Akron.com

New Boston trustee takes seat on board



Bill Clifton introduced himself Jan. 10 as the newest member of the Boston Township Board of Trustees.
He ran unopposed as a write-in candidate in November.
He grew up in Circleville and attended Ohio State University. Clifton worked in Thailand for the U.S. government and the Pearl Buck Foundation before getting his master of business administration degree from Indiana University, he said. [For more on Clifton, see related story on Page 4.]
After this introduction, the trustees held the organizational portion of their meeting. Trustee Amy Anderson will continue as chairperson, with Trustee Randy Bergdorf again serving as vice chair.
Bergdorf remains as liaison to the zoning boards and the Boston Township Hall Committee.
The trustees reappointed Edward Pullekins as legal counsel; Pam Schneider as zoning secretary; John Schneider as zoning inspector; Ron Adams as road superintendent; former trustee Jerry Ritch, who did not run for re-election in November, as alternate on the Zoning Board of Appeals; and Doug Mayer as part-time road department employee.
Clifton will take over Ritch’s duties as liaison to the Cuyahoga Falls-Boston Township and Boston-Peninsula joint economic development districts (JEDDs).
During the regular meeting, Anderson opened bids from Rumpke and Kimble for trash removal services. Representatives from both companies were in attendance.
Rumpke’s rate was $21.50 per month plus $3.50 per additional bag. Kimble offered to do the job for $15.22 per month with a $3.07 bag fee. The trustees tabled the discussion until the next meeting.
In other business:
• Bill Roemer, of Richfield, announced he is running for the District 38 state representative. He is a member of the Summit Educational Service Center Board.
• John Schneider discussed his proposed changes to zoning fees with the trustees after having a similar discussion with the Zoning Commission one night earlier.
“I’m trying to put our fees in the same ballpark as other communities,” he said.
Schneider also talked about a different standard for homes that cannot comply with zoning regulations without a variance due to the property layout.
For example, a property may not be able to have the garage behind the house due to a ravine in the back. Bergdorf said the zoning code cannot be written for everyone.
• Bergdorf said Boston Township Hall Committee officers will meet with the Ramp Up Festival Committee to discuss whether the hall would work as the festival site.
“It could be more than we can accommodate,” he said, “so we have to talk to make sure we are on the same page.”
• Adams asked the trustees if they wanted to proceed with the resurfacing of Keenan Road this year. The trustees declined.
“I’m not sure we can swing it this year,” Bergdorf said.
• Anderson noted the passing of Richard Parker and offered condolences to his wife, Gloria, and their family. She also congratulated Tim McAleese for being appointed as a part-time police officer in Richfield.
• Peninsula Councilman Dan Schneider appeared at the meeting, and the trustees spoke with him about scheduling the annual meeting of the Boston-Peninsula JEDD Board. That meeting will take place Jan. 24 at 6 p.m. at Boston Township Hall, located at 1775 Main St. in Peninsula, 30 minutes before the regular trustees’ meeting.