Trustees will look into meeting times, but attendance is scant
Second meeting of month time changed this year
HINCKLEY – Attendance by residents at Hinckley Township trustee meetings is largely scant but upon request of a resident, trustees said they will examine meeting times to see if any adjustments need to be made. In recent years, trustees have met the second and fourth Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. Earlier this year, trustees changed the time of the second meeting of the month to 4 p.m. – a practice carried by some nearby townships and one which allows department heads to fit the meeting in during their regular work week hours.
At the Aug. 7 trustee meeting, resident Chuck Ricco, who is running for a trustee position this fall, questioned trustees why a special meeting to discuss some road work, held on Aug. 28, was held at 11:30 a.m.
“I wonder why you didn’t have this meeting at a time when people could attend?” asked Ricco.
Trustee Dave Sambor explained that trustees did not want to delay wedging work (a pre-paving process) on the roads which is done prior to actual road paving. He said it was the only item on the agenda at the Aug. 28 special meeting and that the meeting only lasted two minutes. He added that often there are only one or two residents who attend township meetings held at any time of the day or evening. News media were sent notice of the special meeting in compliance with the Sunshine Law.
“Time is important to get road work done when the weather is good,” Sambor said. “If we waited to the next regular meeting that would be a two week delay. We wanted to get this work done.”
Hinckley resident and former trustee Ron Rhodes also questioned trustees regarding meeting times. He said in the past, trustee meetings were held at 7 p.m. and then trustees changed the meeting time to 6:30 p.m. for the first meeting of the month and later changed the second meeting of the month to 4 p.m.
“A lot of people are working at these times and meetings should be held when most people can get there,” said Rhodes. “The meeting times shouldn’t be based on how many people attend but based on availability to the general public.”
Sambor said he and the other trustees would discuss the issue and see if they felt any changes needed to be made to meeting times.
Resident Garrett Robison also asked trustees about the vacant property next door to the Hinckley Historical Society building (corner of Ridge Road and state Route 303).
“Since the house was torn down on that site, the property hasn’t been kept up,” said Robison. “The grass definitely needs mowing. It looks bad because the property is at one of the entrances to our township. Doesn’t our zoning code speak to the responsibility of property owners to maintain their property? I was wondering if the township couldn’t purchase the property. With its location right next to the Historical Society, it would be a great place to hold things like a historical reenactment, expand the community garage sale, events for Buzzard Day and other events.”
Sambor said he would contact zoning officials and have them look into regulations regarding upkeep of vacant property.
In other business at the trustee meeting:
• Trustees approved the purchase of two cameras, to include supplies and installation through Zadar Technology Inc., for $1,997 to be installed on the exterior of the police department. Trustees said the additional cameras would add to security for residents as police parking lots are used for people selling goods through sites such as Craigslist.
• Trustees approved purchase totaling $9,663.54 for repairs, preventative maintenance and an alternator and batteries to engine 31-2 by Fallsway Equipment.
• Trustees announced the hiring of Carol Chism, as an independent contractor, to serve as recording secretary for zoning.
• Service foreman Darren Newcomer gave the monthly report for July with highlights as follows: total hours worked, 481; work completed, ditching completed on Laurel, Marland and Oakwood roads; cleaned out several catch basins in Brookside development; installed five new catch basins on Vista Ridge and Heartland Drive; completed leveling and motorpave on Kellogg Road by Karvo Construction; met with ODOT and resident on Kellogg Road to discuss possible watershed issues; identified several failing driveway culvert pipes while ditching and sent out letters; began clearing vegetation around fire hydrants from list provided by fire department; received three quotes for strip patching on Laurel Road and Stoney Hill; met with service representative from Mack Ind. to discuss repairs on township wastewater plant; and inspected septic system and report sent to EPA.
• The monthly police report for the month of July was given with highlights as follows: total calls, 433; physical arrests, 16; citations issued, 103 (57 verbal warnings, six written warnings and 40 citations); motor vehicle accidents, 7; assists to citizens and other agencies, 109; alarm responses, 46; miles driven, 9,337; one officer training for four hours; and no officer injury or cruiser damage.
• Fiscal officer Martha Catherwood gave the financial report as follows: pooled investments, $$2,597,880.99; available primary checking balance, $1,883,992.49; and all funds total, $4,481,873.48.
At the Aug. 7 trustee meeting, resident Chuck Ricco, who is running for a trustee position this fall, questioned trustees why a special meeting to discuss some road work, held on Aug. 28, was held at 11:30 a.m.
“I wonder why you didn’t have this meeting at a time when people could attend?” asked Ricco.
Trustee Dave Sambor explained that trustees did not want to delay wedging work (a pre-paving process) on the roads which is done prior to actual road paving. He said it was the only item on the agenda at the Aug. 28 special meeting and that the meeting only lasted two minutes. He added that often there are only one or two residents who attend township meetings held at any time of the day or evening. News media were sent notice of the special meeting in compliance with the Sunshine Law.
“Time is important to get road work done when the weather is good,” Sambor said. “If we waited to the next regular meeting that would be a two week delay. We wanted to get this work done.”
Hinckley resident and former trustee Ron Rhodes also questioned trustees regarding meeting times. He said in the past, trustee meetings were held at 7 p.m. and then trustees changed the meeting time to 6:30 p.m. for the first meeting of the month and later changed the second meeting of the month to 4 p.m.
“A lot of people are working at these times and meetings should be held when most people can get there,” said Rhodes. “The meeting times shouldn’t be based on how many people attend but based on availability to the general public.”
Sambor said he and the other trustees would discuss the issue and see if they felt any changes needed to be made to meeting times.
Resident Garrett Robison also asked trustees about the vacant property next door to the Hinckley Historical Society building (corner of Ridge Road and state Route 303).
“Since the house was torn down on that site, the property hasn’t been kept up,” said Robison. “The grass definitely needs mowing. It looks bad because the property is at one of the entrances to our township. Doesn’t our zoning code speak to the responsibility of property owners to maintain their property? I was wondering if the township couldn’t purchase the property. With its location right next to the Historical Society, it would be a great place to hold things like a historical reenactment, expand the community garage sale, events for Buzzard Day and other events.”
Sambor said he would contact zoning officials and have them look into regulations regarding upkeep of vacant property.
In other business at the trustee meeting:
• Trustees approved the purchase of two cameras, to include supplies and installation through Zadar Technology Inc., for $1,997 to be installed on the exterior of the police department. Trustees said the additional cameras would add to security for residents as police parking lots are used for people selling goods through sites such as Craigslist.
• Trustees approved purchase totaling $9,663.54 for repairs, preventative maintenance and an alternator and batteries to engine 31-2 by Fallsway Equipment.
• Trustees announced the hiring of Carol Chism, as an independent contractor, to serve as recording secretary for zoning.
• Service foreman Darren Newcomer gave the monthly report for July with highlights as follows: total hours worked, 481; work completed, ditching completed on Laurel, Marland and Oakwood roads; cleaned out several catch basins in Brookside development; installed five new catch basins on Vista Ridge and Heartland Drive; completed leveling and motorpave on Kellogg Road by Karvo Construction; met with ODOT and resident on Kellogg Road to discuss possible watershed issues; identified several failing driveway culvert pipes while ditching and sent out letters; began clearing vegetation around fire hydrants from list provided by fire department; received three quotes for strip patching on Laurel Road and Stoney Hill; met with service representative from Mack Ind. to discuss repairs on township wastewater plant; and inspected septic system and report sent to EPA.
• The monthly police report for the month of July was given with highlights as follows: total calls, 433; physical arrests, 16; citations issued, 103 (57 verbal warnings, six written warnings and 40 citations); motor vehicle accidents, 7; assists to citizens and other agencies, 109; alarm responses, 46; miles driven, 9,337; one officer training for four hours; and no officer injury or cruiser damage.
• Fiscal officer Martha Catherwood gave the financial report as follows: pooled investments, $$2,597,880.99; available primary checking balance, $1,883,992.49; and all funds total, $4,481,873.48.
