Liberty tables two fiscal resolutions

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Liberty Township trustees tabled two resolutions Monday evening from the fiscal office since Fiscal Officer Nancy Denutte was not in attendance.

“Since we do not have a fiscal officer present nor do we have her assistant this evening we will not be pursuing resolutions 17-0605-01 or 02,” said trustee Tom Mitchell. “I guess we’ll have to assign a special meeting at some point to accomplish this.”

Trustee Shyra Eichhorn asked if any of the items on the two resolutions were in emergency status.

Matt Huffman, township administrator, said several were for the fire department, but that he would have to look through the items to make the determination.

Denutte told The Gazette Tuesday that something came up that prevented her attendance.

“Everything was already done,” she said. “I don’t know why anything wasn’t approved. I don’t need to be there but once quarter.”

Trustee Melanie Leneghan also was not present and declined Tuesday to provide a reason.

In other business, trustees:

• Appointed James Halas as alternate Board of Zoning Appeals member.

• Approved two resolutions to enter into an cost-sharing intergovernmental agreement with Orange and Genoa Townships for a joint bid for solid waste collection and disposal.

“It was a very positive experience in my opinion,” said Mitchell. “We won a Green Award for this.”

• Authorized an expenditure of $4,100 to renew all Blue Card Command certifications for the Fire Department command officers and Lieutenants. Huffman said it is part of the continuing education of the fire department.

• Cancelled a resolution and approved the expenditure of up to $11,550 to Stryker EMS for a seven-year warranty on EMS hydraulic cots that were purchased through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant.

• Authorized an $35,971 expenditure for the purchase of 39 bulletproof body armor for the fire department.

Battalion Chief Bill Piwtorak said each person needs their own vest. “Each person fits a little differently.” Piwtorak said the armor life is 10-15 years because it is not worn every day like police officers’.

• Authorized an $5,266 expenditure to repair and upgrade the township’s hall audio system.

At the end of the township’s regular business trustees went into executive session for the following reasons, “To consider the … compensation of a public employee or official … ” and for “Conferences with an attorney for the public body concerning disputes … pending or imminent court action.”

In executive sessions, trustees met with the following:

• Carol O’Brien, Delaware County Prosecutor, and Chris Betts, Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office civil division.

• Stephanie Schoolcraft, attorney with Fishel, Hass, Kim, Albrecht, who represents the township in the Ohio Appeals Court seeking to overturn a decision by the Ohio Court of Claims in the release of documents the court declared as public documents.

• Brad Bennett, attorney with Zashin & Rich of Columbus, a firm specializing in labor and employment law.

Both Huffman and Mitchell report that no action was taken after the executive session.

By D. Anthony Botkin

[email protected]

D. Anthony Botkin may be reached at 740-413-0902 or on Twitter @dabotkin.

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