December 5, 2005
The meeting was called to order by Chairman John A. Eberly. Miss Chelsea Buckley, a Notre Dame Cathedral Latin High School student, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Auburn Firemen, Mark Lewis and Jeff Renner, came to the meeting in the new Squad in order to show it off to the trustees and any member of the public who wished to tour it.
GUEST SPEAKER: Mr. Dino DiSanto, District Director for Representative Steven LaTourette, was present to discuss Auburn’s ZIP code status. He reported that for the past 31/2 to 4 years, that office has been working with postal officials to try to reduce the number of ZIP codes servicing us. The best the post office will do at this time is eliminating Aurora (44202). Since that only services about 16 households, the trustees do not believe it is fair to those few households to undergo a change while the bulk of the township is still divided among 4 other ZIP codes.
Mr. DiSanto suggested a meeting to include the trustees with the postal officials and the trustees would be happy to meet with them. Mr. DiSanto will arrange it.
Motion by Patrick Cavanagh seconded by John Eberly to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of November 21, 2005 as presented. VOTE: McCune, abstain; Cavanagh, yes; Eberly, yes. The motion passed.
REPORTS:
Frank Kitko, Jr., Zoning Inspector, presented the following report for the month of November, 2005:
Agricultural/Other Exemptions
1
Commercial New
1
Denial
2
Pond
1
Residential Accessory Building under 160 Square Feet
1
Residential Accessory Building over 160 Square Feet
1
Residential Addition
1
Residential Signs Temporary Building Construction
1
Residential Signs Subdivisions
1
Single Family Dwelling
2
Variance/Conditional Use
2
TOTAL FOR MONTH
14
The zoning office spent a lot of time visiting building sites to encourage the builders and developers to apply mulch on disturbed sites.
In response to standing water in a ditch on Mr. Juh’s property on Ravenna Road, Mr. Kitko visited the site three times as well as county and ODOT personnel. A letter will be sent to Mary Lambert requesting permission to go on her property (if she does not address the issue herself) to deepen a swale to help avoid silt build up which is contributing to the standing water.
The zoning inspector meeting hosted by Auburn Township went very well and was well attended. A tentative schedule for next year was set up. Mr. McCune pointed out that Frank Kitko initiated the meetings and that interaction between the zoning inspectors of the county is invaluable.
When asked about development at The Corners, Mr. Kitko stated that Steve Ciciretto will go before the Board of Appeals regarding a lot coverage issue. His project is on both B-2 and B1A zoning lots. Mr. Kitko was asked about and stated that he is working on a sliding scale for Planned Business Developments.
Mr. David Wilmot, Road Superintendent, was not present but left a report. He has met with county engineers and discussed road projects for next year with the trustees. The trustees again discussed projects they would like to address next year – Derbyshire, White Oaks and Stafford were discussed. The trustees discussed cement stabilization of the roads and that now that new roads being installed have cement mixed in, the roads will last longer. The trustees agreed they will decide on chip seal projects and get the list to the county for estimates by the first half of January, 2006.
Jeff Renner, President of the Auburn Volunteer Fire Department, presented the following report: 39 calls were handled for November, 2005 with 5 of them covered by station staffing (12.82%). The number of calls is about the same as the last few years.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Mr. Sam Sotera asked if the trustees can not accept a road from the County if they are not happy with it or if it is breaking up. The trustees responded that once we accept a road, it is ours to maintain and that they do not have the choice of not accepting one.
Miss Chelsea Buckley asked what cement stabilization is. The trustees responded that cement is put into the road base, making it much more stable and with a better road surface.
Gene McCune announced the arrival of Gregory Robert Bores at 9 pounds, 6 ounces and his first grandchild.
He congratulated John Eberly and Mike Troyan on their election as trustees. He also stated that while he is a personal friend of the other candidates for Township Clerk, he supported Susan Plavcan and congratulated her on her victory.
A check in the amount of $949.76 was received from the Cuyahoga County Auditor for estate tax distribution.
Motion by Eugene McCune, Jr. seconded by Patrick Cavanagh to transfer the $949.76 collected as estate taxes from the General Fund to the Land Acquisition Fund. VOTE: McCune, yes; Cavanagh, yes; Eberly, yes. The motion passed.
Mr. McCune noted that the funds that have been transferred to the Land Acquisition Fund from estate tax collection, is money that has been put to very good uses; namely, Adam Hall and the Cathan farm purchase. They will be long enjoyed by the residents of Auburn Township.
Patrick J. Cavanagh reported that he met with Mr. Button of Kinetico and they looked at the water situation at Adam Hall. Mr. Button took water samples and will notify us as to the results.
Mr. Cavanagh spoke with Commissioner Bill Young about the general meeting of NOPEC and the next year will see some important work being done to try to replace Green Mountain as a source of electricity.
Mr. Cavanagh reported an alarm ringing at Adam Hall. It was a furnace sensor. After a discussion, the trustees suggested a key box or rack be purchased and installed in the mechanical room at Adam Hall with all keys plainly marked.
John Eberly spoke to the bank that has taken over the management and running of The Arctic Freeze ice skating arena. The trustees would like to see it remain operating but it seems to be too small to generate enough money to effectively run.
Mr. Eberly spoke with Dr. Robert Lee, Kenston School Superintendent about the Auburn School. Eventually, the Friendship Alliance Church, currently using the building, will be moving to a new location. The trustees will have the decision to make as to taking over the school or not. It is a nice property in a good location but historically in the county, the purchase of these old school buildings have not been a good investment.
Susan Plavcan, Clerk, presented warrants for signatures. She presented each trustee with a copy of the current financials. She announced that she attended a Uniform Accounting Network GASB 34 update in Columbus on November 30, 2005. The all day seminar given by the Auditor of State’s office dealt with the new guidelines necessary to present financial statements and spreadsheets during the audit process.
The trustees were given a ballot and candidates from which to choose to vote for a Board of Director member for OTARMA. The trustees selected Frank Gliha who is a Munson Township trustee and very qualified to serve on the Board.Ms. Plavcan gave a bond form to trustee elect, Mike Troyan, for processing.
Ms. Plavcan presented an Amended Rate Resolution which reflects the total millage that will be colleted in Tax Year 2005 (2006 Collection Year) for the township. The resolution has been amended to reflect the replacement of our 1.00 Mill Road levy which passed in November, 2005.
Motion by Eugene McCune, Jr. seconded by John Eberly to accept the Amended Rate Resolution from the County Auditor as presented. VOTE: McCune, yes; Cavanagh, yes; Eberly, yes. The motion passed.
OLD BUSINESS:
The trustees decided to table the decision on the grass reseeding of Taylor May Road until the next meeting.
Mr. Eberly has had two meetings with Wheeler Landscaping and they are developing a plan for landscaping for Adam Hall. We are very thankful for their help and their donation of this wonderful gift.
NEW BUSINESS:
The trustees signed a cemetery deed and the cemetery deed book left for them by Loretta Seashols, the cemetery sexton.
The trustees discussed the Cathan farm purchase with the help of The Chagrin River Land Conservancy. Mark Skowronski, Director of Land Protection, had sent two replacement pages cleaning up the contract language on pages 7 and 8. This was discussed.
Motion by John A. Eberly seconded by Patrick J. Cavanagh approving the replacement pages numbered 7 and 8 from the Chagrin River Land Conservancy contract regarding the purchase of the Cathan farm approving the changes of 15 to 25 acres for active use and keeping the infrastructure coverage at no more than 3 acres. VOTE: McCune, yes; Cavanagh, yes; Eberly, yes. The motion passed.
It is time to begin getting the funding together. The trustees will sell the property, about 14 acres, to the south of the freeway and behind Adam Hall and eventually sell the house next door to Adam Hall to put into the Cathan farm park. We need to pay the Conservancy by July 1, 2007. The conservancy is working on getting us a $50,000 grant. It will not be able to be used for the actual purchase but may be used for fences, fields, drives, etc. Mr. Cavanagh is pursuing an ODOT grant and will report on his progress.
The Board received an invoice for dues for 2006 from The Chagrin River Watershed Partners in the amount of $750.00. The trustees said that what we get from them is tremendous expertise. It is a great investment for the Township to be a part of the Chagrin River Watershed Partners.
Motion by Eugene McCune, Jr. seconded by John Eberly to remain associated with the Chagrin River Watershed Partners, Inc. and pay $750.00 for dues for 2006. VOTE: McCune, yes; Cavanagh, yes; Eberly, yes. The motion passed.
Mr. Eberly thanked Gene McCune for his service to the Township over the past 12 years and for all that he has accomplished. Mr. McCune said that there have been some great times and he accomplished four very important goals that he had set. He was happy to have been able to hire back Frank Kitko, who is the most knowledgeable and respected zoning inspector in the County, and to have hired Jane Hardy back. He is very proud of being a part of Adam Hall and the Cathan farm. These accomplishment will be a wonderful legacy.
Motion by Gene McCune to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Patrick Cavanagh. VOTE: McCune, yes; Cavanagh, yes; Eberly, yes. The motion passed. The meeting was adjourned.