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Trustees considering CARES Act money for livestream upgrades



With social distancing recommendations related to the COVID-19 pandemic continuing further into 2020, the Copley Townsip Board of Trustees discussed purchasing equipment related to livestreaming community meetings at the Oct. 13 meeting.
Township Administrator Janice Marshall said camera and software upgrades could cost an estimated $2,500, which the township could purchase using Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding.
Based on advice from township resident and videographer Rob Kall, owner of Raise the Roof Entertainment, the township is considering the purchase of two cameras, each with the ability to zoom and rotate. One of the mounted cameras would be used to show both the dais, where the trustees and fiscal officer sit for meetings, as well as the podium, where department heads and residents address the board. The other camera would show the audience.
The upgrades also could include related streaming software and an embedded video player on the township website to enable streaming directly from the website.
Marshall said Kall offered to make recommendations to the township when the meetings began to be held virtually earlier this year. She noted Kall has acted in an advisory role only and trustees have not yet approved any expenditures related to livestream upgrades.
Trustees also received reports from each department head related to overtime percentages. The 2020 township operating budget indicates that each department should keep overtime hours less than 15 percent of overall wages.
Fire Chief Chris Bower reported overtime in the fire department is about 14 percent of wages at this time. In the police department, Chief Michael Mier said overtime is currently about 15.77 percent of wages, and service department overtime is about 6.6 percent of wages, according to Service Department Director Mark Mitchell.
Also at the meeting, trustees approved a $6,233.90 purchase order to Parker Truck and Trailer to repair the foam system on the fire department grass truck.
Bower said the foam system measures the correct amount of water and foam mix to be used.
“I don’t expect it to be this much [as the purchase order],” he said. “I would expect it to be about $1,000 less. The $6,233.90 is a worst-case scenario.”
Bower added this purchase had not been previously budgeted.
Bower and the trustees also discussed protocol for this year’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Copley Circle. Specifically, Bower asked if trustees thought the event should be held in person or virtually.
“I see the potential of adding to the pandemic and we are also coming into flu season,” said Bower, adding regulation of social distancing at such events would be difficult.
“It would be hard to control people, and at an event like this you will have young people — kids being kids,” he said.
Trustee Jim Schulte said the event should be held in person and, in his view, social distancing measures could be put into place.
Trustee Scott Dressler also stated, “We should be able to social distance.”
Trustee Bruce Koellner, however, said he would not be comfortable with the township endorsing any event before ensuring that it does not contradict recommendations by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine or state health officials.
“If we can do it without breaking the regulations of the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], I’m all for it,” Koellner said.
Schulte said he does not advocate ignoring health guidelines either.
“But I’m trying to figure out how this would be in contradiction to state law,” he said.
In other business:
• The township’s brush collection program collected 2,390 cubic yards of brush, and 10,000 pounds of paper were shredded during this year’s township recycle day, according to township officials.
• Trustees approved a $10,000 expenditure for the construction of a ground sign in front of Township Hall. Community Development Director Loudan Klein said this cost was not budgeted for the year, but the new sign could still be installed by the end of 2020 if approved by trustees.
Marshall said the unused funds could be used out of the improvement to grounds account for the ground sign project.
Klein added some of the initial foundation work would be done in house by township service department employees.
Klein also updated trustees on requests for proposals related to the township’s planned infrastructure improvement project on Sunset Drive. Klein said five proposals from engineering firms were received and are being reviewed, with the hope of selecting a firm at the next trustees’ meeting.
Copley trustees next will meet Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. at Copley Town Hall, located at 1540 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road. The meeting also will be livestreamed. For a link to watch the meeting, visit www.copley.oh.us.