Blogger's foreword: Some of the following notes give context for things in previously posted public comment. Most of what follows is about voting in the Center School, joyfully announced in the final post for the 8/18 meeting. But this is the discussion about it that contains what I think are relevant and revealing comments and adds information about the League of Women Voters inquiry about using the building.
Victor Grimm: The Crestwood Lions Club gave watering cans to cemeteries. Vic pointed out the cans sitting atop the piano. [Barb Herbold mentioned them during her public comment.]
The tree work that has to be done before paving on Skinner and Mantua Center Roads is underway; paving should be able to begin soon.
Mark Hall: NOPEC: The new boiler has been installed in the school. It was a 3-day (Monday- Wednesday) project, with the road crew helping to move the old one out and the new one in. It has been checked for operation. Cost: $10,800.
Mark, continuing: The League of Women Voters would like possibly to use the gym/annex on October 20 for a Candidates' Night. I am going to set up a time next week to meet with them so they can see the facility. The person I talked to asked about cost. For something like this, I do not think we should charge them for it. I would be willing to forgo cost to that group. [Note: This is what prompted discussion between Mark and Dawn Pechman during public comment.]
Jason and Vic both agreed that it would be a good use of the facility, and that it should be at no charge, but it turns out that October 20 is a Trustees Meeting date.
Mark: I also got a call from a gentleman inquiring about a Class of '67 reunion in the annex in August 2012.
I also heard third-hand that a sports group is interested in using it. I need to hear from them firsthand about that.
Under Old Business, there was discussion about rental and key deposit fees and use of the kitchen. All of that may/should be in the minutes.. There was quite a bit of discussion, and Mark finally said that they could come back to that.
Voting: Mark raised the topic; Vic reported on the Board of Election's decision, which was mentioned in an earlier post.
But wait, there's more:
Just to recap, the Board of Elections voted unanimously to approve the Center School annex for all four precincts to vote in this November.
Vic: They need something more from the Building Department. Basically, we can go ahead and vote. There has been a request from a resident on that voting issue. Someone has basically filed a complaint about our voting in there because the claim is that illegal plumbing [Blogger: I think in the kitchen] has been done. This person has [contacted] the Building Department, the Board of Elections, and the Health Department to try to keep us from voting in the school. But it has been approved that all four precincts can vote there--the parking is good and they are looking forward to voting there.
[Blogger: These comments from Vic should help give context and perspective to Dawn Pechman's remarks during Public Comment.]
Jason: I guess I was unaware of the dispute, but whatever decision we make should be rather soon.
Vic: They need 45 days.
Jason: They also need time from . . . .
Vic pointed out that all the time needed is included in the 45 days.
There was some back and forth among the three trustees about timelines, meetings, other things.
Vic: I talked with one of the BoE directors on Friday, and I know we are going to proceed with the voting. When we lost voting in this building [the Township Hall] and were separated, there were a lot of complaints. Mrs. Enlow [BoE Director at the time] took those complaints. [Blogger: I botched my Speedwriting notes for a couple of words; Mrs. Enlow is in favor of our getting into the school to vote.]
Vic, continuing: Even though we had been in two buildings before [the Township Hall and the Civic Center], people were able to talk in the parking lot with people they had not seen for a year or so. Everyone is eager to try it. The rest is just a process to work through.
Jason: I am leaning towards having a split.
Vic: Not only did we have to vote on John Edwards Drive, but the Village voted there also.
We need signs for the doors.
Mark: Since the Board of Elections is comfortable with it, I would like for us to try all four in the school.
Jason reiterated wanting to split 2 and 2 because of parking.
There was discussion about purchasing the tables and chairs, and finally a motion to transfer money from one fund to another for that.
Public Comment followed, and then bills were paid. Most people leave at that point, customarily.
About This Blog
The purpose of this blog is to give an accurate account of what is said during Public Comment at Mantua Township Trustees meetings.
Trustees' decisions are in the official minutes, available on request from the Mantua Township Fiscal Officer, Jodi Thompson, at 330-274-8443. The Township charges 10 cents per page. FAX, 330-274-8447. E-mail, fiscalofficer@mantuatownshipohio.gov. The minutes are also posted on the website after they have been approved. That means that there is usually a two-week lag between a given meeting and the minutes being available to read on the website.
Since meetings are the first and third Thursdays of the month, there is a three-week wait during months with five Thursdays.
Other items of interest or the writer's opinions will be included from time to time, clearly identified.
This is not a forum or chat room, but a source of information, so it is closed to outside input.
During the time I have been doing the blog, the posts have expanded to become very detailed accounts of the meetings. Doing that is time consuming, to say the least, and I am going to try to return to the public comment focus, with background and perspective (and the occasional pointed editorial comment). Such additions are usually enclosed in brackets. However, since some extended accounts of the meetings reveal significant things--and character--better than I could by commenting, there will probably still be a fair amount of semi-transcript. (Sigh.)
My thanks to the readers who have found the blog, and to the ones who from time to time tell me that they value it. You have encouraged me when the tedious work of keyboarding has made me wonder why I am doing this. Then you have reminded me, and I am grateful.
Trustees' decisions are in the official minutes, available on request from the Mantua Township Fiscal Officer, Jodi Thompson, at 330-274-8443. The Township charges 10 cents per page. FAX, 330-274-8447. E-mail, fiscalofficer@mantuatownshipohio.gov. The minutes are also posted on the website after they have been approved. That means that there is usually a two-week lag between a given meeting and the minutes being available to read on the website.
Since meetings are the first and third Thursdays of the month, there is a three-week wait during months with five Thursdays.
Other items of interest or the writer's opinions will be included from time to time, clearly identified.
This is not a forum or chat room, but a source of information, so it is closed to outside input.
During the time I have been doing the blog, the posts have expanded to become very detailed accounts of the meetings. Doing that is time consuming, to say the least, and I am going to try to return to the public comment focus, with background and perspective (and the occasional pointed editorial comment). Such additions are usually enclosed in brackets. However, since some extended accounts of the meetings reveal significant things--and character--better than I could by commenting, there will probably still be a fair amount of semi-transcript. (Sigh.)
My thanks to the readers who have found the blog, and to the ones who from time to time tell me that they value it. You have encouraged me when the tedious work of keyboarding has made me wonder why I am doing this. Then you have reminded me, and I am grateful.
Principles
Two ideas guide and support me:
The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
______Attributed to Edmund Burke
GOOD PREVAILS.
Those ideas are also the reason I have been doing the blog since late February 2011.
I have discovered that a transcript is almost impossible to do and that verbatim accounts are usually not absolutely necessary. When in doubt, I check against a recording.
The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
______Attributed to Edmund Burke
GOOD PREVAILS.
Those ideas are also the reason I have been doing the blog since late February 2011.
I have discovered that a transcript is almost impossible to do and that verbatim accounts are usually not absolutely necessary. When in doubt, I check against a recording.
