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The regular meeting of the Franklin Township Board of Trustees was called to order by Chairman Tim Guyton at 6:30 P.M. September 1, 2011 at 2193 Frank Road. 

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was given.

 

Chairman Guyton gave the welcome. 

 

ROLL CALL: Tim Guyton, yes, Don Cook, yes, Paul Johnson, yes. 

         

MINUTES

          Chairman Guyton moved to dispense with the reading of the Special Meeting Minutes for August 18, 2011 and the regular meeting minutes for August 4, 2011 and August 18, 2011.

Trustee Johnson seconded the motion.  Vote taken: Guyton, yes, Cook, yes, Johnson, yes.

 

          Chairman Guyton moved to approve the Special Meeting minutes for August 18, 2011, as typed.

Trustee Johnson seconded the motion.  Vote taken: Guyton, yes, Cook, no, Johnson, yes.

 

Chairman Guyton moved to approve the regular meeting minutes for August 4, 2011 and August 18, 2011, as typed.  

Trustee Johnson seconded the motion.  Vote taken: Guyton, yes, Cook, no, Johnson, yes.

 

Chairman Guyton stated how successful it has been to have sealed bids rather than an auction for large items that the Township is trying to sell.  He said tonight we would be opening five sealed bids for a tractor / mower.  He said the minimum bid of $2,000 had been put on the tractor and the tractor would be awarded to the highest bidder that meets the criteria.  Chairman Guyton said there are two police vehicles that would be awarded to the two highest bidders at the next meeting. Chairman Guyton said the Fiscal Officer would open the sealed bids for the tractor.  Fiscal Officer Lisa Morris opened all five bids and the highest bid amount was $2,800.00 by Chris Wallake.   

 

          Chairman Guyton made a motion to award the sale of the tractor / mower to Bidder #3, Chris Wallake for an amount of $2,800.00.  Jim Stevens is to contact Chris to get the mower paid for and picked up as soon as possible.

Trustee Johnson seconded the motion.  Vote taken: Guyton, yes, Cook, yes, Johnson, yes.

         

NEW BUSINESS

RESOLUTION #11-140

BILLS & PAYROLL 

 

Vice-Chairman Cook moved for the adoption of the following Resolution.

 

BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Trustees of Franklin Township of Franklin County, Ohio, that the Board approves payroll in the amount of $123,738.88 and bills in the amount of $64,377.96 totaling $188,116.84 from check #25857 to check #25961.

 

Trustee Johnson seconded the Resolution.  The roll was called for its adoption and the vote was as follows: Guyton, yes, Cook, yes, Johnson, yes.

 

Vice-Chairman Cook read the purchase requests:

Fire Department: 11-180 Gear Gas – Blanket P.O. for purchasing medical oxygen $700.00, 11-182 B & C Communications – Eight walkie batteries $581.38, 11-183 Minuteman Press – Business cards for Lieutenant and Chief $62.07, 11-184 W.W. Williams – Repairs for power steering and battery cables for E192 $210.00, 11-185 Hite Parts Exchange – Repair two federal “Q” sirens $390.00, 11-186 FED EX – Blanket P.O. for shipment of EMS materials $600.00, 11-188 Swan Freedom Company – Shower doors for station 192 $460.00, 11-190 Eitel’s – M192 Tow $350.00, 11-191 Capital City Mechanical -  Clean out clogged kitchen drains at Station 192 $195.00, 11-192 ZEP – Blanket P.O. for Fire Department cleaning supplies $1,500.00, 11-193 Earls – Regular PM for M192 $304.32.  Police Department: 11-87-P Tuffy Auto Service Center – Repair and replace window regulator for car #8 and repair and replace air bag indicator for car #8 $221.36, 11-88-P Goodyear Auto Service – Replace tire on car #3 $113.74, 11-89-P B & C Communications – Repair and replace breaker switch in car #6 $71.80.  Road Department: 11-104-R Sutherlands – Various invoices $90.93, 11-111-R B & C Communications  - Power supply cable for radio in backhoe and repair service for emergency flashers on F150 $238.26, 11-112-R NAPA – Repair on power steering on backhoe $77.12, 11-114-R Sunbelt – Twelve safety glasses $35.88, 11-115-R T & T Service Center – Repair parts for chain saw $92.45, 11-116-R Shelly Materials – Asphalt for repair work on Surface Drive $125.80.  Administration / General Office Use: 11-033-G Minuteman Press – Two boxes of envelopes $89.93.

RESOLUTION #11-144

EARL’S FOR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS

 

Chairman Guyton moved for the adoption of the following Resolution.

 

BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Trustees of Franklin Township of Franklin County, Ohio, that the Board contracts with Earl’s for front brake pads and rotors repair on air conditioner and recharge on Extra Medic 193.  The cost is not to exceed $1,365.78.  

 

Vice-Chairman Cook seconded the Resolution.  The roll was called for its adoption and the vote was as follows: Guyton, yes, Cook, yes, Johnson, yes.

 

RESOLUTION #11-143

FRAME & SPRING, INC. FOR

REPLACEMENT OF FRONT SPRINGS

 

Chairman Guyton moved for the adoption of the following Resolution.

 

BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Trustees of Franklin Township of Franklin County, Ohio, that the Board contracts with Frame & Spring, Inc. to replace two front springs, remount front swat-bar, and realign front end on the medic.  The cost is not to exceed $1,197.48.

 

Vice-Chairman Cook seconded the Resolution.  The roll was called for its adoption and the vote was as follows: Guyton, yes, Cook, yes, Johnson, yes.

 

FIRE DEPARTMENT / CHIEF HOWARD

 

          Chief Howard said he requested from the Board at the last meeting that since he would be down two firefighters if he could offer employment to a new candidate.  Chief said the candidate has passed his physical and Chief would like the Board to approve a start date of September 14, 2011 for the new hire.  Chief said he would like to swear him in on September 15, 2011.

 

RESOLUTION #11-141

OFFER EMPLOYMENT TO

RICHARD ZIMMERMAN FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT

 

Chairman Guyton moved for the adoption of the following Resolution.

 

BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Trustees of Franklin Township of Franklin County, Ohio, that the Board extend an offer of employment as our next firefighter / EMT to Richard Zimmerman effective September 14, 2011. 

 

Vice-Chairman Cook seconded the Resolution.  The roll was called for its adoption and the vote was as follows: Guyton, yes, Cook, yes, Johnson, yes.

 

          Chief Howard said he has been working on another federal grant.  He said this must be in by the middle of September and he is looking at replacements for the life paks.  Chief Howard also said he needs to meet with the Department Heads to follow up on new personnel to get everyone NIMS compliant.  He would meet with the Department Heads around the middle of November.

 

POLICE DEPARTMENT / CHIEF TIMKO

 

          Chairman Guyton said the Police Chief is not in attendance because of a family emergency.  Chairman Guyton said there is a new hire for the Police Department and the Board would need to amend a Resolution for the start date.

 

RESOLUTION #11-054 (Amended)

NEW HIRE FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

 

Chairman Guyton moved for the adoption of the following Resolution.

 

BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Trustees of Franklin Township of Franklin County, Ohio, that the Board authorize Chief Timko to extend an offer of employment for Candidate #9, to Mr. Todd Moore, pending passing of his physical, psychological, and polygraph test.  The start date would be September 6, 2011.

 

Vice-Chairman Cook seconded the Resolution.  The roll was called for its adoption and the vote was as follows: Guyton, yes, Cook, yes, Johnson, yes.

 

          Chairman Guyton said Todd Moore has passed all of his tests.

 

          Chairman Guyton said the speed detection device has been out and brought back in to review the information, and Chief was putting it out again.  He said Chief had a statistic of one vehicle driving around sixty miles an hour in an area with a twenty-five mile an hour speed limit.  Chairman Guyton said this device would help identify the problem areas.

 

          David Scott of 1698 Hopkins Avenue said there might be a drug problem in his parent’s neighborhood.  Chairman Guyton asked Mr. Scott to write down his phone number and he would have Chief Timko call him. 

 

          Brandy Mobley of 1709 Hopkins Avenue said she was having a problem with a neighbor about a fence he said she had built on a portion of his property; although the neighbor could not show her the paperwork for the property line.  The neighbor wants her to pay him a rental fee for using a portion of his property.  Chairman Guyton gave Ms. Mobley some advice because he said this is a civil matter between her and her neighbor. Chairman Guyton said she would need to hire an attorney if the neighbor and her can not get this resolved.  Chairman Guyton said our Police Department couldn’t help with a civil matter.  There was a discussion between the Board and the residents in the audience about putting up a new fence where there had been an existing fence, the neighbor causing damage to the fence, and the harassment that the neighbor has been giving her.  Chairman Guyton said the height of the fence, or the installation of the fence could be an issue for Zoning.  He would like Ms. Mobley to talk to Chief Timko about the criminal activity of knocking down the fence and threatening her.  Chairman Guyton gave her the Franklin County Zoning phone number to call and asked that she tell them she had put up a privacy fence over an existing chain link fence and see if she receives direction for that.  Chairman Guyton told Ms. Mobley that until the neighbor can prove anything about the property line, the fence should stay right where it is now.

 

          Mr. Donovan of 1550 North Hague Avenue asked the Board if the Police Chief is certified yet and the Board answered no he is not.  Mr. Donovan requested a report of all of the salaries of all of the employees of Franklin Township because he read in the Newspaper that a resident should know what a taxpayer is paying for salaries.  The Fiscal Officer said he would need to write a Public Records Request and bring it to the office and the secretary would assign a number to it and let him know when the information would be available.

 

There was a discussion between the Board and the residents in the audience about the number of Police Cars on the street.  There was a concern that there was only one Police Car on the streets at night.  Chairman Guyton said we just hired a new officer, that officer is being assigned to third shift, and that gives us a total of ten officers.  Chairman Guyton reminded the residents that the Sheriff Department backs us up if there is only one car out because of vacations or sick time being used.

 

ROAD DEPARTMENT / JIM STEVENS

 

          Jim Stevens had House Bill #50 properties that he would need a Resolution for.

RESOLUTION #11-146

HOUSE BILL #50

 906 HARRISBURG PIKE

 

Chairman Guyton moved for the adoption of the following Resolution.

 

BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Trustees of Franklin Township of Franklin County, Ohio, that the Board approves the Road Supervisor to cut 906 Harrisburg Pike, Parcel #140-003872-00 and to assess the cost to their property taxes.  

 

Vice-Chairman Cook seconded the Resolution.  The roll was called for its adoption and the vote was as follows: Guyton, yes, Cook, yes, Johnson, yes.

 

RESOLUTION #11-147

HOUSE BILL #50

 1695 NORTH HAGUE AVENUE

 

Chairman Guyton moved for the adoption of the following Resolution.

 

BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Trustees of Franklin Township of Franklin County, Ohio, that the Board approves the Road Supervisor to cut 1695 North Hague Avenue, Parcel #140-002095-00 and to assess the cost to their property taxes.  

 

Vice-Chairman Cook seconded the Resolution.  The roll was called for its adoption and the vote was as follows: Guyton, yes, Cook, yes, Johnson, yes.

 

          Jim Stevens said at this end of town the construction for sanitary sewers is starting on Richter Road.  He said they are looking at mid October before they do the final overlay.  Jim said next Saturday they are going to bring in three crews on Little Avenue East.  He said they are going to try to put all of the laterals in on one day.  Jim said they couldn’t work on this during the week because they have to shut the road down and that would affect the businesses.  Jim said they have one more area to test in the Mon-E-Bak area and then within the next couple of weeks they will be putting in the final overlays.  He said they would be shutting down part of El Paso Drive going west on the weekend so it won’t disturb the normal weekly traffic.  Jim reminded the workers that their time frame for those couple of days while completing the project and working in the intersection would be only from 9:00 A.M. to around 2:30 P.M. because the schools would be letting classes out for the day.  Jim told the workers that school traffic is priority.  There was a discussion between the Board, Jim Stevens, and John Fleshman of 3471 Lowell Drive about the paving on Little Avenue and speed bumps.  There was also a discussion of the House Bill #50 process. 

 

          Bobbie Kean of 2889 El Paso Drive asked the Board if they knew when letters are going to be sent to the residents about the sewer work in the Mon-E-Bak area and Chairman Guyton said he would find out when Steve Renner would be sending those.  David Scott told the Board he had a concern about the speeding on Westbrook Drive.  Chairman Guyton said the Police Department would be setting up a camera in the areas where residents have said there are problems, but this would take some time to cover all of the areas.

 

Chairman Guyton said Franklin County is working on a program now to award areas up to $15,000.00 annually for the worst of the worst situations in the area.  There was a discussion between the Board and the residents about houses in Franklin Township, which are condemned and need to be torn down.  Chairman Guyton said the plan, which Franklin County is working on should be implemented in thirty days.  Chairman Guyton said he would rather wait on the plan to be in place instead of using Franklin Township taxpayer’s money to tear down houses.  The Board and Joe Donovan discussed vehicles that sit on a property that are not licensed and about cleaning up the Township.  Chairman Guyton told Mr. Donovan that if a resident has a vehicle without a license on his property and it does not operate, the resident needs to address it.  Mr. Donovan was accusing a Trustee of reporting him to Public Health, but Chairman Guyton said he did not report Mr. Donovan.

 

Chairman Guyton said on July 21, 2011 he made a motion to have Linda Mercer as the recipient of the Juanita Kaufman Award and the Board had not made the Resolution.

 

Chairman Guyton moved for the adoption of the following Resolution.

 

RESOLUTION # 11-120

LINDA MERCER IS THE RECIPIENT OF THE

JUANITA KAUFMAN AWARD FOR 2011

 

RESOLUTION HONORING LINDA MERCER

AS THE 2011 RECIPIENT OF THE JUANITA KAUFMAN AWARD

WHEREAS, DUE TO THE EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT AND DEDICATED WORK IN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, BE IT RESOLVED BY RESOLUTION

# 11-120 ON AUGUST 4, 2011, THAT THE FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES, FRANKLIN COUNTY, OHIO DECLARES LINDA MERCER AS THE 2011 RECIPIENT OF THE JUANITA KAUFMAN AWARD.

WHEREAS, LINDA MERCER IS CURRENTLY THE TREASURER OF THE WESTBROOK / EASTFIELD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND HAS LIVED IN THIS AREA FOR MOST OF HER LIFE.

WHEREAS, LINDA MERCER LENDS A HELPFUL HAND TO HER NEIGHBORHOOD BY RUNNING ERRANDS AND SHOPPING FOR HER NEIGHBORS.  LINDA HELPS HER NEIGHBORS WITH SNOW REMOVAL OF THEIR WALKS AND DRIVEWAYS, AND LINDA HELPS THE NEIGHBORS TAKE THEIR TRASH TO THE CURB ON FRIDAYS.

WHEREAS, LINDA MERCER IS INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING WITH THE ORGANIZATION FOR THE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT FOR THE AREA.

 

Trustee Johnson seconded the Resolution.  The roll was called for its adoption and the vote was as follows: Guyton, yes, Cook, yes, Johnson, yes.

 

 

Chairman Guyton said the Board received a request from MORPC to support sustainable community regional planning.  Chairman Guyton read:

 

Franklin Township, Franklin County Ohio supports the application for a Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant that the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) is submitting on behalf of the applicant Consortium, and intends to participate in the Consortium to produce a Regional Plan for Sustainable Development if the application is approved.  This document constitutes proof of Franklin Township’s commitment to assist in cooperatively carrying out the Program described in the application MORPC is submitting on behalf of the Consortium as its lead applicant.  At a minimum, such assistance will include use of staff time to participate in Consortium meetings related to the governance of the Consortium and the implementation of the grant agreement.  Franklin Township may elect to commit additional monetary and/or in-kind contributions for implementation of the grant agreement, which commitment will be separately documented and provided to the Department of Housing and Urban Development in connection with the Consortium’s grant application.  Franklin Township consents to allowing MORPC to represent the Consortium and its members in the application process and, if the application is granted, to assume administrative responsibility for ensuring that the Consortium’s program is carried out in compliance with all HUD requirements.

 

Franklin Township will exercise its best efforts to work with the other members of the Consortium to adopt and execute a partnership agreement within 120 days after the effective start date of the grant agreement.  The partnership agreement will (a) include a governance structure that reflects the diversity of the members of the Consortium, (b) allow for maximum participation in strategy development and decision-making, and (c) describe each Consortium member’s specific activities under the Program, including timetables for completion.  Franklin Township further acknowledges that the Department of Housing and Urban Development will have the right to terminate the grant to the Consortium if the Consortium fails to adopt and execute a partnership agreement meeting these requirements within 120 days after the effective start date of the grant agreement.

 

This document does not itself constitute adoption of a partnership agreement, but merely states a commitment to work in good faith towards such adoption as described above.

 

Chairman Guyton said they have six principles:

Provide more transportation choices.

Promote equitable, affordable housing.

Enhance economic competitiveness.

Support existing communities.

Coordinate policies and leverage investment.

Value communities and neighborhoods.

 

Chairman Guyton moved to support the Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant along with MORPC taking the lead.

Trustee Johnson seconded the motion.  Vote taken: Guyton, yes, Cook, yes, Johnson, yes.

 

Chairman Guyton said this would allow the Township to apply for grants it’s cost effective and appropriate, to obtain streetlights, sidewalks, bike lanes, handicap ramps, basically all the things that Cities enjoy that Township’s don’t.

 

Chairman Guyton said House Bill #50 allows many more things to be done besides high weeds and grass.  Chairman Guyton said there are many houses in the Township with trash and debris on the property.  He said he asked Public Health what they felt was the quickest way that these properties could be taken care of, and the reply from Public Health was that the Township could take care of it through House Bill #50.  He said the Road Department could take care of these properties in fourteen days, while it would take three months or more for Public Health to resolve the problems.  He asked the Board if they would agree to let our Road Department issue certified letters other than for high grass.  Chairman Guyton said the resident is not complying with clean up at 1716 Jackson Road so Chairman Guyton is asking the Board if our Road Department could send a certified letter, and if the resident does not remove the trash from the property, then our Road Department will take care of it and assess the cost to the property taxes. Trustee Johnson asked if Jim’s staff is able to take this additional work on and Jim said they would be willing to.  There was a discussion between the Board, Jim Stevens, and the residents in the audience about going on private property and hauling away the trash.  Vice-Chairman Cook questioned whether we are doing the work that Local Waste should be doing, but Chairman Guyton said this is trash on the property and Local Waste cannot go on private property.  Jim Stevens said the Ohio Revised Code allows the Road Department to go on private property so they can clean up, both the high grass or the trash.  Jim said his bill would be about $400.00 as compared to the $14.00 a month bill that Local Waste charges.

 

Chairman Guyton made a motion for Jim Stevens to send certified letters to residents that have trash that is not on the right-of-way for Local Waste Trash Service to pick up.  

Trustee Johnson seconded the motion.  Guyton, yes, Cook, yes, Johnson, yes.

 

QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE

 

Bobbie Kean asked the Board for a Resolution for “No Parking” signs to be put on El Paso Drive.  Bobbie Kean said she is not the trash service for El Paso Drive because people are dumping trash on the street while waiting to pick up their children from school.  The Board and Bobbie Kean had a discussion about the parents throwing their trash on the street, tearing up the yards and the driveways, and speeding down the roads.  Chairman Guyton said the Police Chief has been in the area and could not see where anyone was doing anything wrong.  Also, the County Engineers had checked out the area and could not see any problem either.  Chairman Guyton said he had talked to Phil Warner with Southwestern City Schools and he was assured that the custodian of the school would walk down the street everyday and pick up the trash that parents are leaving behind.  Chairman Guyton said that what parents are doing on El Paso Drive is not illegal when they are sitting there waiting on their children to be dismissed from school.  Vice-Chairman Cook said he has been in the area and he has taken pictures of where some of the people are parked.  There was further discussion between the Board and the residents in the audience about the “No Parking” signs and the difference between stopping by the side of the road and parking on the side of the road.

 

Joe Donovan asked the Board about the Fire Resolution that was passed at the last meeting and if it is true that the Township would receive a portion of money from an insurance company if a residence has a fire.  Chairman Guyton said that the Township would receive a portion of the pay-out from the insurer as a retainer to be used to make repairs, board up the property, etc. and the action was taken to protect the assets of Franklin Township Taxpayers, who would be stuck paying the bill to fix a property when the owner has taken the insurance money and walked.  Chairman Guyton said the money would be held on retainer and assures us that we would be able to remedy the situation on the homeowner’s dime and not on the taxpayer’s dime.  The Board and Mr. Donovan had a discussion of the Fire Resolution.    

 

 Chairman Guyton moved with no further business to discuss to adjourn the meeting.  Trustee Johnson seconded the motion.  Vote taken: Guyton, yes, Cook, yes, Johnson, yes.  Meeting adjourned at 8:29 P.M.

 

 

________________________

Timothy Guyton, Chairman

 

________________________

Don Cook, Vice-Chairman

 

________________________

Paul Johnson, Trustee

 

________________________

Lisa Morris, Fiscal Officer