Minutes: December 13th, 2011

Catawba Island Township Board of Township Trustees

Meeting Minutes

December 13, 2011

The regular business meeting of the Catawba Island Township Board of Township Trustees was called to order by Chairman Matt Montowski on Tuesday, December 13, at 7:30 p.m. in the conference room.

In attendance were Matt Montowski, William Rofkar, Gary Mortus, Karen Shaw, Dan Barlow,
John Gangway, Ken Williams, and Jim Stouffer.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all followed by a moment of silence for our troops.

Gary Mortus made a motion to approve the November 8 Board of Township Trustees meeting minutes as amended. William Rofkar seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.

The minutes were read from the November 22 meeting of the Board of Township Trustees. Gary Mortus made a motion to approve the November 22 meeting minutes as presented. William Rofkar seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.

William Rofkar made a motion to approve and pay the bills, including the last payroll, in the amount of $53,155.78. Gary Mortus seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.

Correspondence

The following correspondence was received by the township and read:

A letter from the Ottawa County Engineer’s Office regarding rock salt prices.

A call from John Stout who said he received notice regarding mowing his mother’s yard. He said his mower is broken and most likely will not get to it before it snows.

A letter from Ramaker & Associates, Inc regarding our cemetery management software and continued participation in the CIMS Maintenance Program.

A letter from the Hylant group regarding renewal bonds for elected officials Gary Mortus and Karen Shaw. The renewal bonds were also enclosed.

A letter from Palmer Energy Company regarding our administrative fee for our participation in the Residential and Small Commercial Electric Government Aggregation Program. Two checks totaling $480.40 were enclosed for the second and third quarters of 2011.

A letter from Helen Kasper of Frank Gates Service Company regarding enhanced services now available through Frank Gates Managed Care Services.

Maintenance

Maintenance Supervisor Dan Barlow said the leaf vacuum truck has been repaired. He said they made the necessary rebuild repairs in-house at a significant cost savings and in a timelier manner than returning the truck to the manufacturer for repairs.

Fire and Safety

Fire Chief John Gangway said he needs two Trustees to serve on the Volunteer Fire Fighters’ Dependants Fund Board for 2012. He said this year Ernie Wylie and Louis Wargo were elected from the fire department and Ron Bauman volunteered to be the citizen member. John Gangway said he would like the Dependants Fund Board to meet briefly prior to the next Board of Trustees meeting to vote on a chairman.

John Gangway provided final details on remodeling the interior kitchen and office areas of the fire department including prospective contractors.

The Trustees agreed to the remodel and will approve the request and expenditures the first meeting of 2012.

Fiscal

Fiscal Officer Karen Shaw presented the November financial reports and bank reconciliation.

The Trustees approved reimbursements to our Catawba Island Volunteer Fire Department and EMS members in the amount of $200 each for fuel and mileage expenses for 2011 and pay individual member stipends of $100 for firemen, $125 for Firemen/EMT, $175 for Lieutenant, $200 for Captain, and $250 for Chief.

Other Business

Jim Stouffer of the Catawba Island Club introduced Ken Williams, Executive Director of Golf and Marketing for the Catawba Island Club. Jim Stouffer said they are looking for guidance in regard to the upcoming celebration of the Battle of Lake Erie integral to the War of 1812. He said a celebration has been proposed to occur in August of 2013 in the western basin where event planners would like to bring tall ships together to commemorate Commodore Perry’s Victory in the Battle of Lake Erie.

Jim Stouffer said the Catawba Island Club may be interested in participating in the celebration and has put together an internal committee to explore some different concepts. He noted one concept would be to have an event in the township that invites the public within Catawba Island Township to come together as part of the celebration.

A discussion took place regarding options and consideration for participation.

William Rofkar said Police Chief Bob Rogers has made a request to hire a part time police officer and he thinks it is a good idea. William Rofkar said one part time officer is not always available and he thinks it would be better to have two to draw from.

William Rofkar made a motion to hire Nathan Edmonds as a part time police officer. Gary Mortus seconded the motion. Gary Mortus said he is inclined to look at hiring an additional part time officer in the spring as we head into the busy season and not now as we head into the slow season. Matt Montowski said he would like to revisit hiring a part time officer in the spring. William Rofkar said he does not understand why we should delay hiring a part time officer until the spring. He said he considers the request from Chief Rogers important and he feels it is a wise move. Vote on motion: William Rofkar, yes; Gary Mortus, opposed; Matt Montowski, opposed. Motion not carried.


Matt Montowski asked John Gangway if we have ever considered replacing the playground equipment behind the fire station. John Gangway said no as it was purchased by the Women’s Auxiliary and the maintenance department makes any necessary repairs.

Matt Montowski asked Dan Barlow if there is a schedule for repaving township roads. Dan Barlow said no because we have not had a history of doing the program the way we have the last couple years.

Matt Montowski said he would like to see a date placed next to the road, on the schedule provided by the County Engineers Office, as they are resurfaced. Gary Mortus and William Rofkar agreed that township roads are resurfaced as needed based on wear and tear. They said there is not a scheduled rotation for resurfacing township roads.

Dan Barlow said he will follow up with the Engineers’ Office to get the history of resurfaced township roads.

Matt Montowski asked Dan Barlow if the maintenance crew would cut down some of the brush and debris along the causeway entering the township on Route 53.

William Rofkar and Gary Mortus said the causeway is a state road and ODOT is responsible for its maintenance. Dan Barlow said he will call ODOT and ask them to address the issue.

Matt Montowski said two Parks Board members have pesticide licenses in order to spray on public property. He said it costs $35 a year to maintain each of their licenses and every third year they take a class that costs $75. Matt Montowski asked the board if the township would reimburse them for these license fees, classes, and mileage.

A brief discussion took place regarding reimbursement for the Parks Board members.

Matt Montowski said Kathy Jo Schweitzer has handled Records Retention for the City of Port Clinton over the last four years and is now working with Erie Township. He said she works on a contract basis. Matt Montowski asked the Trustees if they would be interested in a presentation at a meeting regarding her work on Records Retention Schedules.

The Trustees agreed they would entertain a presentation at a meeting the first of the year.

The Trustees agreed to discuss their annual reorganization items for 2012 at the end of the next regularly scheduled Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, December 27, at 7:30 p.m.

Gary Mortus made a motion to adjourn the meeting. William Rofkar seconded the motion.
All voted aye. Meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.




______________________________ _____________________________
Matt Montowski, Chairman Karen Shaw, Fiscal Officer

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