December 2019
NEWTON TOWNSHIP MINUTES 12-13-2019
Newton Township Trustees met in regular session on Wednesday, December 11, 2019. Those in attendance were Jason Taylor, Road Maintenance Employee for the Township; Paula Frank incoming Fiscal Officer; Stottsberry and Scott Frank Township residents; James R. Smith and Robert Stephenson, Charles R. Elson, Township Trustees and Derek Dozer, Fiscal Officer.
Meeting was called to order by Trustee Elson at 6:00pm.
Pledge to the flag was led by Randy Elson.
Agenda approved.
Minutes were approved as presented.
Public Participation: None.
Fire Department Business:
Nobody present.
Road Report – Jason Taylor
Maintenance on hoe and trucks.
Working on FEMA.
Old Business - None.
Mr. Fracker in Ironspot. Trustee Stephenson tried to resolve the problem and could not come to resolution. Rucker Rd status is still up in the air.
New Business - Faithful Performance Resolution 12-11-19-1 was approved and signed.
Trustees Reports: - None.
Fiscal Officer Reports
FO Dozer and newly elected FO Frank were approved to attend the 2020 Township Winter Conference as previously approved. Payment registers, appropriations, fund status reports, grass roots clippings received. All bills presented were deemed to be valid expenditures and were to be paid as presented.
Next regular meeting will be held in January. A closing the books meeting will be held on December 26th at 6:00pm at the Fire Department.
Meeting adjourned at 6:40pm
NEWTON TOWNSHIP MINUTES – 12-26-2019
Newton Township Trustees met to close out business for the year 2019, close the books for same, and organize for 2020. Those in attendance were; Craig Knox, Assistant Chief of Fire Department; Paula Frank, incoming Fiscal Officer; James R. Smith, and Bob Stephenson, Township Trustees and Derek Dozer, Fiscal Officer.
There was no public participation or other business to open.
Knox presented the Fire Department budget for 2020.
Incoming funds are down and runs are down in 2019 which makes the budget less for 2020. The budget for 2020 is $740,940 in revenue. Presented the suggested pay changes and changes to contracted services. Suggested paying some of the utilities and other expenses from other funds.
*O.T.A. Conference is scheduled for 2020. Derek Dozer and incoming Fiscal Officer Paula Frank are scheduled to attend and all elected officials are encouraged to attend. Reservations need to be made soon for the conference and housing.
*Trustees to represent the township at JEDD meetings; Bob Stephenson agreed to continue in this position.
*Trustee to chair the township meetings for the year 2020 was agreed to be covered by Trustee Smith.
*Trustee Stephenson moved maximum amount of any super-blanket certificate to be opened by the officer shall not exceed $10,000.00. This motion was seconded by Trustee Smith.
*It was moved by Trustee Stephenson to pay the Fiscal Officer based on average amount of work done and percentage of budget within each fund. The current percentage taken from each fund will be Fire 2281 and/or 2291 – 40%, Road 2031 and/or Road District – 30%, General – 30%. The Trustees will continue to be paid from the Road & Bridge and/or Road District and General Funds and will continue to track their hours and turning them in as needed to verify Road/Bridge applicability. We will pay all full time road employees from the Road and Bridge Fund and/or the Road District Funds. Part time road employees if needed will be paid from the Gasoline or Road and Bridge Funds or Road District funds. This motion was seconded by Smith.
Budgets were submitted for Fire and EMS for 2020 by Assistant Chief Craig Knox.
*The following wages were discussed and raises were made accordingly;
Larry Taylor currently is making $17.25 / hour, and will continue to make $17.50 / hour in 2020.
Jason Taylor currently is making $17.25 /hour, he will make $17.50 / hour in 2020.
Jason Taylor is now the Road Maintenance Supervisor.
Diana Latier; fire department custodian is currently receiving $475.00 per month with a cap of 30 hours / month unless otherwise approved. Latier will make $475.00 per month in 2020. Latier is expected to work a minimum of 6 hours each given week, unless extenuating circumstances prohibit it.
Jeff Swingle; part-time Road Maintenance will be paid $14.75 /hour in 2020.
Travis Lyon will continue to be employed to mow the cemeteries. Travis will be paid $13.25 per hour in 2020. The Township will continue to pay the Kimpel family $300 per year to maintain Goshen cemetery.
Allen Deaver; Fire Chief will receive $850.00 a month until he retires July 1st 2020.
Craig Knox; EMS coordinator receives $800.00 per month currently. Knox will continue to receive $800 per month in 2020.
FF wages are currently at : FF = $11.00, EMT = 13.00, Medic = $15.00. Wages adjustments will be considered in the 1st Quarter of 2020.
New Year’s Day, Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s Eve Day will continue to be paid at double time for the Fire/EMS employees working on those holidays.
Motion was made by Smith to accept the above, second by Stephenson. Both agreed.
*All elected officials will continue to receive a $70.00 cell phone allowance per month (effective 1/1/2016); moved by Trustee Stephenson, seconded by Trustee Smith. Both agreed.
*Health coverage for road employees & elected officials will remain the same in 2020. Smith and Stephenson agreed.
*All township meetings will held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month with the following dates put in place. January 14; February 11; March 10; April 14; May 12, June 9, July 14, Aug 11, Sept 08, Oct 13, Nov 10 and Dec 08, 2020, with closing of the books to occur on Thursday, Dec 29, 2020. All meetings will begin at 6:00 pm in the township meeting room. Any variance from this will be posted on the “Marquee” in front of the fire department, on the front door, on the Township’s website, and/or will be noted in the local newspaper.
All books were noted to be in order and will be closed. There are a number of recurring bills that must be paid in the next 7-10 days due in early January. The next regular meeting of the board will be held on January 14, 2020 in the township meeting room at 6pm the fire department.
Meeting adjourned at 6:50pm.
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