Pizzino called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. at the Jackson Township Hall with all Trustees, Fiscal Officer and Lyon present.

Pizzino moved and Meeks seconded a motion to go into Executive Session for Management Personnel (Appointment/Employment/Compensation).

Pizzino moved and Meeks seconded a motion to go into Executive Session for Park Personnel (Appointment/Employment/Compensation).

Upon return from Executive Session, Pizzino opened the Work Session at 5:07 p.m. with Chief Heck, Chief Neftzer and Ralph Boger.

Fire Department
Chief Heck:  What I would like to do is talk briefly about our Fire Levy.  As you know, it does expire at the end of this year.  We’ve talked about what we’re going to do with it.  It’s a 5.6 mill levy.  We’ve looked at expenses and where we’ve gone over the years.  For the last 20 years we’ve been able to live with that levy doing routine replacements.  One time there we did have a renewal but we’ve done replacements.  In that time period we’ve technically added four paid fire stations to our operations.  We’ve taken our insurance class from a class 9 down to a class 3, which is indicative of the service that we offer at the same time it’s a tremendous savings to property owners for that.  I think we’ve reached the point where we’re going to have to take a hard look at what we need to do.  We’re operating on $7.8 million and I question whether we can do a replacement levy and still provide the services at that dollar amount.  In fact, I know we can’t.  I’ve met with the Clerk, we’ve talked through different scenarios.  Probably ten years ago we added billing for ambulance service and that’s kept us from seeking additional dollars.  Yet the trickle down effect of diverting everything to the local community is catching up.  Personal property tax is going to go away, that’s a half million dollars in our operation.  That virtually is everything that we do outside of people costs.  I don’t see us being successful maintaining our operations with a replacement of 5.6.  Somehow, we’re going to have to be up closer to the $7.5 to $7.8 million operations that we have.  I guess I’ll turn it over to the Fiscal Officer at this point.

Gonzalez:  In working with Ted and his budget, the number that I believe, which is a bare minimum to get him through, and then only getting through for three years, I don’t think it will carry to five years, I would recommend that we would replace this current levy back to the 5.6 mills and add an additional .4 of a mill.  As Ted said that same millage has been in effect for 20 years.  If he can get by another 20 years, that would be great.  That would put us 3 years down the road and we could replace it at 6 mills.  So I think that plan could last for another 20 years, but the growth that he’s had, to stay with that growth, for that long, is really commendable.  And one of the things our fire department does that has been a big cost savings for years is a lot of fire departments have fire fighters and paramedics.  They have to man stations with both.  Our people are all cross trained and that allows us to man our stations with less people.  I think we’ve been very cost effective to the taxpayers and the recommendation of the 5.6 with .4 of a mill added to it would be a yearly additional cost of $33 per $100,000 home.  Now the average home being $175,000 in Jackson Township, that would be an additional $57.  So, when you’re looking at, say, $16 a half difference on your taxes for a $100,000 home, you realize it’s a great bang for your buck but I also realize that it’s a tough time to ask for that kind of increase.  But we’re not asking for anything more than is absolutely needed.

Meeks:  I do agree with you both.  I think it’s very important to stress the fact that for 20 years the Chief has not asked for any additional millage.  I mean, he has been able to maintain the 5.6 mills that he’s had and I think that says volumes about his leadership and the way he runs his department.  No one wants to pay more in taxes but for what you’re getting here, from what you’re getting now to what we need for you to get in the future with the .4 additional I think is money very well spent for the safety of your home.

Gonzalez:  Actually, Chief, I would think a $33 increase would be saved by the rating certification from insurance companies that you’ve said you have.  Wouldn’t most of the homeowners be saving that much on their homeowner’s policies because of our classification?

Heck:  Homeowners save down through class 5 and commercial saves all the down to class 1.  The dollars that are reflected there would be substantially more than the increase in taxes would be.

Meeks:  I think, also, though it’s important to note that within that last 20 years remaining with the 5.6 mill, you’ve been able to build four stations and purchase ground for another station.  Is that not correct, without any additional?

Heck:  Without any additions.  I’m pleased that we’ve been able to operate that way to grow.  Because prior to doing that, every couple years we were asking for another mill, mill and a half.  We’ve been able to grow with our community.  The thing that really hurt us here are really the personal property tax rollback that we’re going be faced with.  That’s half a million dollars.  That’s going to hurt us.  They’ve locked in the utility tax on us and we have no other alternatives to do but to seek, I think, some additional millage.

Pizzino:  Over the last 20 years it’s obvious, like Mr. Meeks and Mr. Burger said, you have watched the tax dollars as close as you could and to go to 20 years without that increase, it’s a great tribute to your administration skills, Chief.  I think that we all agree that we’re going to have to go with the 5.6 replacement plus the .4 of a mill additional.  Mr. Burger, do you agree with that also?

Burger:  Yes, I do.  I’ve trusted him for 25 years while I worked for the department.  I’ll trust him for the next 25.

Pizzino:  With that being said then, the motion to approve, we’re going to need a resolution.  So when our Law Director comes back from vacation Wednesday would our Administrator mind having a resolution drawn up and we could have a special meeting sometime or maybe at the end of this week to start this process because we’re under a time line if I’m correct, Chief.

Heck:  Yes, we have to go to the Auditor’s office and from there to the Board of Elections.

Pizzino:  And I believe that we can’t wait for the next two meetings can we, Ms. Lyon?

Lyon:  No, we’ll schedule a special meeting next week.

Gonzalez:  You could offer a motion just to have the Law Director draft the language under that premise of a replacement and the .4 and then he can draft it and we’ll have to have a special meeting to pass it.  At least that will get a start on it.

Meeks moved and Burger seconded a motion for the Law Director to draft a resolution for a replacement levy of 5.6 mills plus an additional .4 mills.

Heck:  Thank you, I appreciate it.

Highway Department
ATTACHMENT 1/23/06 A
Ralph Boger, Jackson Township Highway Department and Mike Rekstis, ME Company updated the Board on the Fulton / Wales Intersection project.

ATTACHMENT 1/23/06 B
Mike Rekstis also updated the Board on the High Mill / Lafayette project.  Since OPWC funding is doubtful, he asked for the Board’s input.  The Board suggested that acquisitions continue and reapply for OPWC funding and look for additional funding.

ATTACHMENT 1/23/06 C
Meeks moved and Pizzino seconded a motion to fix fees for equipment per attached example (A).

ATTACHMENT 1/23/06 D
Boger updated the Board on a meeting with Earth ‘n Wood to work out questions in the agreement which became apparent during a meeting with the Solid Waste District.    Earth ‘n Wood will continue to honor the agreement as it stands, the Township loads the gondolas furnished, Earth ‘n Wood will pick them up at no charge to the Township,  the mulch will be provided, and the coupons from the newsletter will be honored, not only for residents but also commercial drop-offs.

Park Department
RESOLUTION 06-003, ATTACHED
Meeks moved and Burger seconded a motion that, pursuant to attached ORC Section 505.707, we hereby determine that:
1. The YMCA of Central Stark County is an organization that services a community purpose and is exempt from federal taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the “Internal Revenue Code of 1986,” 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C. 1, as amended and as described in the attached April 22, 1999 IRS letter.

2. To appropriate from the Township general revenue fund $20,000, which are moneys not appropriated for any other purpose, for the Board of Trustees monetary commitment for the attached described YMCA matching grant program which service a community purpose.

3. The services offered under the Grant Program are secular in nature and the Board finds that the programs do not support any specific religious activity.

4. That no religious activities or programs will be conducted during any of the attached described YMCA Matching Grant Programs, and that none of the funds may be used for any religious activity.

ATTACHMENT 1/23/06 E
Meeks moved and Burger seconded a motion to approve Module No. 05-23, Parks & Recreation Dept. Programming, Module Name Y.M.C.A. Grant Extension, total funds requested $10,000.00.

ATTACHMENT 1/23/06 F
Meeks moved and Burger seconded a motion to approve the appropriation transfer requested from account code 101.110.5387, Discretionary, to account code 101.150.5952, Transfer #214 (Park), in the amount of $10,000.00.

At 6:02 p.m., Pizzino called the General Session to order with all department heads present except Neal Fitzgerald and Chief Heck.  Pizzino requested that all cell phones and pagers be turned off at this time.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Public Speaks – None

Police Department
RESOLUTION 06-004, ATTACHED
Meeks moved and Burger seconded a motion that whereas, Resolution Nos. 05-114,-5-115 and 05-116 are incorporated herein and the individuals have successfully completed the psychological, physical and other testing requirements.

Be it resolved that, pursuant to ORC Section 505.49 and 509.01, we hereby appoint George J. Reuscher, Daniel J. Reed and Paul L. Brimlow as Part Time Patrol Officers and Township Constables for Jackson Township Police District, Stark County, Ohio, effective January 24, 2006 at 0800, 0801 and 0802 respectively, at the established compensation rate and we hereby accept the attached Oaths of Office.

ATTACHMENT 1/23/06 G
Meeks moved and Pizzino seconded a motion to accept the resignation of part-time patrol officer, Daniel R. George.

Administration Department
Meeks moved and Burger seconded a motion to set a public hearing for zoning amendment #549-05 on February 13, 2006 at 7:00 p.m.

Central Maintenance
ATTACHMENT 1/23/06 H
Meeks moved and Burger seconded a motion to approve the appropriation transfer request from account code 101.115.5220, Hospitalization, to account code 101.115.5110, Salaries, in the amount of $5,871.30 and from account code 101.115.5220, Hospitalization, to account code 101.115.5482, Cell Phones/Pagers, in the amount of $41.75, for a total of $5,913.05.

Highway Department
ATTACHMENT 1/23/06 I
Meeks moved and Burger seconded a motion to approve the appropriation transfer request from account code 204.310.5387, Discretionary, to account code 204.310.5464, Liability Insurance, in the amount of $2,116.25 and to account code 204.310.5460, Fleet Insurance, in the amount of $204.83, for a total of $2,321.08.

RESOLUTION 06-005, ATTACHED
Meeks moved and Burger seconded a motion to authorize the attached advertisement for Highway Department materials.

Fiscal Office
ATTACHMENT 1/23/06 J
Meeks moved and Burger seconded a motion to pay the bills in the amount of $831,417.82.

ATTACHMENT 1/23/06 K
Meeks moved and Burger seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the January 9, 2006 Board of Trustees meeting.

ATTACHMENT 1/23/06 L
Pizzino moved and Burger seconded a motion to approve the appropriation transfer request from account code 101.110.5387, Discretionary, to account code 101.150.5220, Hospitalization, in the amount of $7,937.04.

ATTACHMENT 1/23/06 M
Meeks moved and Pizzino seconded a motion to request the Stark County Auditor for advance of taxes.

ATTACHMENT 1/23/06 N
Meeks moved and Burger seconded a motion to approve “Then and Now” Purchase Order, MV60228, for Lightning strike damage repairs.

Routine Business
Announcements

• Next regular Board of Trustees meeting, February 13, 2006, 4:00 p.m. Executive Session and/or Work Session, 6:00 p.m., General Session, Township Hall.
• LOGIC, February 2, 2006, 9:00 a.m., Safety Center, Chiefs’ Conference Room.
• CIC, February 15, 2006, 5:30 p.m., Township Hall.
• Board of Zoning Appeals, February 9, 2006, 7:00 p.m., Township Hall.
• Citizens Advisory Committees:
• Community Celebration, February 8, 2006, 6:00 p.m., Township Hall.
• Highway/Traffic, February 15, 2006, 6:30 p.m., Township Hall.
• Park, February 21, 2006, 6:30 p.m., Township Hall.

New Business
ATTACHMENT 1/23/06 O
Meeks moved and Burger seconded a motion not to request a hearing for a liquor license for Yi Ming Zheng, 5111 Fulton Drive NW.

ATTACHMENT 1/23/06 P
Meeks moved and Burger seconded a motion not to request a hearing on name change of liquor license for Hills & Dales Beverage, 4641 Hills & Dales Avenue NW.

ATTACHMENT 1/23/06 Q
Burger moved and Pizzino seconded a motion not to request a hearing for a liquor license for Target Store, 5584 Dressler Road NW.

ATTACHMENT 1/23/06 R
Meeks moved and Burger seconded a motion not to request a hearing for a liquor license for Buckeye Club 3, 9200 Forty Corners Road NW.

Pizzino moved and Meeks seconded a motion to accept a $10.00 donation from George and June Johnson for the Park Tree Fund.

Pizzino moved and Meeks seconded a motion to accept a $250.00 donation from Bray-Camp-Cutler, Ltd. for the Community Celebration Sponsorship.

Pizzino moved and Meeks seconded a motion to accept a $100.00 donation from Southway Fence Company for the Community Celebration Sponsorship.

Pizzino moved and Meeks seconded a motion to accept a $100.00 donation from Stark County Convention & Visitors Bureau for the Community Celebration Sponsorship.

Pizzino moved and Meeks moved a motion to accept a $100.00 donation from Seven Seventeen Credit Union for the Community Celebration Sponsorship.

Public Speaks – Open Forum
Paul Biedenbach, 4865 Andette Ave. NW, Massillon 44647 asked if the Board is backing anyone to investigate becoming a city.

Trustee Meeks has been working on behalf of the Board with Westfield and neighboring communities.  Until all the information has been gathered and talks concluded, any talk of incorporation may be premature.  However, if it is in the interest of the Township to incorporate then a group should be formed and given time to gather facts for and against incorporation.  There have been more inquiries than ever.

Gonzalez added that forming a group was not something the Board could do, that would be up to the public.

Biedenbach suggested placing the Comprehensive Plan in the public library so the public could have access to it without having to go to the expense of purchasing it.
 
The Board will look into the possibility of placing a ‘draft’ copy at the library.

Meeks moved and Burger seconded a motion to adjourn.