Minutes: January 5th, 2010

CATAWBA ISLAND TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES
REORGANIZATIONAL MEETING – JANUARY 5, 2010

The 2010 reorganizational meeting was called to order by chairman William Rofkar at 7:00 p.m. on January 5, 2010 in the conference room.

In attendance: William Rofkar, Gary Mortus, Matt Montowski, Pat Cerny, Dan Barlow, John Gangway, Bob Rogers, Karen Shaw and
Suzanne Ritzman from the Census Bureau.

William Rofkar turned the meeting over to Pat Cerny Township Fiscal Officer as presiding officer and Pat Cerny asked for nominations for chairman of the Board of Township Trustees. William Rofkar made a motion to appoint Gary Mortus as Chairman and Matt Montowski as Vice-chairman for 2010 seconded by Gary Mortus. All voted aye. The meeting was then turned over to Gary Mortus, Chairman.

Matt Montowski made a motion to pass a resolution to keep the time and day of the regular Trustees’ meetings the same. Second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the conference room seconded by William Rofkar. All voted aye.

Trustees duties: Gary Mortus: Roads, Cemetery, Buildings
Matt Montowski: Zoning
William Rofkar: Police and Fire.

Matt Montowski: Regional Planning Rep.
Gary Mortus: Alternate to Regional Planning

Dependents Board: William Rofkar and Matt Montowski.
Citizen member: Ron Bauman
Firemen: Dan Barlow and Karl Busby
Secretary: Matt Montowski

The Cemetery fees will remain the same. William Rofkar would like to change the flush headstones in the East section of the cemetery to raised headstones. The preference of the people is for a raised monument. The thought behind the flush stones was the perpetual care. William Rofkar made a motion to allow raised monuments in the East section of the cemetery that was restricted previously seconded by Matt Montowski. Gary Mortus stated this will cause a burden in the future with the cost of the care. William Rofkar, aye; Matt Montowski, aye; Gary Mortus, nay.

The Community Hall rates will remain the same.

Zoning Commission: William Rofkar made a motion to appoint Paul Patterson to the Zoning Commission for another five year term seconded by Matt Montowski. All voted aye. Gary Mortus made a motion to appoint Jordan Davenport to fill the unexpired term of Matt Montowski through December 2010 seconded by William Rofkar. All voted aye. Pat Cerny stated she has received names for alternates to the zoning boards. This will be discussed at the next meeting.

The Board of Zoning Appeals: The Trustees will discuss two members of the Board of Zoning Appeals at the next meeting.

The zoning rates will be looked into at another meeting.

Gary Mortus made a motion to pay the IRS mileage rate of fifty cents a mile for out of township business seconded by Matt Montowski. All voted aye.

William Rofkar made a motion to pay the Ohio Edison bill for the year 2010 seconded by Matt Montowski. William Rofkar, aye, Matt Montowski, aye; Gary Mortus, abstain.

William Rofkar made a motion to increase the wages 3% for full-time employees. Gary Mortus stated before a decision is made, all of the employees do a very good job and they should be aware of the economy and the people that have been hurt by it and to be aware their complete health care is paid for. William Rofkar stated he thinks the part-time police officers should be paid $15.00 per hour. William Rofkar made a motion to increase our full time employee pay rates 3%
including William Fritz seconded by Matt Montowski. All voted aye.

William Rofkar made a motion to pay our part-time police officers $15.00 per hour seconded by Matt Montowski. All voted aye.
William Rofkar made a motion to increase Karen Shaw’s hourly pay to $9.50 per hour seconded by Mat Montowski. All voted aye. William Rofkar made a motion to increase the casual labor rate to $12.00 per hour seconded by Matt Montowski. All voted aye.

The Zoning Board members meeting rate will remain at $50.00 per meeting.

Gary Mortus stated the Township Trustees pay schedule controlled by the Ohio Revised Code will remain the same which is calculated by the appropriations.

William Rofkar made a motion to accept the temporary appropriations in the amount of $310,733.90 seconded by Matt Montowski. All voted aye.

William Rofkar made a motion to continue with our present health care program seconded by Matt Montowski. All voted aye.
A meeting will be set up for the employees and their families with
Frank Harmon from the Ohio Insurance Service Agency.

Suzanne Ritzman, from the Census Bureau, is requesting the use of the Community Hall for a week in April for training the enumerators.
Ms. Ritzman was advised of the parking issue because of clean-up week. The Trustees do not have a problem with this as long as they stay aware of the parking situation.

Juice Spreader: A quote was received fcr a smaller tank for $955.00 from Agro. William Rofkar made a motion purchase to approve the purchase of through Agro Chem. the purchase of a 25 gallon tank as quoted and a 65 gallon tank as quoted and two containers of the liquid beet de-icer not to exceed $5500.00 seconded by Matt Montowski. Matt Montowski, aye; William Rofkar, aye; Gary Mortus, aye.

Robert Rogers stated he would like to replace the video cameras with digital cameras in the police cruisers for a price of $11,000.00 and $3000.00 to upgrade the computer system and new software and replace the printer with a color printer at a price of $1000.00. He would like to have these requests considered in the budget planning.
Matt Montowski asked about the OVI fund to purchase cameras. This fund can be used to purchase the cameras as DUI fines go into this fund.

Robert Rogers also stated he has been working with the State Park in regard to the ice fisherman as last year there was a parking problem. The Community Hall parking can be used as long as there are no rentals for the weekend.

John Gangway, Fire Chief, stated the Department responded to 320 calls. Research is being done on new turn-out gear and helmets.
The cost to outfit one employee is $3000.00 from head to toe. The Township gives the fire department employees a gas allowance ($200.00 per person) and a minimal rank pay and they are insured and covered by Worker’s Compensation.

Dan Barlow, Maintenance, stated in two years the Case Tractor will need to be replaced as it is 23 years old and the parts are difficult to obtain. Dan Barlow requested a cut-off saw for $800.00 and a diamond blade for $120.00. There are a lot of variable uses with this saw. Dan Barlow also requested a portable Honda generator at the cost of $1159.00 with a 2000 watt surge and 1600 running lot capability. These items can be purchases from Bill’s Implements.
The purchases were approved.

Dan Barlow would like to look into setting up an account with Lowes for materials. Maintenance projects are extremely expensive
due to the high cost of materials in this area and the purchases at Lowes would be for saving on large projects. Dan will look into Lowes, Mennards, etc. and check if they deal with local government.

William Rofkar stated he would like to see the Department heads attending the Trustee meetings as much as possible but, at least one Trustee meeting a month. Gary Mortus agreed and stated they should be compensated for attending with an hourly wage. Matt Montowski and William Rofkar stated they appreciate having the Departments represented and having the information exchange and allowing decisions on purchases to be made faster without confusion. Gary Mortus stated a quarterly report will also be given to each department to see where their dollars are or are not.

William Rofkar would like the reading of the minutes at the business meetings. William Rofkar also would like e-mail addresses established for the Department heads.

William Rofkar stated there is a meeting the Ottawa Seneca Sandusky Solid Waste District on Thursday, January 7th to discuss funding that is available in June.

William Rofkar stated we need a parking plan from Marine Max as the township had requested or appropriate action will have to be taken. The other case in the center of the island needs to be looked at further.

Gary Mortus stated he has provided Pat and Karen with a link to post and update minutes for Trustee and Zoning Boards to allow us to submit the approved minutes to the website.

A Catawba Island Township stamper will be purchased for stamping cemetery deeds and important papers.

William Rofkar made a motion to adjourn seconded by Matt Montowski. All voted aye. 8:50 p.m.

Chairman_________________Fiscal Officer________________