The regular meeting of the Board of Township Trustees, Newbury Township was called to order at 7:30 p.m., August 19, 2009, with Mr. Snively and Mrs. Blair present.   Minutes of the meetings of August 5, 2009 and August 12, 2009 were approved upon a motion by Mrs. Blair, a second by Mr. Snively, and a unanimous affirmative vote. 

Mrs. Joni Stusek from the Geauga County Department of Community and Economic Development and Zoning Inspector Karen Endres provided an update regarding the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) for the Kiwanis Lake neighborhood.   Mrs. Endres discussed 15 properties that she and Mrs. Stusek had identified as candidates for this program, and presented a slide show with pictures of these properties.  Mrs. Endres said that the Geauga County Building Department would be asked to review these structures to provide additional information as to their condition, with a request to this effect addressed to Chief Building Official Mike Mihalisin to be signed by the Trustees tonight.  Mrs. Stusek said that the initial contacts with some of the property owners have been positive to this point.  She recommended that notification letters be sent via certified mail, and that the wording of the letter be reviewed by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Susan Weiland.  Mr. Bill Majeski asked Mrs. Stusek if neighboring property owners would be given the chance to obtain parcels to enlarge their property where blighted structures are being torn down and there were no plans to build a replacement parcel.  It appears that this may be a possibility if the owner of the blighted structure is agreeable.

Mrs. Blair moved that the board adopt Resolution 2009081904, declaring the properties listed on the resolution document and located in Kiwanis Lake subdivision, Newbury Township, Ohio to have blighted structures as defined by the Neighborhood Stabilization Program grant. and specifying that “A structure is blighted when it exhibits objectively determinable signs of deterioration sufficient to constitute a threat to human health, safety, and public welfare.”  Mr. Snively seconded this motion, which passed by unanimous vote.

Mrs. Marge Hrabak presented a Geauga County Planning Commission report, noting that no subdivisions were reviewed at the last meeting, with one request for a zoning modification to Chester zoning to accommodate a proposed senior housing project. 

At the request of the Fiscal Officer, Mr. Snively moved that the board adopt Resolution 2009081901, a supplemental appropriation to 1000-990-990-0000, Other, Other Financing Uses of $15,052.31 to cover a deduction from the township’s second half property tax settlement, for excess personal property tax previously paid by Saint Gobain.  Mrs. Blair seconded this motion, which passed by unanimous vote.  At the request of the Fiscal Officer, Mr. Snively moved that the board adopt Resolution 2009081902, an appropriation transfer of $2000 from 11000-410-323, Cemeteries – Maintenance to 1000-410-190, Cemeteries – Salaries.   Mrs. Blair seconded this motion, which passed by unanimous vote.  At the request of the Fiscal Officer, Mr. Snively moved that the board adopt Resolution 2009081903, a Resolution accepting the amounts and rates as determined by the Budget Commission and Authorizing the Necessary tax levies and certifying them to the County Auditor.  Mrs. Blair seconded this motion, which passed by unanimous vote.

At 8:00 p.m. a meeting of the Newbury Township Records Commission was called to order by Mr. Snively   Mr. Lair explained that the Records Commission for a township consists by statute of the Chairman of the Board of Township Trustees, and the township Fiscal Officer.  The decision was made to appoint Marcia Mansfield as Secretary of the Records Commission.  Mr. Lair explained to the audience that a listing of the various records held by the township had been prepared, including a column specifying the retention period recommended by the Ohio Historical Society.  Mr. Lair recommended that he, Mr. Snively, and Mrs. Mansfield review this list and decide upon a record series numbering system to uniquely identify each individual record type.  It was announced that a work session to handle this process outside of a regular meeting would be scheduled in the next month or so, with a press release to the media provided to allow proper notice to citizens interested in attending.  Once this list was finalized, it would be forwarded to the Ohio Historical Society for approval.  Future Records Commission meetings would be primarily concerned with identifying township documents that had met their retention period requirements and had been identified for disposal.  A document to request disposal would have to be approved at the Records Commission meeting and submitted to the Ohio Historical Society for approval. The Records Commission meeting was closed at 8:13 p.m.

Roger Davis, the Business/Finance Officer of the Newbury American Legion presented a new lease for the township building used by the Legion, with a one-year term and five one-year renewal options.  Mr. Snively moved that the board execute this lease; Mrs. Blair seconded this motion, which passed by unanimous vote.  Mr. Snively remarked that the Legion has been a very good tenant.

Mr. Snively reported that a closeout report had been received from the County Engineer for the Arbor Trail repaving project, with a final cost of  $107,727 versus $112,375 for the bid award.

Mr. Snively remarked that the township had held previous discussions regarding the need to coordinate activities for township recreation with the School Board.  He stated that the township had committed in the past that the property directly north of the school would be kept free of any structures to provide for the possibility that the school might eventually need to expand its facility.  Mr. Snively said that he had met informally with Newbury Superintendent Richard Wagner on August 18^th with whom he found a lot of common ground in the idea that the school and the township properties are both held for the interest of the people of Newbury, with the Joint Recreation Board acting as a good intermediary between the school and the township.  Mr. Wagner asked Mr. Snively to send him a draft document that could serve as the basis for an agreement regarding the use of the properties held by the school and the township.  The goal would be to preserve access to recreational facilities currently located on school property, no matter what might happen to the school itself.  Additionally, it was agreed that the eventual document should reflect the concept the township would agree not to build permanent structures or otherwise make it difficult or impossible for the school to expand on the southwestern part of Oberland Park should such expansion be warranted.  Once the draft document has been reviewed and modified to the satisfaction of both parties, it would then be reviewed by the Assistant County Prosecutors representing the school and the township for modification to meet any legal requirements.

Mr. Snively reported that First Energy was completing the street light addition at the intersection of Addington Court and Bell Rd, at an estimated total cost to the township of under $1,500, versus the original $2,000 not-to-exceed figure.  Mrs. Blair stated that this streetlight would improve safety in the area.

This meeting was adjourned at 8:36 p.m., upon a motion by Mrs. Blair, a second by Mr. Snively, and a unanimous affirmative vote.

__________________________________  ___________________________________    

David Snively – Chairman                                          Jan Blair – Vice Chairman

__________________________________  ___________________________________

William Skomrock, Jr.                                                 David Lair – Fiscal Officer

__________________________________  ___________________________________    

David Snively – Chairman                                          Jan Blair – Vice Chairman

__________________________________  ___________________________________

William Skomrock, Jr.                                                 David Lair – Fiscal Officer