11/19/2009 - West Side Leader
     

At the Nov. 11 meeting, Boston Township trustees said they have set a meeting regarding Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funds received by Summit County.

PILT funds are dispersed to local governments to help offset losses in property taxes due to nontaxable federal lands such as national parks within their limits, and Summit County has received $486,638 since 1999, said Trustee Randy Bergdorf.

After several attempts to schedule a meeting with Summit County Council President Nick Kostandaras (D-District 1), the meeting has been set for Nov. 24 at 6:30 p.m. at Boston Town Hall.

Trustees said they are preparing materials to present at that meeting, including a map showing the township’s history of home losses.

The map will show the former locations of most of a four-and-a-half page list of homes that no longer exist, said Trustee Amy Anderson.

Trustees said they would like the county to consider redistributing funds.

“We hope they’ll react favorably,” said Bergdorf.

Summit County Executive Russ Pry has agreed to attend the PILT meeting, according to the trustees, and they also have asked the villages of Peninsula and Boston Heights to send representatives.

In other news, trustees said they still haven’t had the opportunity to view a master plan for the Joint Economic Development Zone (JEDZ) proposed for the township with the cities of Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson and Stow.

Trustee Gerald Ritch said he and township attorney Ed Pullekins met recently with Cuyahoga Falls Law Director Virgil Arrington to clarify the terms for income tax and real estate implications and issues.

The JEDZ would encompass the township’s 67 acres of land that is currently in the Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) with Cuyahoga Falls.

“We have no intentions of committing to a master plan without seeing a master plan,” said Ritch.

“At this point, I’m not sure we’re going to be a part of the JEDZ,” he added.

Also at the meeting, trustees held a conversation with resident Jeff Cumberlidge concerning his property on Major Road at the Boston and Richfield township lines.

Cumberlidge said he would like to put up a security fence and gate on the west side of his property and requested that trustees organize efforts to recenter the road, as over the years the road’s right-of-way has grown considerably, resulting in a township utility pole residing within his property lines.

This could create a problem for trustees, he said, if utility work ever needs to be done.

Cumberlidge said his wish is to place the security fence and gate as close to the road as possible.

“We certainly don’t have the money to realign a road,” said Anderson.

Trustees said they would get the Summit County engineer’s opinion on the matter to fully consider possible solutions.

Anderson also said the Valley Fire District is considering a contract with Sagamore Hills to provide EMS services to Brandywine Ski Resort during the upcoming ski season.

“It looks like it could happen,” she said.

She also noted the fire district has decided to place a replacement levy on the May 2010 ballot.

Also at the meeting, trustees:

• approved a set of revised zoning fees. Bergdorf said the fee schedule was due for an update, as fees hadn’t changed for the past 20 years;

• approved revisions to business corridor zoning and variance applications;

• noted residents who have complied with requests to remove junk vehicles from their properties have been sent thank-you letters. The trustees  said they will continue to follow up with residents who still have junk vehicles on their properties;

• discussed action that would enforce township laws relating to individuals employed on residential properties. Trustees said they believe the law stipulates only family members may be employed in home occupancies;

• noted the next Bicentennial Committee meeting would be Nov. 18;

• announced the township is collecting nonperishable food items for families in need, with drop boxes located at the Peninsula Library, 6105 Riverview Road, and Terry Lumber Supply, 1710 W. Mill St. in Peninsula;

• said the furnace for the township’s administrative space at Boston Town Hall has been installed. Ritch said the next steps are to finish the windows, install insulation and complete duct work;

• discussed whether or not they would participate in the Friends of Furnace Run water protection group, which is asking for three township representatives. Anderson said she would get more information on the project before trustees commit to it; and

• said that they are still looking to fill a vacancy on the Zoning Commission.

The next regular Boston Board of Trustees meeting will take place Nov. 25 at 6:30 p.m. in Boston Town Hall, located at the intersection of Main Street and Riverview Road in Peninsula.

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