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Sullivan Township Trustees Attendance: Mark Schwab, Chairman The meeting was called to order at 7:35 PM by Chairman Mark Schwab followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Mark Hickey moved to approve the minutes of the October 15 meeting with a second by Mark Schwab. Roll call Schwab and Hickey yes with Jenkins abstaining. Mark Hickey moved to approve the minutes of the November 5 meeting with a second by Mark Schwab. Roll call all yes. Mark Schwab moved to pay bills with a second by Duane Jenkins. Roll call all yes. Fiscal Officer Report Fiscal Officer Susan Denbow presented the October bank reconcilement for review. All trustees signed the reconcilement after reviewing. Fiscal Officer Denbow presented the October monthly reports. The trustees signed that they had received their copies. Fiscal Officer Denbow had the following announcements: Fiscal Officer Denbow stated that the employer posters for the township garage had been delivered. She stated that she had contacted the company when they did not arrive and was told that they had been left outside the fire station. After receiving the posters, it was found that the first set had been tossed under the desk in the fire department office but no one knows who did this. Duane Jenkins asked if the fiscal officer had received his email or message requesting copies. She stated that there had not been an email or a message on her phone. Duane requested copies of the Kno Ho Co contract, web-site contract and varies reports. He was informed that he had received copies of the reports each month. The fiscal officer will fax the copies to him by Wednesday. Mark Schwab introduced Thomas Wheland from Lodi Community Hospital. Mr. Wheland spoke about the improvements at LCH that included a new ER facility, expanded radiology department, ACLS and PedALS trained nursing staff and board certified ER doctors. The hospital was 1 of 12 selected for a 2006 award for excellence in patient satisfaction. Mr. Wheland stated that they are striving for a wait time of less than 45 minutes for emergency care and will give an Outlet Mall gift certificate to anyone with a longer wait time. Mr. Wheland requested to return next year with future updates. Mark Hickey stated that there was another speaker from The Ohio Plan and John Hower was introduced. Mr. Hower stated that they offered a similar insurance plan to OTARMA. He would like to offer a quote but the trustees would need to give OTARMA a 60 day notice that they were getting another insurance quote. He gave a brief summary of their plan that includes a $35000 bond in it’s price. Mr. Hower stated that any known claim or lawsuit must be filed and paid prior to leaving OTARMA. The fiscal officer will check on the anniversary date of the insurance policy. Trustee Reports Mark Schwab stated that he had received an application for the zoning appeals board from David Spieker. Mark stated that a civil lawsuit had been filed against the Zoning Board of Appeals by Mr. Spieker who was appealing the decision on The Shooting Challenge. The trustees decided that due to the pending civil lawsuit, they did not feel they could appoint him to the board at this time. His application will be kept and reviewed at a later date. Mark Schwab stated that the prosecutor’s office had sent a letter and a resolution to act as the township’s legal representative in this matter. The fiscal officer read the resolution that was moved by Mark Schwab. Duane Jenkins stated that this was the first he had heard about the lawsuit and he felt that they needed to speak with Paul O’Reilly. Mr. Jenkins asked when the township was notified about this. The fiscal officer stated that Mr. Spieker had turned in an envelope of papers, which he stated had been filed in Common Pleas Court, at the last trustees meeting. She received the letter from the prosecutor’s office at the end of the week and had turned it over to Chairman Mark Schwab on Sunday morning. There was no second to the motion. The trustees discussed the possible need for a special meeting but no date was set. Duane Jenkins asked about the progress on the trucks and equipment maintenance for winter. Gary Hollingsworth stated that they were waiting on the new back door for the spreader box but everything else was good. Duane Jenkins inquired about the part-time mowing person. Gary stated that Ken Webb had finished on November 14. Fire and EMS Report Chief Gary Hollingsworth turned in the department minutes for August, September and October. Chief Hollingsworth reported that some equipment had been damaged at a fire scene on Twp Rd#391. Several sections of 1 3/4” hose were damaged and needed to be replaced. He stated that the department would like to purchase 1200’ of new 1 3/4" line at a cost of $1872 plus shipping. Duane Jenkins stated that he could pick it up if they will allow this. Mark Hickey moved to make the purchase with a second by Duane Jenkins. Roll call all yes. Chief Hollingsworth was asked if the hose testing had been done for this year and he stated that it had not been done yet. The trustees asked if the new hose would be marked to identify it and was told that all department equipment is marked by engraving and paint. Chief Hollingsworth reported that the department had responded to a MA call with Wellington during a large storage building fire. He stated that 400,000 gallons of water had been hauled to the fire. EMS Lieutenant Robert Palm reported that they had responded to 3 squad calls and had 1 MA call that they were unable to respond. Lieutenant Palm provided copies of various ORC that have to do with responding to an emergency, emergency vehicle, lights, speed limits and traffic laws. These had been requested by some of the trustees and fire department officers. Lieutenant Palm inquired about a complaint that had been turned into the chief. Chief Hollingsworth stated that it had been followed up on according to department policy. When asked who had filed the complaint, it was stated that Mike Trull had filed the complaint. Mark Schwab asked Gary if he had ever started enroute to a call, then turned around, shut off his lights and went home. Gary stated that he had not. Mark stated that this had been witnessed. Gary stated that he had not had lights on his vehicle for several months. Zoning Inspector Report Janice Steele reported that she only had 2 permits that she was working on. Janice turned in 2 requests for legal opinion but stated that the one would not apply since there was a pending civil lawsuit. She advised that the minutes of the zoning appeals board meeting on The Shooting Challenge had not been approved and may need some additions. The other request was for the operation of an amish business on Twp Rd#391 that had been in operation without a permit prior to a fire. The business did not fall into the conditional uses or the variance. Mark Schwab moved to request the legal opinion with a second by Mark Hickey. Roll call Schwab and Hickey yes and Jenkins no. Road Supervisor Gary Hollingsworth reported that they had all equipment in good shape and ready for winter. He had spoken with NorTrak on November 16 concerning the grader. The brakes were not as bad as they thought and they were waiting on parts that were needed. They had also found the hydraulic leak, a hole rubbed in a metal line. The grader should be back within 2 weeks. Gary reported that the salt/cinder mix was being made up but he does have some grit mix to use if needed. Open to the Floor Janice Steele thanked everyone who helped with the Veterans Dinner. Even though some fire department members were called out to the Wellington fire, everything was handled. Many compliments and appreciations were received from all who attended. James Zarifis stated that his neighbors house had burned on February 13 of this year. He praised the efforts of the fire departments as he had only a small amount of smoke damage. He stated that nothing had been done with the remaining structure and when he turned on the faucet to his well, he got black water that smelled of burnt timbers. He had a sample of the water to show the trustees. He will be taking it to the Soil and Water Division to have it tested. Mike Trull turned in a letter requesting an appeal of his disciplinary action. The letter stated that he felt the discipline was excessive and undefined. It also stated that there were inconsistencies in disciplinary actions made by the chief. Mark Schwab questioned Chief Hollingsworth about the discipline and Gary stated that he is always questioned when he makes a decision. Duane Jenkins stated that he feels the trustees have failed to give the chief the tools necessary to administer discipline. Mark Schwab asked Gary if he had placed Mike, as well as other department members, on administrative leave due to another incident. Gary replied yes but did not have any signed documentation of this. Gary was asked when Mike would be reviewed to be allowed to drive the department trucks and he stated that it would be January 1. Mike stated that he still did not agree with the discipline as others had not been given discipline. Mark Schwab moved to place the chief on administrative leave until this can be investigated. Mark Hickey seconded with Schwab and Hickey voting yes and Jenkins no. Gary stated that he was through with being chief and that he was resigning from the department. He turned in his keys to Duane Jenkins. Mark Schwab stated that there were other issues within the department such as an assistant chief canceling a call for the tanker because he is too busy. AC Les Handley will be the acting chief. Douglas Campbell asked if the organizational meeting could be set so that notice could be put in the paper. Duane Jenkins moved to set the organizational meeting for January 3, 2008 at 7:30PM with a second by Mark Hickey. Roll call Hickey and Jenkins yes and Schwab abstaining. Fiscal Officer Denbow stated that they should also set the end of year meeting. The end of year meeting was set for December 27 at 7:30 PM. James Riley stated that it was disgraceful the way Gary had been treated. He stated that members of the trustee board had been with SVFE and had been fired. Mr. Riley stated that Mark Hickey had hauled dirt for the township on a Saturday and stated that it was hauled to the cemetery. Mr. Riley then asked Duane Jenkins if he had seen any dirt on the Dilley property when the two of them had went to check and Duane stated no. Mr. Riley stated that Mark Schwab had interfered with his business and that he will file a lawsuit. He also stated that he will file a lawsuit concerning the junk at Mark Hickey’s residence. Mark Schwab asked Mr. Riley why he had not received the documentation that he had requested concerning the letter sent to township residents. Mr. Riley stated he did not know that Mr. Schwab wanted documentation of everything in the letter and he will provide it for him. Mr. Riley asked Duane Jenkins if it was true that he had heard that a fire department member was calling around to get other members to quit the department. Mr. Jenkins stated that he had heard this but would not say anymore unless he gets confirmation. Donna Riley requested to see the records room to inspect it. The fiscal officer stated that she had no problem with the request. Mark Hickey moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 pm with a second by Mark Schwab. Roll call all yes.
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