Burger called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. at the Jackson Township Hall with all Trustees, Clerk, Lyon and Fitzgerald present.
Burger moved and Meeks seconded a motion to go into Executive Session for a Conference with Attorneys for the public body concerning disputes involving the public body that are the subject of pending or imminent court action.
Upon return from Executive Session, Burger opened the Work Session at 5:00 p.m.
ATTACHMENT 4/25/05
A Rich LaRocco of ME Co. presented the
SR 241/687 Intersection Monthly Update and the ODOT Real Estate Agreement
for same. He also updated the Board on the Fulton Road widening project.
ATTACHMENT 4/25/05 B
Burger moved and Meeks seconded a motion
to accept a donation of seven framed photographs of completed highway projects
in Jackson Township from ME Companies, Inc.
RESOLUTION 05-024, ATTACHED
Meeks moved and Pizzino seconded a motion
that the Board adopt and authorize the placement of the Board’s signatures
upon the attached Real Estate Agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation.
ATTACHMENT 4/25/05 C
Pizzino moved and Meeks seconded a motion
to approve Budget Module 14-05-A for funds for right-of-way appraisal for
the Fulton / Wales Intersection Improvement in the amount of $40,450.
ATTACHMENT 4/25/05 D
Meeks moved and Pizzino seconded a motion
to approve the appropriation transfer of funds from account code 324.310.5387,
Discretionary, to account code 324.313.5711, Fulton/Wales in the amount
of $40,450.
3-0 yes
At 6:00 p.m., Burger called the General Session to order with all department heads present, except Chief Heck who was asbsent. Burger requested that all cell phones and pagers be turned off at this time.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Public Speaks
Troy Gardner of 7633 Oakdale N.W., thanked
the police department for doing what was possible in regard to speeding
on Oakdale. He requested a stop sign be placed on Oakdale to slow
traffic.
ATTACHMENT 4/25/05 E
Boger agreed with the problems on Oakdale
and recommended reversing the stop sign on Oxford.
RESOLUTION 05-025, ATTACHED
Meeks moved and Pizzino seconded a motion
to adopt and authorize: The placement of stop signs at: Oakdale Street
to stop eastbound and westbound at Oxford Avenue
To terminate the placement of the northbound and southbound stop signs
at Oakdale Street and Oxford Avenue.
Police Levy Update
“Para Jones of 6800 Graystone Circle N.W.
wanted to make an effort, I guess a last effort, to inform Jackson residents
of Issue 9, that is the Police Levy Issue. And I really wanted to
speak to the three key issues that we, from the Citizens for a Safe Jackson,
see as being critical to informing our residents about this issue.
The first is that at the end of 2005, 70% of our current police revenue
will disappear with the expiring of two of our operating levies.
And that will leave our township with about 30% of the budget or $600,000
to operate our police and we don’t think that’s a good situation.
We think that’s a situation that will make Jackson a target for crime and
we do not think that’s the situation we want Jackson in. We don’t
think the residents want that either. And we would also like to point
out the third key point is that Issue 9 will cost the owner of a home with
an auditor’s market value of $175,000 and that’s the average Jackson Township
valuation on a home, Issue 9 will cost that homeowner about 30 cents a
day, which is less than the cost of a cup of coffee. Nine dollars
a month. And the Citizens for a Safe Jackson think that it is an
excellent value to preserve and to enhance the police protection we currently
have in Jackson. I didn’t know if I can do this, gentlemen, I may
be out of order to ask Chuck Bennell who is also here from Citizens for
a Safe Jackson if there’s anything he would like to add. And we do
have a few other members but again my reason for being here is really just
to encourage all residents to vote yes for Issue 9 and that’s on the May
3rd ballot. We think it’s critical to our community. Thank
you.”
“Thank you, my name is Charles Bennell, I live at 5555 Everhard N.W. I’m also a volunteer on the committee. More than anything else I just wanted to thank the Board of Trustees for showing the leadership and putting on the ballot a levy, number one, that is a 5 year levy. That gives the department the funds it needs to go forward in the way that Jackson needs. I want to thank the Trustees for recognizing that given the condition of the State of Ohio and its reluctance to fund local governments the way they used to be able to, means that we really do have to stand for ourselves. And it’s going to be tough, but I think it’s especially in a year that two trustees are running for re-election, I think it shows courage and leadership to make that recommendation to put that on the ballot. I’d also say that I’ve only lived in Jackson for 18 years after moving here from Canton. My property taxes went up when I moved from the city to the township, I think I’ve been getting my money’s worth for 18 years and glad to be here. So, gentlemen, thank you.”
Burger: Speaking for myself, I’ve lived in the township a long time also. And it makes me very happy to see the amount of activity that has resulted in this levy being put on again the second time. I’ve noticed an outstanding drive to the people going out and supporting this. I know yesterday in that snow and cold there were a number of police officers and citizens out going door to door putting literature on doors. I was a party pooper, I got mine at home, I told them I’d do it this week when it was warm. But I totally want the people to understand, and especially the press that I am one that whole-heartedly backs this. I happen to have scanner at home and I wish everybody in the township had one. Just sit there, just one evening for an hour or two and listen to the police activity in this township. And I think we could probably pass a six or seven mill levy knowing the activity that does go on here. I may be stretching it a little bit but I really don’t believe it and I don’t think we take the time to look at the number of calls that the police department does respond to and I know that Chief has made it very plain the amount of cruisers and patrol officers that are on any given shift and that they can tie up their resources very quickly. And like I say I just want to make it known that I totally support this levy that we have coming up in May.
Meeks: Well, I wanted to echo that too, Bill. I’m glad that you did speak up and I do want to thank the Citizen’s Group for stepping forward. It’s been I’m sure a very tiring, you’ve put on some shoes that I don’t think you knew fit, in that I mean that you’ve also stepped in the duties of or actually you’ve caught, let me see, you’ve been on the opposite side of the fan, we’ll say, when things are thrown at it. And I want, my hat is off to you. A lot of people don’t ever get that chance, not that I would recommend it, but it does teach you that we do take a lot of things for granted. And one thing that we do take for granted is our safety services, we take for granted the safety within our own neighborhoods, our children playing in our parks and that, and right now we are very close to jeopardizing all of our safety, all of our values of our homes, everything. This Board of Trustees has been very, very open. More so than, I think, any board in the past. And, you know, it really, really hurts when you’re doing your very best, you’re being honest, and I know a lot of times that honesty and the politician title doesn’t always seem to fit. But I’m here to tell you that this Board of Trustees, we are residents of this township, that we care so very much, we do everything we possibly can to make a difference for the positive here. And one thing that we ask our residents to do is come and help us pass this levy that we desperately need. There is no pot of gold that is hiding in the closet somewhere, we have shown you all of our finances, we have shown you how we spent the money as wisely as we possibly could. We’ve asked our Chief to put together a plan that is second to none that covers our basic needs and a small portion of that to prepare for the future growth. And he has done that. And we have lived up to our word of what will happen and thank goodness the men and women of our police department came up with concessions because quite frankly it wouldn’t have been a happy or a merry Christmas last year had they not have done that. My hat’s are off to them, they are well worthy of this passage of this levy. It’s imperative that it passes because if it doesn’t, believe you me, when the two levies expire this year there isn’t going to be enough patrol out there to take care of our needs. And Harley has told you the statistics and it isn’t that we’re not prospering, we are prospering in the township, people want to live here, they want to live here because they know it is a safe place. It’s probably a place that has the best school system, public school system, the best park system, the best eateries, shopping, everything. That’s why they want to be here in Jackson Township. And I urge the press please help us help our residents understand the facts and that’s what this Board prides itself on, we deal in the facts, we do not deal or dwell on perception, we’re not about creating a gray fog that would cause a voter to put a doubt in their mind. We’re asking you, here’s what we’re saying, we want you to come out and vote yes on this and this Board member has been and will continue to be 100% supportive of our police department.
Pizzino: I also would like to thank this committee. I know Para, you’ve worked very hard and your committee has done an excellent job getting the facts out to the people and you should be commended. I was going to save my comments to later on when we have the levy update. Do we, since we’re so far into this, Chief Neftzer, do you want to give us a levy update and maybe myself and Clerk Gonzalez would like to say a few other words.
Neftzer: Yes, Mr. Pizzino, I, too, would like to commend the efforts of the committee. I know that they’ve put in a lot of hours and, you know, Major Escola and I talked about this when we first met with Para and the group. We were kind of looking for a pep rally, you know, okay, we’ll get behind you and we’ll support this thing but, you know, these guys are critical thinkers. And you know they’re educators, attorneys, marketers, you know all different walks of life and you know I think they give a lot of credibility to the process. And you guys know the critical levels of review that this has gone through, I mean, you know how I’ve reviewed it, you know how the Board’s reviewed it, and you know how this group and the media has reviewed it. So it’s gone through many levels of review and you know I just appreciate the time that you guys have committed to doing what you believe is best for this community. And you know that’s what this is about. As far as an update, I think Para summed it up. The three big issues are at the end of the year we lose 70% of our revenues if we don’t pass something. That leaves us about $700,000. The only thing, I think that Randy and I may want to elaborate on some is the idea that has been thrown out in terms of regionalization or consolidation or however you want to phrase that. I’m not necessarily opposed to those concepts, you know on the surface all that sounds wonderful but I think when you take a critical look at that, you know some of those things start to fall apart. And I know Randy’s done some work up on the numbers and you know it doesn’t necessarily take a change in the color of the guard, if you will, to save money, I mean we could do that within our own ranks. We could eliminate the extra services we do, the crime prevention programs, the detective bureau, the school resource officers, and we could go back to just providing a patrol division. And save money in doing that, but I think our residents are better than that. I mean they’re accustomed to having a better department than that and I didn’t, I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t take this job to just put a band aid on a gaping wound. I took this job to, you know, Mr. Meeks, you summed it up by saying, you know, we have the best of everything, I think, in this community. And we should have the best police department, we need certain resources to do that. So, you know, to say that we could eliminate staffing and things like that, sure, we could, but is that what’s best for this community. I really don’t believe so. I’ve said this, I don’t know if I’ve said it in this group or not, but I do have a concern that if a bad guy is sitting out there trying to pick which community he’s going to do his crime in and he’s looking at a community that has a 170 officers or one that has 40, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure where he’s going to go to commit his crime. And, you know, if we cut those numbers more at the end of the year, you know, I think that still makes us a softer target, so you know we need to step up and do something about that. You guys know, you know, I didn’t like asking my dad for 10 bucks when I was a kid, I don’t like going to these residents and asking them for more money but I really believe in it and I think that’s what we need to do. So, Randy, if you want to share the conversations we had in regards to, you know, I don’t think what our residents realize is in terms of police protection, they get a pretty good value for their dollar and I think Randy can elaborate on that some.
Gonzalez: This morning, I guess, some of the problems that I, I shouldn’t say problems, I probably would like to hear some of the feedback on what you heard from some of the residents. There’s no better feel of getting the heartbeat of the township than knocking on doors. You get a lot of comments and you get a great, I guess the Board should probably hear some of those, but the ones that I hear a lot is mostly what I read in the media or hear on the radio. And this morning I woke up to this story on the radio about the comparisons to Plain Township. And then I read a story in the Independent last week that was, if anything would kill a levy it was such a bad quote and I’m sure it was a mistake, Chris, but it said it was a $175 or $174 a month, if anybody read that I thought, who’s going to vote for that.
Neftzer: $137 a month.
Gonzalez: One hundred thirty seven dollars a month. You know, and the misconceptions from opposition that keep getting thrown out if you look at the history of it first there was this big perception that there was a ton of money in the general fund and we kind of proved that was wrong and that one went away. And then it was we were giving a million dollars to the YMCA, well that became another loss to the opposition and that one went away. So it’s kind of throw enough things against the wall until something sticks and now nobody and I’d like to make this clear to the media, this Board of Trustees has never publicly discussed or is it an alternative that I think they’re even looking at of going to the Sheriff’s Office. Nobody’s talking about that except for somebody that wants to talk about it. If something would happen the alternatives would be a smaller Jackson Police Department, not the Sheriff’s Office. And in the story that Harley’s talking about that was published in the Independent if we just use the theory of the Independent and that story the $137 a month and then they published what Plain was actually paying. Well I went a step farther and I called the auditors office and I said what are they actually paying in Plain. The amount that they currently pay for $100,000 home in Plain is $62.47 so when you take that to our $137 number it’s just use the math that you guys put out, Chris. They have 18 deputies, divide that by $62.47 and they’re paying, each person, $3.47 per deputy in Plain Township. With our new levy at $137 we would have 41 officers and if you made that same math it’s $3.36 per officer. So it literally with the new levy we would still be paying, per resident, $3.36 versus $3.47, we’d have 41 deputies and they’d have 18. Now I’d like to tell the public that’s a great deal and we would be cheaper, of course, it’s going to cost us more. That’s, I guess, how that doesn’t fit, trying to compare our tax base to Plain’s tax base. I called WHBC today and said this is a misconception of going to the Sheriff and I think the media did a good job of portraying it last week until I heard HBC this morning. We cannot and we have to be perfectly clear about this, if there’s any idea that anybody thinks that this levy would fail and we could just contract with the Sheriff that is so wrong. It is a two year project to do that. I mean we would literally if the levy would fail and whatever the Board decides to do in November which I said I believe would be again something with the Jackson Police Department and that would fail we would literally have to pass a levy for the Sheriff, the residents would say yes we want a contract with the Sheriff in that ballot language. We would not receive that money for one year, it’s always a year behind in tax collections. Tim Swanson’s a personal friend of mine and he told me, Randy, it will take me six months to hire those deputies. So by the time that would all take place our township would literally go unprotected for an 18 month to 2 year period. So when you keep putting stuff out there I guess it’s scary that the residents, you know, I hear it, and maybe we can get some of that feedback if the Board would let them elaborate a little bit. The media has got to be really clear about that. That is not an option. I mean that’s not something anybody’s talking about and I think this Board if you ask them that question - are you looking at the Sheriff’s Office – No. It’s not an option.
Meeks: Absolutely not.
Pizzino: No, it’s not.
Meeks: Not from this Board member.
Pizzino: That’s not an option.
“My name’s Jim Bennett and I live at 7275 Highmill. I haven’t heard yet a couple of items that come to my mind but that’s mostly because I’m pretty ancient. First place in the 60’s and 70’s the Sheriff was taking care of our police force. The whole reason that Jackson had a police force started was because nobody was happy with the Sheriff’s representation. That’s item number one. Second place is if you consider that there’s going to have all these people that are going to depend on the Sheriff’s Office which he’s already talking about 3 cars traveling. What’s going to happen around Belden Village at Christmas time or the Hall of Fame Parade? You think the Sheriff’s going to be able to handle that? There’s no way. The next thing is Belden Village and the Strip are pretty dependent on the police force. And if there’s not an adequate police force here in Jackson Township, Jackson, the Strip and Belden Village is going to want to be incorporated into one of the cities so they do have a police force. If that happens, you’re going to lose what 50% of that tax base? That’s what it used to be at least. If you lose that tax base and you still want to have all the things that Jackson has to offer then you’re going to have to pick up that’s, you’re, talking about me as well as other residents, are going to have to pick up that tax base and it’s going to cost you a lot more than what this police levy will.”
Pizzino: Thank you, sir, and you’re 100% - oh somebody else?
Burger: While he’s walking up here. You got me fired up a little bit now, Dick. People talk about Belden Village, the Strip and everything else but you know the amount of police officers and cruisers that are tied up in this township with residential alarm drops, false 911 calls, domestics and the majority of these calls they end up sending two cruisers to. That doesn’t even include the accidents. Sure we’ve got a State Patrol barracks up here on Shuffel Road but they’re in the same shape with the number of cruisers that they have on the road, the distance that they have to patrol. People just can’t understand that unless they’re actually involved in it like some of us are. That when you have some problems you don’t want to wait 20 minutes for somebody to show up. And like you say we just put too much emphasis I think sometimes on that area over there and if people knew what goes on in the rest of the township they would be totally surprised.
Pizzino: And you’re correct. And that was one of my comments and Jim you made my comment if for some reason we unprotect our commercial district our taxes could be raised 40% for the same services. It’s roughly 60 – 40, Randy, maybe 37 – 63, so if you want the same level of services you’re getting now, it’s really going to be an increase. The second thing is and Chief Neftzer did a great job since he’s been chief here, you know, we’ve been living for 8 years with the basically the same amount of money. Am I correct in saying that, Mr. Gonzalez?
Gonzalez: Yes.
Pizzino: And you know we keep growing and growing and thank God we have our tax base of 40-60 or at one time of 50-50, or we couldn’t afford the services. And Chief Neftzer will tell you our commercial people are very, other than maybe shoplifters, very little maintenance. Our maintenance is on our residents and of course you know we’re going to provide them the best possible services we can. So I think you heard Trustee Meeks and Trustee Burger and Clerk Gonzalez and even the Chief tell you pretty much the way it is. You know, really not an option with the Sheriff. The Sheriff does a great job, his job is to protect the jail, and to protect the courts and Sheriff Swanson does a great job and Jim, back in the 60’s and back in the 70’s when this police department started, I was on the ground floor of the Jackson Township Police Department and you’re right, now Sheriff Swanson wasn’t here, but we had another Sheriff we weren’t happy with the services. And we got a lot more services than Plain Township has now and Trustee Giavasis said that on the news. He said, you know, it’s going to be hard or pretty difficult for the Jackson people to back up because we expect more. And the numbers are there and Clerk Gonzalez said, the numbers are there, if you look at the numbers, we’re not really paying that much more. And we do want the service. And again I just hope this Board doesn’t, would never have to make a decision if I’m here, if I’m not here to choose between our police department and going with another organization. So, pretty much that sums it up. I’m sorry, sir, you want to come up here.
Chief Neftzer: Doug was out braving the weather yesterday as one of the, heading up the canvassing committee.
Pizzino: We thank you for that.
Doug Davenport: Thanks for the opportunity to speak to you. I just want to say a couple things. First of all, a community is made up of the people that occupy it. The safety services, the schools, and the businesses and when one part’s broken, it’s all broken. And I know that none of us here tonight want to see any of it broken. You asked the question, Randy, and first of all I want to thank you guys too. Randy, thanks for attending all the meetings that you have in order to explain the financial end of this to all the various meetings that Para’s set up, kept everybody busy, and thank you for, I know this week you’re scheduled to walk with us and Bill, you and Carol and I read the article that you said we need our police force and appreciate that. We have marched so far on one day, my wife and I have been marching neighborhoods on evenings, but yesterday was our first day where the volunteers showed up we had two shifts that ran from 2 to 6 o’clock. And we covered, so far, we have covered a little bit over 1100 homes and I asked everybody to return to my home and make a report. Out of the 1100 homes we have covered, and I don’t want to mislead you, there were a lot of homes that people weren’t home, but the great thing about yesterday it was hard on the walkers but it was great for finding people at home. So that helped. Out of 1100 homes we covered and I don’t know how many of that means there were people that answered their doors, we have had four comments that I would guess you could classify as negative. They weren’t comments that we couldn’t answer questions to or lead them in the direction to where they can get their answers. So our walkers, so far, to date are very pleased with what they’re hearing from the community and there’s a strong support out there for our police department. And hopefully, we’re going to see them stepping forward here a week from tomorrow night. This Saturday and Sunday, we’ll also be marching and we’re obviously looking for more volunteers. But I have a question and I don’t know if this is appropriate, please cut me off if it isn’t. I would like to know if you can do a resolution with the three of you in unison so that the newspapers, the media, understand that you are fully in support of this and they can refer to this resolution and say the trustees have come out and said there’s no doubt that we are in support of the Jackson Police Levy and that puts to bed any questions that the doomsayers may have. I’ll leave it up to you and thank you again for allowing me to address you.
Pizzino: Thank you, Doug. I think it’s been very loud and clear the support of this Board over the last number of levies. Fellow trustees?
Meeks: Well, I know that I have no reservation in coming out personally as a Trustee, or as a resident and endorsing and getting behind and I would have not a problem of making a motion that the Board be unified in this endorsement. But I do turn to Neal because he has always been our legal beagle as far as giving us advice in those things. But I don’t know, Neal, if there is an exception that we could make, this is our police department and you’ve heard our comments, you know how we feel and what is the harm in us unifying that endorsement as the Board of Trustees, not as individual trustee.
Pizzino: I remember we were going to do this one other time, Neal, and you had a concern so we each did it individually like we have been.
Meeks: Didn’t we do it for the Library, though?
Fitzgerald: I’m thinking about the question just raised. I think we did endorse that.
Gonzalez: There was an endorsement for the Library.
Fitzgerald: And it’s your levy, I just don’t want, I don’t think it has any legal effect. It’s just a motion of the Board reflecting your positions. I don’t see a problem with it.
Meeks: Well then I’ll even give you the option to word the motion.
Fitzgerald: Well, just that you each, individually, as a Board support the adoption of the levy as presented by the police department and yourselves.
Pizzino: Chief, what are you looking for?
Neftzer: I think I’m looking for the same thing Doug is. You know, I think just that, I just don’t think there should be any question about where we stand on this. And you know I think what Neal is saying is that by your placing this issue on the ballot you’ve already unanimously voted to place it there. So that shows support, but I think just that one last shot saying that individually and as a Board you support and I don’t know if you want to use the term endorse, but encourage the voters to get out and vote.
Burger: The Board did pass a resolution to put the levy on the ballot.
Fitzgerald: That’s typically how you do it. You’re asking the voters to vote on the position, if you feel you want to pass a motion, I don’t see the necessity of it, myself. But from a legal standpoint if you want to make a motion to support the adoption of the levy as presented and encourage the people to vote, vote period however they want to vote, that you would vote yes or something like that. We generally don’t endorse.
Meeks: You’re right but we (indecipherable) did the Library. Because we had that question, I think individually we did we all three said like we’re saying the last three months here that we are . . .
Gonzalez: You came back and you did it. It was two weeks afterwards when they asked for it but Neal did the research and you came back and passed a formal motion. I don’t believe that a motion that would say that the trustees endorsed the passage of the police levy would be inappropriate. Cause I do agree with them, I’ve voted before to put things on and voted against them myself. Just because you put it on the ballot doesn’t mean that they absolutely endorse it. They’re just giving the voters an option. Now you’re asking them are you endorsing this as a Board and I think obviously they all do, they spoke about it publicly but if the Chief thinks a resolution or if they do if all the work they’re doing, I think the Board ought to consider it.
Pizzino: I strongly feel the same way. I mean our committee has worked very hard, our Chief has worked very hard and anything we could do to, if there is that misconception out there, which I don’t believe it is, but if maybe you’re hearing stuff that we don’t hear. We’re strongly in favor, but all three Board members. So, again, Neal, tell us the wording for the motion.
Meeks: How about this Neal. Even though you may think that we already have but we have not, I mean, we all speak individually as a Trustee. And it’s so important to show the residents, I feel, and maybe to some it doesn’t, but that we are unified in this charge that we the Board of Trustees endorse the Police Levy.
Fitzgerald: Period.
Meeks: Period.
Fitzgerald: I don’t think there’s any election law problem with that.
Gonzalez: Do we have a second for that?
Pizzino: Second.
Meeks moved and Pizzino seconded the motion
to endorse the Police Levy.
3-0 yes
Meeks: And please, press, we would appreciate that. Not by the comics but truly in the local. You guys have always come to our aid and we really want you on our bandwagon through this. Believe me, we don’t shy away from you, as you know. We try and give you everything, every opportunity to speak to us and we’re asking for your help now.
Burger: Anybody else? Ms. Wilkof.
Wilkof: Just briefly.
Meeks: Ruthanne, come up here. . .
Wilkof: They can hear me just fine.
Gonzalez: We can’t get you on tape, Ruthanne.
Burger: You wouldn’t have stood up (indecipherable). . .
“Ruthanne Wilkof and I am a Jackson Township resident, my husband and I both reside in Jackson Township and I’m also the director for the Jackson – Belden Chamber of Commerce. Which I wanted to tell everybody that the Jackson – Belden Chamber of Commerce has also endorsed the Jackson Police Levy as well as the Jackson Kiwanis, the Jackson Rotary and the Community Improvement Corporation of Jackson Township and just recently the Canton Repository has endorsed, as most of us have read. But real quick and I know a lot of people, you know, sometimes you don’t think it’s going to happen to you, that you could ever, your house could ever be broken into, but since I’ve lived in Jackson Township my house was broken into and that’s when I did live alone. This was about ten years ago. And I was at home at the time and if it was not for Jackson Police I don’t know what would have happened. Because they did scare the intruder off. So if you don’t think it could happen to you, it can. And you might not be as lucky but I truly appreciate our police force. You know, I’m located here in the Township Hall and we have the best township, the best trustees, schools, churches, police force, fire, just so you know, it’s a great place to work, live, and play. So I also encourage you to vote for Issue 9.”
Pizzino: What about the Highway Department and the Park.
Wilcox: Yes, I can’t forget Ralph.
Meeks: Thanks, Ruthanne.
Gonzalez: Doug, did you have any repetitive questions. Did anybody that was walking door to door, were there any of the perceptions that you heard over and over.
Doug: The most concern was what is this going to cost me, and how do I figure that out. And we told them that we have a formula to use or they can refer to the Auditor’s Office for the proper value to apply to that. Actually, there was no concern or complaint that we heard about the Police Department.
Gonzalez: Melissa, did you get my e-mail?
Melissa: Yes, I did.
Gonzalez: She wrote a great story and then her editor, or whoever puts that in at the end, in fact, it wasn’t in the press, it was just…
Melissa: (inaudible) was an additional, correct. Didn’t it say additional.
Gonzalez: Yes, it will. But, I mean it’s a new levy. It’s not, the point being I guess in yours it said the cost and it gave the total cost. And I think that that’s part of it, the people think this is going to cost me $137 more and it’s not. It’s like half of that, you know what I mean?
Melissa: That’s what I was thinking annually. I mean I don’t know what, I don’t know how to respond.
Gonzalez: At the end of the story, where it had the breakout of the net.
Melissa: I know what you’re talking about. I don’t understand why the press has become the subject of your meeting. I really don’t.
??: Actually, I’m glad you’re here as a citizen. I don’t think (inaudible) . . . I haven’t taken it that way.
Gonzalez: What’s that.
??: (inaudible) talking to the press. I think it’s a positive
Gonzalez: The press has done a wonderful job. What I’m saying is is there’s some times that and that story was the story was written perfectly and then at the, I only saw it on the net. And then at the end of the net it said $137 – was it additional? – I don’t remember how it was worded. $137 dollars a year.
Melissa: Annually.
Gonzalez: Yeah, annually. Right, that’s what it was.
Meeks: I think you ought (indecipherable)
Doug: I know what you’re saying, too. It was so confusing, that’s what the voters are saying when we go out door to door. Is this additional. It’s total. Total cost, you just said, you’re total cost for a $100,000 home $137 whatever. Is that right, Randy?
Neftzer: Yes.
Meeks: Per 175
Gonzalez: No, $100,000. I don’t have that chart. You guys have the chart in front of you.
Neftzer: (indecipherable)
Jim Bennett: Well, most of the people that I’ve talked to, I don’t go door to door, but I’ve got a lot of cronies and friends and people that I’ve met over the years. And when I approach them about it and talk to them about this levy, they don’t understand the way (inaudible) concerned. They said, well, if we’re being taxed $2,000 a year see why do the police need an extra money. They don’t understand that the police is a separate entity and that the taxes are distributed in a different manner. So that’s their main thing. They said well we’re paying all this tax why can’t we have a police force from that. So somehow you’ve got to get the message to them that, No, these are separate things and you have to treat them separately. And it is really hard because some of the people that I’ve talked to are very intelligent people and yet it’s hard to get that message across.
Meeks: I think the newsletter pretty much, with that pie chart, pretty much showed that. If they read the newsletter, the breakdown’s there. Shows what the school gets, what the road department, police department, fire department. And, you know, Stark County, I mean that was a good graph. Hopefully, you’re probably right. There’s still a little confusion out there and we have to overcome that.
Jim Bennett: Like I say a lot of the people are very intelligent people and yet it’s very hard to get that across. Once you do, they see the light, the lightbulb goes on and then they’re all for you but it’s a hard sell.
Gonzalez: I did pull this out. The argument that I’m trying to make is yes it is $137 but it’s not additional. It is $61 additional cost, that’s all we’re asking for is $61, not $137. And that’s where I think people are getting lost. And if I were to have read that in the Rep today or most of the places that it’s being published it would say $137, I think most people would think I’m going to pay an additional annual $137. And we’re not asking for that, it’s $61 per hundred thousand.
Burger: We kind of got away from our schedule here, I think. Does anybody else have anything, if not, why we’ll thank you for coming and don’t see anybody opposed to it. So, just everybody continue the good work and in another weekend or so we can sit back and smile at the good job that everybody (inaudible) this levy. I’m sure the police department will be very happy also. So with that. Mrs. Lyon.
Administration Department
RESOLUTION 05-026, ATTACHED
Pizzino moved and Meeks seconded a motion
to approve the Draft Solid Waste Plan on file and the Clerk is requested
to mail a certified copy of this Resolution to the Solid Waste District.
ATTACHMENT 4/25/05 F
Burger moved and Meeks seconded a motion,
pursuant to Section 3.1 of the attached Agreement with Gregory Becker,
to exercise our option to renew the Agreement from May 13, 2005 to December
31, 2005 for a total contract amount not to exceed $4,980.00.
ATTACHMENT 4/25/05 G
Pizzino moved and Burger seconded a motion
to approve the Division of Liquor Control F Permit Application for the
2005 Jackson Community Celebration.
ATTACHMENT 4/25/05 H
Burger moved and Meeks seconded a motion
to adopt the attached Credit Card Policy.
Fire Department
ATTACHMENT 4/25/05 I
Pizzino moved and Meeks seconded a motion
to approve the appropriation transfer request from account code 210.210.5387,
Discretionary & Contingency, to account code 210.210.5319, Tuition
Reimbursement, in the amount of $5,000.
ATTACHMENT 4/25/05 J
Pizzino moved and Burger seconded a motion
to approve Budget Module No. 17-05-A for additional funds required because
of incorrect figures by URS Corporation for the Strausser / Lutz Intersection
Improvement in the amount of $9,415.
ATTACHMENT 4/25/05 K
Pizzino moved and Meeks seconded a motion
to approve the appropriation transfer request from account code 324.310.5387,
Discretionary, to account code 324.310.5650, Strausser-Lutz, in the amount
of $9,415.
ATTACHMENT 4/25/05 L
Burger moved and Meeks seconded a motion
to approve the appropriation transfer request from account code 204.310.5387,
Discretionary, to account code 204.310.5522, Building Maintenance, in the
amount of $2,500.
Legal Department
ATTACHMENT 4/25/05 M
Burger moved and Meeks seconded a motion
to approve and authorize the placement of the Board President’s signature
upon the attached closeout documents for Hein Construction, Inc.
ATTACHMENT 4/25/05 N
Burger moved and Meeks seconded a motion
to approve and authorize the placement of the Board President’s signature
upon the attached closeout documents for Abbott Electric, Inc.
Police Department
ATTACHMENT 4/25/05 O
Pizzino requested a wording change in
the letter of resignation from Timothy E. Escola. Fitzgerald concurred
that change should be made. Letter to be corrected and presented
at next meeting.
ATTACHMENT 4/25/05 P
Burger moved and Meeks seconded a motion
to accept the following donations to the Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs
program.
ATTACHMENT 4/25/05 Q
Burger moved and Meeks seconded a motion
to approve the appropriation transfer request from account code 209.250.5387,
Discretionary, to account code 209.250.5363, Hooked on Fishing, in the
amount of $2,658.38.
Zoning and Planning Department
Burger opened the public hearing
for NexTerra Ltd’s PUD modification. A presentation of the changes
for the Vail Farm property was given. No one came forward to speak
in opposition.
ATTACHMENT 4/25/05 R
Pizzino moved and Meeks seconded a motion
to approve NexTerra Ltd.’s request for modification to Planned Unit Development
– The Hermitage and Echo Farm (Vail).
Clerk’s Office
ATTACHMENT 4/25/05 S
Burger moved and Meeks seconded a motion
to pay bills in the amount of $102,587.96.
ATTACHMENT 4/25/05 T
Burger moved and Meeks seconded a motion
to approve the minutes of the April 11, 2005 Board of Trustees meeting.
ATTACHMENT 4/25/05 U
Pizzino moved and Meeks seconded a motion
to approve then & now purchase order for the City of Massillon, First
Quarter 2005 Booking Fees in the amount of $14,310.
Routine Business
Announcements
New Business
Burger moved and Meeks seconded a motion
to not object to the Ohio Division of Liquor Control Notice for Glenmoor
Properties, Inc., 4191 Glenmoor Road N.W.
Burger moved and Meeks seconded a motion to accept a $100 donation to the Community Celebration from the Animal Care Clinic Co.
Burger moved and Meeks seconded a motion to accept a $125 donation to the Community Celebration from the Rea Building Corporation.
Public Speaks – Open Forum
No one came forward.
Meeks moved and Burger seconded a motion to adjourn.
| _____________________________ | _____________________________ |
| William Burger, President | Randy Gonzalez, Clerk |