RECORD
OF
PROCEEDINGS
Minutes
of
the Regular Meeting
of
the Trustees
of
Sycamore Township
Sycamore Township, Hamilton County, Ohio
Tuesday, February 20, 2024, 7:00 p.m.
The regular meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Weidman.
Present for the meeting were Chairman Weidman, Vice Chairman Schwegmann, Trustee
Kellums, Fiscal Officer Deters, Law Director Barbiere, Administrator Bickford, Superintendent
Reutelshofer, Planning & Zoning Assistant Jon Ragan, Inspector Kevin Clark, Fire Chief Penny,
and Lt. Tarr from the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office. Planning & Zoning Administrator
U ck otter was absent.
The invocation from Bethel Baptist Temple was read by Mr. Kellums.
Pledge
to
the Flag.
Approval
of
the February 6, 2024 Trustee Meeting Minutes
The February
6,
2024 Trustee Meeting minutes were presented for approval. Mr. Kellums made
a motion to accept them, seconded by Ms. Schwegmann.
Mr. Deters called roll. Vote: Kellums: Aye; Schwegmann: Aye; Weidman: Aye
Public Comments
Mr. Brian Haigh,
of
4106 Jud Drive, addressed the Board. Mr. Haigh requested the Board look
into repealing the Home Rule Township zoning law. He also expressed concerns about the
Township's process
to
hire the Township Administrator after he was fired, commenting he did
not understand how Rob Porter did that because he was only one vote. He went on to discuss
violatio.ns on his property.
Mr. Weidman addressed Mr. Haigh's comments about the hiring
of
the Administrator, stating
Rob Porter had nothing
to
do
with the termination
of
Greg Bickford' s employment as he was the
Fiscal Officer and had no vote. He said there were two votes by Jim LaBarbara and Tom James
to terminate Mr. Bickford with a separation agreement. Mr. Weidman noted he voted no on that,
and Mr. Bickford was hired back.
Sheriff Patrol Report
Lt. Tarr stated he had no report.
EMS/Fire Report
Chief Penny reported that Firefighter/Paramedic Mike Kramer went through a course called
AVERT, Active Violence Emergency Response Training, and is now certified to provide the
training. He said the fire department will now be offering this course to businesses in the
Township, which will teach people how
to
handle a situation in which there is an active shooter
and also include stop-the-bleed training.
1
Planning & Zoning Report
Resolution - Imposing a One Year Moratorium on Digital Signs Within Sycamore
Township, Ohio
Mr. Clark reported he had a resolution for the Board's consideration to impose a moratorium on
digital signs in the Township.
Mr. Bickford stated the current code prohibits flashing or moving signs but does define digital
signs. He said the moratorium will allow the Planning and Zoning Department time to study this
topic and determine the best language to regulate them moving forward.
Mr. Clark showed examples
of
digital signs and then presented the resolution.
The resolution "Imposing a One Year Moratorium on Digital Signs Within Sycamore Township,
Ohio" was presented
by
Mr. Clark. Ms. Schwegmann made a motion to approve the resolution
dispensing with a second reading. Mr. Kellums seconded the motion.
Mr. Deters called roll. Vote: Kellums: Aye; Schwegmann: Aye; Weidman: Aye
Resolution 2024-020 passed this 20
th
day
of
February 2024
Roads, Maintenance & Recreation Report
Mr. Reutelshofer reported he had two resolutions for the Board's consideration.
Resolution - Authorizing a Contract for the Purchase
of
a Plasma Cutter and Mobile
Welder with Included Options and the Disposal
of
an Existing Plasma Cutter
The resolution "Authorizing a Contract for the Purchase
of
a Plasma Cutter and Mobile Welder
with Included Options and the Disposal
of
an Existing Plasma Cutter and Dispensing with a
Second Reading" was presented
by
Mr. Reutelshofer. He stated this would replace the existing
plasma cutter, which will be disposed of, and upgrade the welder. He stated the purchase had
already been budgeted and appropriated.
Ms. Schwegmann made a motion to approve the resolution. Mr. Kellums seconded the motion.
Mr. Deters called roll. Vote: Kellums: Aye; Schwegmann: Aye; Weidman: Aye
Resolution 2024-021 passed this 20
th
day
of
February 2024
Resolution -Authorizing a Contract for the Purchase
of
a T770 T4 Bobcat Compact Track
Loader with Included Options
The resolution "Authorizing a Contract for the Purchase
of
a T770 T4 Bobcat Compact Track
Loader with Included Options and Dispensing with a Second Reading" was presented by Mr.
Reutelshofer. He stated this purchase will
be
made through the State
of
Ohio Cooperative
Purchase Program at 30 percent
offMSRP
and has been budgeted and appropriated.
Mr. Kellums made a motion
to
approve the resolution. Ms. Schwegmann seconded the motion.
Mr. Deters called roll. Vote: Kellums: Aye; Schwegmann: Aye; Weidman: Aye
Resolution 2024-022 passed this 20
th
day
of
February 2024
Law Director Report
Mr. Barbiere stated he had nothing
to
report.
2
Administrator Report
Mr. Bickford stated he had no purchase orders over $5000.00
to
present for approval.
Mr. Bickford reported he and
Mr.
Reutelshofer attended the SORTA check signing in which the
Township was presented with a $4. 7 million reimbursement grant for two projects, the Kenwood
Road Improvement Project and the Finley Lane Sidewalk Project. He noted the funds were from
money generated by Issue
7,
which passed several years ago. He said there is a deadline
of
May
31
st
to apply for funding in round four
of
this offering, and the Township will be submitting
additional projects for consideration.
Mr. Bickford reported he has been meeting with staff to learn what has changed in four years and
determine how to make improvements.
Fiscal Officer Report
Pay Bills and Read Receipts
The receipts in the amount
of
$2,326,353.57 and disbursements in the amount
of
$224,088.24
for February 20, 2024 were read by
Mr.
Deters and are hereby made a part
of
these minutes.
I hereby certify that the money for payment
of
these bills is in the fund provided and duly and
properly appro • ate
1
---~
Mr. Kellums made a motion to approve the receipts and disbursements. Ms. Schwegmann
seconded the motion. Mr. Deters called roll. Vote: Kellums: Aye; Schwegmann: Aye;
Weidman: Aye
Trustees Comments
Mr. Kellums reported there was a public open house earlier that evening regarding the Euclid
Road Sidewalk Improvement Project. He stated the residents who attended gave positive
feedback and thanked Mr. Reutelshofer for organizing and
Ed
Williams
of
TEC Engineering for
attending the open house. He also thanked Mr. Reutelshofer and Mr. Gould for their work in
obtaining the SORTA grant Mr. Bickford discussed in his report. Mr. Kellums also thanked the
maintenance department for their work clearing the snow over the weekend.
Ms. Schwegmann reported the Trustees and some Township staff attended the annual Ohio
Township Association Winter Conference in Columbus, which was a good opportunity
to
attend
seminars and connect with other Townships in Ohio.
Announcements
Mr. Weidman announced that the Board
of
Zoning Appeals will meet on Thursday, February 29,
2024, at 6:00 p.
m.
He referred people to the published calendar on the website for information on
other meetings and events.
Executive Session
Mr. Weidman requested a motion
to
adjourn into Executive Session
as
permitted by ORC
121.22(G)(8) to consider confidential information relating to specific business strategy and
to
3
discuss negotiations with other political subdivisions respecting requests for economic
development assistance and as permitted by ORC 121.22(0)(1) to consider the employment
of
a
public employee. Mr. Kellums made the motion and Ms. Schwegmann seconded the motion.
Mr. Deters called roll. Vote: Mr. Kellums: Aye; Ms. Schwegmann: Aye; Mr. Weidman: Aye
Mr. Deters,
Mr.
Barbiere, and Mr. Bickford were invited into the executive session with the three
Trustees.
End Regular Session:
Begin Executive Session:
End Executive Session:
Back in Regular Session:
7:28 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
8:26 p.m.
8:28 p.m.
Mr. Deters called roll. All three Trustees indicated they were present.
Mr. Kellums made a motion
to
make a conditional job offer to hire Nicholas Miracle to the
maintenance department as a full-time employee with a 12-month probationary period.
Ms. Schwegmann seconded. Mr. Deters called roll. Vote: Kellums: Aye; Schwegmann: Aye;
Weidman: Aye
Resolution - Setting the Rate
of
Pay for a Newly Hired Township Employee
The resolution "Setting the Rate
of
Pay for a Newly Hired Township Employee" was presented
by
Mr.
Bickford. Mr. Kellums made a motion
to
approve the resolution, seconded by Ms.
Schwegmann. Mr. Deters called roll. Vote: Kellums: Aye; Schwegmann: Aye; Weidman: Aye
Resolution 2024-024 passed this 20
th
day
of
February 2024
Mr. Kellums made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Ms. Schwegmann. Vote: All Aye
The mee m was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
, Fiscal Officer
g 2/
20
/
2024
4
