling: None.
Executive Session(s):
Department Matters Not Requiring Board Action:
Administration: None.
Fire Department: None.
Parks/Recycling: None.
Police Department:
Road Department: None.
Zoning: None.
Law Director: None.
Upcoming Events:
Public Speaks-Open Forum:
Dave Kerestes, 3500 Lincoln Way East, Apt. 4, Massillon 44646 – stated that he wanted to give his humblest apology if he insults anybody or would bring anything up that might make the Board angry; Trustee Haines indicated to Mr. Kerestes if he would please keep in mind that young children were in the audience tonight.
Mr. Kerestes stated that in reading the zoning manual he is looking for the Board’s consideration in what he is reading and not seeing on Interstate 172. Mr. Kerestes read “a certificate of conformance to fire, police and zoning a permit is required to be obtained from the zoning inspector for change of any use and all businesses and industrial districts amended in 1996”. Mr. Kerestes stated that in speaking with the zoning inspector, he says that this is not anything that anyone continues to do to update the fire codes and or the police. Mr. Kerestes inquired if anyone would like to expound on this question.
Law Director Hall stated that since Zoning Inspector Weckbacher was not here this evening, he would respond. Mr. Hall stated that he is not quite sure of Mr. Kerestes’ question but indicated that if zoning learns through the fire safety inspection or through a building code inspection that a building has been failed or flagged, then zoning can work with the fire safety inspector or building code inspector to put a stop over on that bid. Mr. Hall further added that the zoning inspector does not enforce those other codes; he has to work in conjunction with the enforcement officer for those zoning codes.
Mr. Kerestes stated that the zoning inspector indicated that those fees are not being collected and summarized by saying that these are monies that we are missing at this time.
Mr. Kerestes referred to past permits that he had to be responsible for and added but when he goes down the road and sees that none of these things are being followed, with nobody pulling permits on top of not paying for the fees that are being fined by anybody here at this Board. They are absolutely not following the law.
Trustee Haines indicated that the zoning inspector posts a lot of properties whereby zoning is not being followed and fees are collected. Trustee Haines added that the zoning inspector does follow up with those posted violations. Trustee Haines explained to Mr. Kerestes that if he feels there is something that the zoning inspector is missing, he wanted to affirm that if the zoning inspector is made aware of any violations, he would follow up with them.
Mr. Kerestes referred to the zoning book with regard to signs and briefly described businesses along Rt. 172 further inquiring why the people do not pull permits and pay for all these things. Mr. Kerestes added that in reference to permanent signs, the zoning book indicates they should be 15 feet back from the road right-of-way.
Trustee Laubacher stated that this differentiates between property to property; this is one of the problems that we have had with reference to a county road, township road and state road.
Law Director Hall indicated when you go down Lincoln Way, the right of way juts back and forth as Trustee Laubacher referred to and not quite property to property, but sometimes there is a differentiation of probably 20 to 30 feet, but it goes in and out. Mr. Hall stated that we have nonconformity of law here in Ohio so if the sign was there before the zoning code changed, that sign is still within the law. Mr. Hall stated that a lot of the signs up and down Lincoln Way, although they don’t comply with the current zoning resolution, they are still lawful because they were there before that change went into effect. Mr. Hall indicated that the problem is, and I think what you see happening, if a business shuts its doors for whatever reason, you notice that they always leave the sign on the pole up, because they have two years to put a new sign and a new business in there; as long as they do that within two years, there should not be any nonconformance. Mr. Hall stated that after two years plus, we could force them to place the new sign and new pole back; this is a continuing problem.
Mr. Kerestes gave an example of a business that violated the zoning compliance.
Trustee Haines indicated to Mr. Kerestes that if he felt there was a sign in violation of zoning he could bring it to the attention of the zoning inspector and he will look at that on a case by case basis.
Mr. Kerestes referred to the used car lot across Rt. 172 from the Corner Store and indicated that they park their cars right up to the street so when you pull up to the stop sign at Morrie’s, you cannot see what is coming down the road.
Trustee Haines verified that this was a good point and indicated that they have dealt with this same issue with other car lots as well. Mr. Kerestes added that he doesn’t know why these places are not getting fined by the Board when it states that they should be fined $500 a day for their violation of noncompliance.
Mr. Hall stated that we have talked about this before; the Board has to take those violators to court, obtain an injunction and then if the injunction is violated, the court issues a fine. We establish the fine of a maximum of $100 per day. The court issues the fine; after the court finds that there has been an order and a local violation of that order.
Mr. Kerestes also communicated another issue regarding a police matter. Trustee Haines inquired if this matter had been communicated previously; Mr. Kerestes stated that he wanted to bring this to the Board’s attention and indicated that he would next be taking this matter to the attention of the sheriff.
Bill Lenart, 4112 Fairgrove Ave. SW, Massillon 44646 – Mr. Lenart stated that he actually came here this evening for a different reason, but indicated that while driving here noticed a potential worsening traffic congestion issue at the intersection of Richville Drive and Navarre Rd. Mr. Lenart stated that he understands that Richville Drive falls under the jurisdiction of the State of Ohio.
Trustee Haines indicated that as Mr. Lenart stated, Richville is a state highway and Navarre is a county road but added that we patrol both of those roads so this is something to be aware of.
Trustee Laubacher also indicated that he has been through this same intersection a number of times in the last few weeks and added that he thinks the light at that intersection needs to be adjusted. Road Superintendent Masalko indicated that the State operates that light. Trustee Laubacher stated that he would make a contact at the ODOT office and see what we can do in regard to adjusting that traffic light.
Adjournment:
With nothing further to come before the Board, Trustee Haines made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:33 pm; Seconded by Trustee Laubacher.
ROLL CALL: Mr. Haines, yes. Mr. Laubacher, yes.
Doug Haines, Vice President Joe Schlegel, Fiscal Officer