Catawba Island Township Board of Township Trustees
Meeting Minutes
December 27, 2022
The regular business meeting of the Catawba Island Board of Township Trustees was called to order by Chairman William Rofkar on Tuesday, December 27, at 6:00 p.m. in the conference room of the administration building.
In attendance were: Diane Belden, William Rofkar, Matt Montowski, Karen Shaw, John Gangway, Kevin Johnson, Dan Barlow, Dave Belden, Lisa Murphy, Cheryl Rose, and Natalie Rose.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all.
Diane Belden made a motion to approve the December 13, 2022 Board of Trustees regular meeting minutes as presented. Matt Montowski seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Matt Montowski made a motion to approve and pay the bills, including the last payroll, in the amount of $101,330.78. The total includes a payment of $24,600 to Barnes Nursery for mulch grinding and a payment of $6,410 to Statewide Ford for the installation of new computers and printers in the police vehicles. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Correspondence
A letter from Chris Scott requesting an additional month of unpaid leave.
William Rofkar made a motion to approve an additional one month unpaid leave for Chris Scott off through the month of January. Matt Montowski seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
A letter from Ohio Insurance Services Agency regarding the ACA Small Employer Reporting Program. The cost is an annual fee of $50 plus $15 per covered employee.
Trustees agreed to continue participation in the ACA Small Employer Reporting Program for the 2022 tax year, service offered through Ohio Insurance Services Agency.
An email from Frank Harmon of Ohio Insurance Agency regarding the township’s participation in the Group Accident Plan and the Benefit Summary packet. As more groups have joined the program the rate will decrease from $5.70 per employee to $5.58 per employee effective January 1, 2023.
An email from Volunteer Firemen’s Insurance Services (VFIS) announcing the new VFIS A&S renewal package will have access to their Member Family Assistance Program (MFAP) designed to support the health and wellness of first responder volunteers, employees, and their workplace.
A letter from LaFarge with updated price increases for 2023 and notification that the initial price increase sheet received had errors for the Marblehead Quarry and Lorain Dock pricing.
Trustees signed the Ohio Department of Transportation 2022 Township Highway Mileage Certification with a total of 12.705 miles.
Fiscal
Matt Montowski made a motion to approve temporary appropriations for 2023 in the amount of $2,718,925 as presented by the Fiscal Officer. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Maintenance
Kevin Johnson said Barnes Nursery completed mulch grinding at the compost facility.
William Rofkar said in the future it will be necessary to include in the contract that drivers are not allowed to haul material away late at night as neighbors complained about the noise.
William Rofkar and Kevin Johnson confirmed the equipment Barnes used for grinding was damaged due to metal contamination and after providing documentation for equipment repair expenses, Barnes will be reimbursed for the necessary repairs in the amount of $1,671.78.
Matt Montowski made a motion to hire Douglas Riggenbach and David Dubber as seasonal snow plow drivers at the casual labor rate effective January 2, 2023. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Police
Police Chief John Gangway said he is working on a quote from Statewide Ford for a new police vehicle in 2023. He said the cost will be significantly higher than the last vehicle purchase with a different body style and likely close to $59,000.
John Gangway said all the new computers and printers have been installed in the vehicles and officers are pleased with the operation of equipment. He said they are coordinating with the Ohio Department of Public Safety and the software the court system uses for the eCitations. John Gangway said they have access to their reporting and I Am Responding.
Diane Belden said Officer Austin Troike recently celebrated his one year service anniversary with the township.
Zoning
Matt Montowski said regarding a zoning variance issued for 2766 E Sand Road a Stop Work Order was issued because a cottage was torn down that was initially only going to have a second story added. He said once the structure was torn down it was no longer an allowable nonconforming use and became a new structure. Matt Montowski said the foundation is only five feet off the property line and new construction needs to be ten feet from the property line. He said building also continued after the Stop Work Order was issued. Matt Montowski said the home owners came in for another zoning variance and it was denied. He said we may here more regarding the issue in the future.
New Business
Diane Belden said the 2023 Volunteer Firefighters’ Dependents Fund Board met earlier in the evening. She said members include Diane Belden as Chairman, William Rofkar, John Gangway as Secretary, Dan Barlow, and they voted to appoint Randy Riedmaier as the community member.
Diane Belden said she attended the Ottawa County Park District meeting with the County Engineer on December 14 as they discussed the feasibility of a Catawba Islander Trail and Greenway. She said Ron Lajti and Craig Miller seemed enthusiastic about the project but had concerns about the proposed crossings. She said they do not want to create crossings but want stops for crossings and to put them on the safest roads.
Diane Belden said the Wreaths Across America ceremony held Saturday, December 17, went very well. She said the weather cooperated and there was a nice turnout for the event.
Reorganization for 2023
Chairman William Rofkar turned the meeting over to Fiscal Officer Karen Shaw for the purpose of electing a Chairman for 2023.
Karen Shaw asked for nominations for Chairman for 2023.
Diane Belden made a motion to appoint Matt Montowski as Chairman for the calendar year 2023. William Rofkar seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried
Karen Shaw declared Matt Montowski Chairman for 2023 and turned the meeting over to him.
Matt Montowski asked for nominations for Vice Chairman for 2023.
William Rofkar made a motion to appoint Diane Belden as Vice Chairman for the calendar year 2023. Matt Montowski seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried
Trustees agreed the bimonthly meeting days will remain on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month but agreed to change the second Tuesday meeting time to 9:00 a.m. while the fourth Tuesday meeting time will remain at 6:00 p.m.
The Trustees agreed to maintain oversight of the following departments in 2023: Matt Montowski, Zoning; Diane Belden, Police and Fire; William Rofkar, Roads, Cemetery and Buildings.
The Trustees agreed Matt Montowski will continue to serve on the Regional Planning Board and
Diane Belden will serve as the alternate. William Rofkar will serve on the Port Clinton City Schools Business Advisory Board. Chairman Matt Montowski will attend the Ottawa County Health Department annual meeting. Diane Belden and William Rofkar continue to serve as Board Members on the Volunteer Fire Fighters’ Dependents Fund Board.
Matt Montowski made a motion to reappoint Bryan Baugh to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a five year term expiring December 2027 and reappoint Flint Heidlebaugh and Rebecca Jessen as BZA alternates for one year terms expiring December 2023. William Rofkar seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Matt Montowski made a motion to reappoint Kevin Howe to the Zoning Commission for a five year term expiring December 2027 and reappoint Bill Barnes and Matt Gottron as Zoning Commission alternates for one year terms expiring December 2023. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Matt Montowski made a motion to continue paying members of the Zoning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals a mileage and meeting allowance of $50 per meeting. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
The Catawba Island Township Zoning Land Use Plan remains in full force and effect through March 24, 2025.
Matt Montowski made a motion to reappoint Reggie Langford, Brad Schwan, Brian Washburn, Jack Madison, and Vicki Wheatley to the Park Board for a one year term through 2023. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Trustees agreed to keep the current zoning fees and community hall rental fees the same for 2023.
Matt Montowski made a motion to increase cemetery fees effective January 1, 2023 as follows:
The cost of a single grave for residents will be $500 and the cost for non-resident $750. The cost for a full vault open and close on a weekday will be $450 and on Saturday $600. The cost for a cremation open and close on a weekday will be $250 and on Saturday $500. A footer will be $300. The cost for disinterment of a cremation will be $250.
Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Diane Belden made a motion to increase the hourly pay rate of all full-time and part-time employees by 10% (full-time employees include five police and four maintenance personnel, part-time employees include Todd Bickley, Patty Wildman, and Ernie Wylie) effective the pay period beginning Monday, January 2, with a pay date of January 18, 2023. William Rofkar seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
William Rofkar made a motion to increase the casual labor wage rate to $20 per hour also effective the pay period beginning Monday, January 2, 2023. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
William Rofkar made a motion to increase the monthly wage for Fire Chief Kevin Gibbons by 10% from $300 to $330 monthly effective January 2023. Matt Montowski seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Matt Montowski made a motion to provide health care coverage for all eligible township employees and elected officials in 2023. William Rofkar seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Matt Montowski made a motion to continue to purchase police uniforms and related items for officers from approved suppliers or reimburse officers for said items with an annual allowance for full-time officers of $650 and part-time officer(s) $250. The unused balance of the annual allowance shall not be carried over from year to year. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Matt Montowski made a motion to follow the IRS mileage reimbursement rate. The IRS mileage rate for 2023 is 65.5 cents per mile. Diane Belden seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried.
Diane Belden made a motion to adjourn the meeting. William Rofkar seconded the motion.
All voted aye. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
___________________________ _____________________________
Matt Montowski, Chairman Karen Shaw, Fiscal Officer