Township trustees disagree on legal fees
DeMichael objects to fee paid for counsel
Medina Township Trustees (from left) Ken DeMichael, Bill Ostmann and Ray Jarrett disagree about the value of the township’s legal advisor. Photo by GLENN WOJCIAK
Photo by GLENN WOJCIAK Karen Fisher appeals to Medina Township residents to sign up for a new emergency alert services offered by the Medina County Emergency Management Agency.
MEDINA TOWNSHIP – Bill Thorne’s role as legal counsel for Medina Township was called into question again at the Nov. 30 meeting of township trustees.
Trustee Ken DeMichael voted no when the issue of paying Thorne’s $3,000 monthly retainer came up for a vote. However, the resolution was approved by a 2-1 vote when trustees Bill Ostmann and Ray Jarrett approved payment of Thorne’s fee along with other bills that came before the township board of trustees for approval.
DeMichael said he was unhappy that Thorne had not provided trustees an itemized breakdown of the legal services he performed for the township, an issue he raised at an earlier trustees meeting. Thorne told trustees Nov. 2 that he could produce an itemized invoice but did not do so afterward.
Thorne told trustees he did not itemize the services he provides because he did not receive a request from trustees to produce that invoice, only DeMichael’s opinion that an invoice was in order.
“Residents ask me what does our counsel do for us to earn the money we pay him,” DeMichael said. “I can’t give them an answer.”
Indeed, Huffman Road resident Jeff Johnson spoke up during the meeting to say township residents deserved an invoice to know what Thorne does for the township.
Ostmann and Jarett voted to hire Thorne for $30,000 earlier this year partly because they felt they were not getting an adequate response to their legal questions from the office of new County Prosecutor Forrest Thompson. DeMichael opposed hiring Thorne.
Most townships in Medina County rely on the county prosecutor’s office for free legal advice, however, Lafayette Township has a similar arrangement with Thorne and both Montville and Sharon townships regularly pay attorneys for legal advice.
Thorne is experienced at what he does since he advised township trustees in his capacity as an assistant county prosecutor before retiring last year. He also said it is a common practice for townships to hire their own attorneys in many other counties.
New firemen
Medina Fire Chief Bob Painter told township trustees his department hired three new volunteer firemen, raising the total of new hires to 12 in the last six weeks. Painter said six of the new firemen were volunteers for the Medina Township Fire Department before it was disbanded earlier this fall when the township entered into a contract with the Medina Fire Department to serve the township.
Painter also said the new firemen have enabled him to put back in service the fire station behind the Medina Township administration building.
Preserving Weymouth
Brian Feron reported to township trustees that the Weymouth Preservation Society will be exhibiting antique toys at its museum through May.
He also reported that the society delivered five house plaques to historic homes and is working on seven more including plaques for the Weymouth gas station and one of the one-room schoolhouses.
Emergency notification
Karen Fisher, a volunteer at the Medina County Health Department, encouraged township residents to sign up for emergency alerts through the Medina County Emergency Management Agency.
She said a new wireless emergency notification service is in place which provides individualized text, voice and email warnings about a variety of alerts generated by the National Weather Service and local safety forces.
Fisher said the service is especially useful to people with disabilities since it will make emergency personnel aware of any special needs they have during an alert, such as a recent power outage in Brunswick. People can learn more about the service and signup at the website www.medinacountyema.org.
Trustee Ken DeMichael voted no when the issue of paying Thorne’s $3,000 monthly retainer came up for a vote. However, the resolution was approved by a 2-1 vote when trustees Bill Ostmann and Ray Jarrett approved payment of Thorne’s fee along with other bills that came before the township board of trustees for approval.
DeMichael said he was unhappy that Thorne had not provided trustees an itemized breakdown of the legal services he performed for the township, an issue he raised at an earlier trustees meeting. Thorne told trustees Nov. 2 that he could produce an itemized invoice but did not do so afterward.
Thorne told trustees he did not itemize the services he provides because he did not receive a request from trustees to produce that invoice, only DeMichael’s opinion that an invoice was in order.
“Residents ask me what does our counsel do for us to earn the money we pay him,” DeMichael said. “I can’t give them an answer.”
Indeed, Huffman Road resident Jeff Johnson spoke up during the meeting to say township residents deserved an invoice to know what Thorne does for the township.
Ostmann and Jarett voted to hire Thorne for $30,000 earlier this year partly because they felt they were not getting an adequate response to their legal questions from the office of new County Prosecutor Forrest Thompson. DeMichael opposed hiring Thorne.
Most townships in Medina County rely on the county prosecutor’s office for free legal advice, however, Lafayette Township has a similar arrangement with Thorne and both Montville and Sharon townships regularly pay attorneys for legal advice.
Thorne is experienced at what he does since he advised township trustees in his capacity as an assistant county prosecutor before retiring last year. He also said it is a common practice for townships to hire their own attorneys in many other counties.
New firemen
Medina Fire Chief Bob Painter told township trustees his department hired three new volunteer firemen, raising the total of new hires to 12 in the last six weeks. Painter said six of the new firemen were volunteers for the Medina Township Fire Department before it was disbanded earlier this fall when the township entered into a contract with the Medina Fire Department to serve the township.
Painter also said the new firemen have enabled him to put back in service the fire station behind the Medina Township administration building.
Preserving Weymouth
Brian Feron reported to township trustees that the Weymouth Preservation Society will be exhibiting antique toys at its museum through May.
He also reported that the society delivered five house plaques to historic homes and is working on seven more including plaques for the Weymouth gas station and one of the one-room schoolhouses.
Emergency notification
Karen Fisher, a volunteer at the Medina County Health Department, encouraged township residents to sign up for emergency alerts through the Medina County Emergency Management Agency.
She said a new wireless emergency notification service is in place which provides individualized text, voice and email warnings about a variety of alerts generated by the National Weather Service and local safety forces.
Fisher said the service is especially useful to people with disabilities since it will make emergency personnel aware of any special needs they have during an alert, such as a recent power outage in Brunswick. People can learn more about the service and signup at the website www.medinacountyema.org.
