November 2020
NEWTON TOWNSHIP MINUTES 11-10-2020
Newton Township Trustees met in regular session on Tuesday, November 10, 2020. Those in attendance were Jason Taylor, Road Maintenance Employee for the Township; Craig Knox, Fire Chief; Jeffrey Cohen, Assistant Fire Chief; James R. Smith, Robert Stephenson and Derek Dozer; Township Trustees and Paula Frank, Fiscal Officer. Also in attendance was Pat Kelly with Kelly Architectural Services.
Meeting was called to order by Trustee Smith at 6:00 pm.
Pledge to the flag was led by Trustee Stephenson.
Agenda approved.
Minutes Payne Road not Yost Road—uniform clean-up.
Public Participation: Pat Kelly was present to discuss the restroom upgrades, for using the CARES Act money. Discussed quotes from G and M Construction and Stewart Plumbing for the possible upgrades. Craig has had discussion with Mark Zanghi, Muskingum County Prosecutor’s office, and Michael Babcock, with the Muskingum County Auditor’s Office, and both are in agreement that the project is definitely an allowable use of the money. Chief Knox asked the board if they are interested in continuing with the project. Derek made a motion to upgrade the restrooms, asking that the estimate from Stewart Plumbing be broken down a bit more. Bob seconded the motion. Motion carried. Chief Knox will check on permit fee waivers from the County Commissioners / Health Department.
Fire Department Business:
Chief Knox—All water coolers have been installed in the fire department building. E-Mist (electromagnetic sprayer) $4615.00 and $200 in shipping which will kill all germs in the medics and will be CARES Act funded. 3M has P-100 grade filter for firefighter masks. The clip in and filter is $2007.90 plus shipping. They are also looking at coats that will protect against blood-borne pathogens and can be sanitized. This would cost $6,017.25 to purchase these for the rest of the department. They also are looking at air cleansers that mount in the ceiling of each room and uses UV light to cleanse the air and send it back out into the room. These would be $4000 per room. Bunk room, meeting room, trustees meeting room, classrooms.
The board agreed that a better use of the money would be to replace payroll costs back to March 1st, based on a percentage that Chief Knox establishes, as a reasonable figure. Craig will get that information to the Fiscal Officer.
Trustee Smith made a motion to pass a resolution to declare an emergency for the restroom update due to the time constraint to encumber the CARES Act funding. Trustee Stephenson seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Trustee Dozer asked Chief Knox what is being done to keep the department members updated on the happenings in and around the station. He stated that mass emails and texts are being distributed to all members. He also discussed the possibility of having member access to a department website that would give members access to the monthly meeting minutes, for the fire department association.
Craig will be posting the positions open within the department for fulfillment.
Assistant Chief—n/a.
Road Report – Jason Taylor—Discussion regarding the Avondale streets and if we can reach out to the Commissioners about getting the streets fixed, after the sewer job that was performed a while back. Jason has a few more holes on Yost to repair. Catch basin issue on Jenkins Drive—Jason gave him a few options. Derek does not believe the township should be responsible for paying for the catch basin. The property owner should pay for the materials.
Old Business – The board discussed the fact that Old Glory Road to Freedom Lane has not been under the township ownership. Trustee Stephenson has spoken to the Engineers office and they stated that the Township needs to pass a resolution accepting ownership of this portion of the road. Bob Stephenson made a motion to pass resolution to add this portion of Old Glory Road to the township inventory and Derek 2nd the motion. The motion carried.
Trustees Reports:
Stephenson—FEMA Chip seal on roads damaged in 2019—Slack, Workman, Ridgely, E. Darlington< Huggins and Stires. $8,432.95 for stone / $21,200 for oil. Rob Terrill’s records request. Bob has fulfilled his request after many hours.
Fiscal Officer Report:
· Distributed Grassroots Clippings.
· Presented the following resolutions for approval and signatures:
o 16/2020 – To add appropriations to the Coronavirus Fund and the FEMA Fund
o 17/2020 – To extend Old Glory Road
Trustee Smith made a motion to pay bills. Trustee Dozer seconded the motion.
All bills presented were deemed to be valid expenditures and were to be paid as presented.
Next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 6:00 pm at the Fire Department.
Meeting adjourned at 7:10 pm.
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