The regular meeting of the Board of Township Trustees, Newbury Township was called to order at 7:30 p.m., December 2, 2009, with Mr. Skomrock and Mrs. Blair present.   Minutes of the meeting of November 18, 2009 were approved upon a motion by Mr. Skomrock, a second by Mrs. Blair, and a unanimous affirmative vote. 

Chagrin River Watershed Partners Director Amy Brennan provided a description of their mitigation credit program, starting with a historical overview.  They are seeking a grant to create a Chagrin River mitigation program with a goal to keep mitigation credit utilization primarily concentrated in this area.  Restoration, creation, enhancement, and preservation of wetlands can all occur in the generation of mitigation credits.  The CRWP seeks to create an “umbrella” bank that would handle coordination and approval of several sites within the Chagrin River watershed.  The specific area of interest in Newbury would be preservation of existing wetlands in an 11.9-acre section of Oberland Park and around Kiwanis Lake.   In this area, only preservation and enhancement activities appear feasible.  Estimated overall income potential for this project net of costs for required for design, survey, easement, and administrative costs is $226,050.  Because of the timeframe required to both handle the required up-front activities and  sell the credits, this project would take a number of years to realize a return on the township's income.

In answer to Mr. Skomrock's question, Ms. Brennan confirmed that all paperwork required for this process would be handled by the CRWP, with the administrative costs of this work to be deducted from the revenues received when credits for township property are sold.  It was recognized that areas for which credits were received were subject to control as a conservation easement, thus restricting future activity on that property to relatively low impact actions such as sap gathering.  As to the costs involved, it is hoped that the grant being applied for from Ohio Water Development Authority and the Ohio Lake Erie Commission would cover up-front expenses.  Mr. Skomrock expressed his interest in exploring the program, primarily because it could provide a source of funding to help provide for future maintenance for Oberland Park.  Mrs. Blair expressed her appreciation for Ms. Brennan's presentation and along with Mr. Skomrock voiced her support for CRWP proceeding forward with the preliminary steps for this project. 

At 8:17 p.m., a meeting of the Township Records Commission was convened, with Mrs. Mansfield and Mr. Lair present.  The first order of business was to nominate a chairman for the township Records Commission.  Mr. Lair moved that Mr. Snively be appointed to this position; Mrs. Mansfield seconded this motion, which passed by unanimous vote. The second order of business was to review and approve the township records series summary as prepared by Mrs. Mansfield.  The trustees briefly reviewed the RC-2 document which specifies the 84 record series currently identified by the township.   Mr. Lair moved that the records series be approved as presented and forwarded to the Ohio Historical Society for review and final approval.  Mrs. Mansfield seconded this motion, which passed by unanimous vote and concluded this meeting of the Township Records Commission at 8:26 p.m.

Mr. Lair reported that the November bank reconciliation had been completed and provided a summary of November financial activity.

Mr. Zimperman reported that the electrical problem experienced at the Legion Hall property appeared to be due primarily to a loose ground wire behind the electrical meter.  Road activity reported included painting of truck #36 bed, frame, and undercarriage, adjusting of headstones disturbed by lawn mowing activity, repair of the cab assembly on one of the big trucks, repair of lights on outside of garage building, modified asphalt repair on Lucky Bell Lane, replacement of damaged/stolen street signs, installation of all plows on trucks, and set up of Christmas lights. 

Fire Department activity reported by Mr. Zimperman included 38 calls for November, vehicle maintenance, and notice that Santa Day would be on December 13^th.

Mrs. Endres said that the Engineer's office wanted to know how the township wanted to handle the removal of address records for properties with the structures being removed as part of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program project in Kiwanis Lake.  The trustees felt that addresses should remain for those properties where a replacement structure might be built.  Mrs. Endres said that she had met with the Engineer's office regarding vacations of roads within Kiwanis Lake.  It was reported that the Steven Douglas Corporation would like to amend their existing judgment entry to allow for expansion of their driveway apron to better accommodate maneuvering of the large trucks that visit their facility.   Mrs. Endres also provided an overall NSP grant report, with 3 cottages and 1 accessory building demolished to date. 

Mr. Skomrock presented a cemetery report as provided to him by Ann Wishart.  Mrs. Blair expressed her appreciation of the work required to maintain the cemetery records, both by Mrs. Phillips in the past and Ms. Wishart currently.

Mrs. Blair presented a brief Sheriff’s report for November, noting that there had been 168 calls, mostly traffic-related.  Mrs. Blair presented a summary of the workers' compensation premium projection, which indicates a declining premium for the next two years.  Mrs. Blair reported that Burnham and Flower is sending township healthcare bids out to six companies and that Sean Sprouse will be here for the 12/16 meeting.

The trustees decided to move the time of the December 23rd Year-End meeting to 1pm, following the employee Christmas luncheon. 

Mr. Skomrock moved that the township not request a hearing by the Department of Liquor Control regarding a permit application by the Geauga County Democratic Party; Mrs. Blair seconded this motion, which passed by unanimous vote.

Mr. Skomrock moved to adjourn to executive session at 9:20 to discuss personnel issues.  Mrs. Blair seconded this motion, which passed by unanimous vote.  The board returned to regular session at 9:40 with no action taken

This meeting was adjourned at 9:41 p.m., upon a motion by Mr. Skomrock, a second by Mrs. Blair, and a unanimous affirmative vote.

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David Snively – Chairman                                          Jan Blair – Vice Chairman

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William Skomrock, Jr.                                                            David Lair – Fiscal Officer