Date of Meeting: 1/28/2024
Format: In-person
Meeting Summary:
PUBLIC COMMENT
A legal representative of Singh Biriani's owner asked for approval to provide customers with picnic tables outside the building. If approved, they will seek further approval from the county building department. Approval was given in a motion of all three trustees.
A Brady Lake area resident expressed gratitude for the road crew's excellent job clearing snow and ice this winter. He also notified the board that the church flea market signs, already approved, will go up in the first week of May.
Dr. Erica Mathey of the Tinker's Creek Watershed Partnership provided information about the services available should the township decide to join. These include help with clean-ups, tree planting, rain gardens, and stormwater management. The trustees agreed to explore a one-year membership at $1500, which all three voted to approve.
A Hudson Road resident asked for an update on the Judson Road bridge closure; Mr. Akerley responded that the township has no jurisdiction over county bridges and suggested the resident call the county engineer's office.
ROAD AND ZONING REPORTS
Mr. Akerley reported that the county engineer's office will decide by week's end whether temporary repairs can be made to the Judson Road bridge, which is slated for replacement this summer. Also, a meeting with engineer's office official Mike Collins is scheduled to discuss faulty resurfacing on the Sixth/Ohio/Second St. project and the chip and seal project on Judson/Hudson/Spell.
Mr. Ciccozzi reported that his zoning software is possibly expanding its capabilities. He will ask the trustees to extend the membership from $5500 to $7800 to use the information the expansion will provide. He also described an inquiry about using food trucks during the to-be-resurrected Capt. Brady Day. Approval for this would not be through zoning but trustee approval and then the health department.
A Stewart Lake Association resident then asked questions about conflicting guidelines for accessory building construction between the township's zoning and HOA regulations. The answer was that township regulations take precedence in these matters.
OLD BUSINESS
Mr. Russell and Mr. Akerley met with Portage County Stormwater engineer Eric Long about the flooding on Clio St. The township will ask Portage Soil and Water to take the lead because this is a stormwater management issue.
Mr. Akerley has expressed concern about the upcoming Hudson Rd. Project. He reported some concerns about places where more extensive repair could be warranted. He will meet with Mike Collins at the engineer's office to evaluate the issue further. Bids are set to open in early June.
Some grants for the Connecting Communities project have been secured; others await notification. If all the funding sought were awarded, the local share of the project would be $148,000, and Franklin’s would be approximately $12,000.
NEW BUSINESS
A resolution authorizing all actions necessary to accept the 2025 NOPEC grant award of $13,330 was moved and approved by all three trustees.
FINANCES
All three trustees approved the payment of bills totaling $28,469.28.
Trustees then voted to suspend regular sessions to consider the purchase of property or sale of property. All voted yes.
They also discussed collective bargaining strategies and voted to have Glenn Russell assume negotiating responsibility with the union.
The members of the board/council were present: Kellie Kapusta, Glenn Russell, and Scott Swan.
Was there a public notice of the meeting that included the time and place of meeting: Yes
Was an agenda of the meeting or handouts available to visitors: Yes
Are minutes from previous meetings posted/available: Yes
https://www.franklintownshipohio.org/minutes
Name of Observer: Anne Reid