CALL TO ORDER:

Chairman Mike Parker called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:

Chairman Mike Parker led the Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL:

Trustees Parker, Leber and Miller are present, along with Fiscal Officer Melissa Pelletier. Road Superintendent Andy Dunlap is present.

Minutes were sent out electronically prior to the meeting. Mr. Leber moved to approve the minutes, Mr. Miller seconded the motion, and it carried.

Lisa Crescimano is present as a guest.

Tyler Spears pulled a zoning permit in 2022. He spoke to Zoning Inspector David before David’s surgery, and Mr. David assured Spears he would have it in the office. A completed zoning permit never occurred. Mr. Dunlap renewed the permit expeditiously so construction could begin. Zoning Inspector Dunlap has not been able to access the zoning computer or software necessary for his position. He, too, was left with no seamless transition. All software, permit numbers, and accessibility to print receipts for zoning are on a computer. Mr. Dunlap was not given passwords or access information, making his zoning position challenging. 

Mr. Dunlap is diligently gathering paperwork for the zoning appeals board hearing. The outgoing zoning inspector did not handle the process properly.  

Road Superintendent Dunlap received an email that the Chloride Reduction Grant will be delayed. Dunlap informed the board that Oxford received trash containers last year, and the grant will be doing a second round.

A grant for new equipment in Oxford Townships’ picnic area is also available. 

Oxford’s baseball diamond is used six days a week, and seven teams are signed up for the league. At this point, Mr. Dunlap feels a port-o-potty is necessary.

More dirt is necessary for the baseball diamond because it retains standing water when it rains. 

Mr. Dunlap is filling areas on the east side of the building with stone and working on a ditch on Harris Road.

Mr. Leber made a motion to apply for a grant to purchase eight new picnic tables for the picnic area. Mr. Miller seconded the motion. A verbal vote was taken, and it passed unanimously.

Mr. Miller motions to purchase another load of dirt for the baseball diamond, while Mr. Leber seconds the motion. A verbal vote was taken and passed unanimously.

Trustee Parker, along with Trustee Leber and Miller, extends their deepest gratitude to Lisa Crescimano for all that she has been doing and continues to do in aiding Fiscal Officer Pelletier. Crescimano’s experience as a fiscal officer in the past, along with her many other skills, has eased some of the transition for Pelletier. Outgoing FO David did nothing for the transition. Trustee Parker thanks Lisa Crescimano for training and helping Pelletier become current on all delinquent bills. 

Lisa Crescimano noted that the complex financial situation left to FO Pelletier would require a minimum of four to six months to resolve, indicating the magnitude of the task.

Mr. Leber informed the board that Medical Mutual did not cover his prescriptions because of cancellation.

Mr. Leber informs the board that the cost of dumping after our recycle day will be reimbursed. He emphasizes that the hours will be strictly adhered to and once the truck is full, no further dumping can be accommodated, ensuring the board is aware of the process and its limitations. 

Mr. Leber informs the board that Telamon will begin construction on the Oxford Township building in late April 2024.

Mr. Miller inquired about how we prevent payment delinquency from happening again. Fiscal Officer Pelletier informs trustees that all passwords are on an Excel sheet, and Trustee Parker and Leber have been added as signers to the account.

FISCAL OFFICER –

Unfortunately, Mr. Dunlap's Medical Mutual was canceled for non-payment, causing him to receive a bill from his medical provider that is not being covered. This situation arose due to the township fiscal officer's delay in paying the premiums for Medical Mutual for February and March, and we understand the inconvenience this has caused.

Mr. Leber's Medical Mutual was canceled for non-payment. He received a bill for prescriptions that are not being covered because the township fiscal officer was delinquent in paying the premiums for Medical Mutual for February and March.

Medical Mutual was paid in full and everyone's Medical Mutual was reinstated in mid-April.

OPERS is now current; however, the township had to pay late fees because of delinquency. This also occurred with the IRS and State of Ohio taxes.  

Charles Bennett contacted FO Pelletier about a levy for a Resolution of Necessity to be passed so that it could be placed on the November 2024 ballot. This Resolution was sent to the prior FO for handling and was not corrected or passed.

FO Pelletier acknowledges the need for further attention to ensure the office functions seamlessly, despite the improvements made with Andy Dunlap's help in cleaning out the FO office. Your concerns are being taken seriously. 

FO Pelletier asks for permission to pay recurring bills as they arrive. (utilities insurance)

The fiscal officer reports that she will continue with Trustee updates as often as needed about concerning matters as she recognizes them throughout her daily processes.

FO Pelletier informs board she will request all new personnel paperwork from all employees. Personnel files have not been located. Prior FO David informed Pelletier they were in a filing cabinet but were not.

Mr. Leber makes motion granting FO Pelletier to pay township reoccurring bills as they arrive either via check or electronically, Mr. Miller seconds the motion. A verbal vote was taken and passed unanimously

COMMUNICATIONS: There were no communications to report.

OLD BUSINESS –

NEW BUSINESS –

Fiscal Officer Pelletier introduced a resolution for an upcoming levy for November’s election.

A RESOLUTION DECLARING THE NECESSITY TO LEVY A RENEWAL OF AN EXISTING TAX, AT THE SAME RATE OF TWO AND ONE-HALF (2.50) MILLS IN EXCESS OF THE TEN (10) MILL LIMITATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FUNDING FOR PAYMENT OF THE CURRENT EXPENSES OF OXFORD TOWNSHIP, AS PROVIDED FOR IN OHIO REVISED CODE 5705.19(A), AND REQUESTING THE ERIE COUNTY AUDITOR CERTIFY TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF OXFORD TOWNSHIP THE AMOUNT OF TAX GENERATED BY THE PROPOSED TAX LEVY IN THE AMOUNT OF TWO AND ONE-HALF (2.50) MILLS, A TAX IN EXCESS OF THE TEN (10) MILL LIMITATION.

The Board of Trustees of Oxford Township, Erie County, Ohio, met this 18th day of April, 2024 in a Regular Session at the office of the Board of Trustees, 11104 Ransom Road, Monroeville, Erie County, Ohio with the following members Michael Parker, Scott Leber, and Brian Miller all being present.

Mr. Leber introduced the following resolution and moved for its adoption:

WHEREAS, the amount of taxes which may be raised withing the Ten (10) mill levy limit will be insufficient to provide an adequate amount of revenue for the necessary requirements of the current expenses of Oxford Township; and

WHREAS, there is an existing tax levy of Two and One-Half (2.50) Mills due to expire in Tax Year 2024, for the purpose of providing funding for current expenses of Oxford Township, as provided by ORC 5705.19(A);

WHEREAS, there is a necessity to levy a renewal of the existing tax levy of Two and One Half (2.50) Mills due to expire in 2024, for the purpose of funding for payment of current expenses of the Township, as provided for in ORC 5705.19(A).

WHEREAS, ORC 5705.03 requires that the taxing authority shall certify to the county auditor a resolution requesting the auditor certify to the taxing authority the total current tax valuation of the subdivision, and the number of mills required to generate a specified amount of revenue, or the dollar amount of revenue that would be generated by a specified number of mills.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Township Trustees of Oxford Township, as Taxing authority for Oxford Township, certify to Richard Jeffrey, Erie County Auditor, this resolution requesting the Auditor certify to the Board of Trustees of Oxford Township, the total current tax valuation of the subdivision and the dollar amount of revenue that would be generated by a levy of renewal of an existing tax due to expire in tax year 2024, at the same rate of two and one-half (2.50) mills in excess of the Ten (10) Mill limitation, based on the following statements in compliance with ORC 5705.03: