WestChesterBuzz.com

The West Chester Township Board of Trustees met for the first time in 2013 last night, Jan. 8. At the meeting, the board elected Lee Wong as its president and determined its 2013 meeting schedule.

Wong (photo) became a trustee in 2005.

The 2012 president of the board of trustees, Catherine Stoker, was elected as the 2013 vice president. Stoker has been a township trustee since 1994.

George Lang, the third trustee on the board, was first elected to the board in 2003.

The 2013 schedule was also determined at last night’s meeting.

Meetings will be held on the second and fourth Tuesdays each month with exception to meetings on Nov. 12, Dec. 3 and Dec. 17.

Changes may occur as deemed necessary by the board.

The West Chester Township Board of Trustees meetings are held in Township Hall, located 9113 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, at 6 p.m.

Posted in: Board of Trustees, Government, News |

Tags: Tags: 2011 schedule, board of trustees, Catherine Stoker, George Lang, Lee Wong, West Chester Board of Trustees, West Chester Township Board of Trustees

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

Declining federal and state dollars won’t deter Liberty Township officials from balancing their budget this year.

With revenues estimated at $19.7 million and expenses projected at $19.8 million, officials are confident that through careful spending they won’t have to dip into reserves to balance this year’s budget.

“We won’t spend everything that we budgeted,” said Caroline McKinney, economic development director and spokeswoman. “All projects and capital expenses will be thoroughly analyzed and we will look for other financing opportunities. Our best intention is to have a balanced budget.”

Trustees adopted the 2013 budget that includes appropriations of nearly $1.9 million in the general fund – used for the day-to-day operations of the township – along with $5.3 million in the fire fund; $327,400 in the ambulance fund; and $2.3 million in the police fund.

For the second year trustees removed money to purchase a new engine truck to replace a 1999 vehicle. Trustees also scaled back dollars requested for a new staff vehicle for the fire department.

“We need to scale back,’’ said Trustee Pat Hiltman. “We have to think differently. There’s a need and a want. We need to cut our costs down.”

Hiltman said a full review of the fire department should be done early in 2013, including an examination of staffing to see if any positions can be reduced. He suggested nine full-time positions – one per shift, per fire station.

About 44 percent of the township’s revenues come from levies or emergency services billing but 51 percent of next year’s expenses will come from that department.

Money has been set aside to replace wood chips at Dudley, Liberty and Fort Liberty parks; add a shelter at Dudley Park; along with replacing a merry-go-round and slide at the Reserves Park.

Another $10,000 has been earmarked to complete the first phase of a path around Wilhelmina Park.

Money is also included for a Millikin Road and Hawthorne Hills hike and bicycle connection, phase two of the redesign of the Ohio 129 and Ohio 747 entrance and exit ramp planting beds, which will reduce maintenance with the planting of grass and evergreens.

The township will look for grant opportunities to fund park and other projects, McKinney said.

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: board of trustees, Caroline McKinney, Liberty Township board of trustees, Liberty Township board of trustees meeting, Liberty Township trustee, Liberty Township Trustee Pat Hiltman, Liberty Township trustees, Pat Hiltman

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

Liberty Township’s board of trustees will vary from its traditional meeting date for its 2013 organizational meeting.

It will be held at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 2, at the township’s administration building, 6400 Princeton Road.

The board will elect a president and set its regular meeting schedule. Traditionally, the group meets at 6 p.m., on the first and third Tuesdays of the month.

Trustee Pat Hiltman said he might ask for a variation in that schedule for January, due to his work travel schedule.

Trustees next meet at an 8:30 a.m., Dec. 27, special meeting, at the administration building, to adopt the 2013 budget.

Posted in: News |

Tags: Tags: board of trustees, liberty township, Liberty Township board of trustees, Liberty Township board of trustees meeting, Liberty Township Trustee Pat Hiltman, Pat Hiltman

Sue Kieswetter reports:

Volunteers are needed to join Liberty Township’s zoning commission and board of zoning appeals.

Each group consists of five members and two alternate members. All members are appointed by the Liberty Township Board of Trustees. Both groups meet at the township’s administrative offices.

The zoning commission hears cases related to zone change requests and planned unit developments. It also decides zoning map and code amendments and reviews site plans.

It meets at 7 p.m. on the first Monday of the month.

The board of zoning appeals has five members and two alternate members. It hears and decides cases related to variances of the code, conditional uses and appeals of zoning decisions.

The group also interprets the townships zoning code and map. It meets at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month.

Those interested in serving as either a member or alternate member of either board, should email, fax, or mail a cover letter and resume to Jonathan West, Director of Planning and Zoning, 6400 Princeton Road, Liberty Township, OH 45011, jwest@liberty-township.com, or 513-759-7501.

Resumes and cover letters are due at noon, Oct. 5. Appointments will be made in late November or early December and will take effect immediately.

There are two open spots to fill unexpired terms.

Information: 513-759-7500

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: board of trustees, Board of Zoning Appeals, liberty township, vacancy, volunteers, zoning commission

Sue Kiesewetter reports

Liberty Township has added five part-time firefighters to its roster.

Township trustees approved the addition of the firefighters, effective Aug. 7. It brings the department’s roster up to 98 career and part-time employees.

Four of the new hires also hold paramedic certification and will be paid $13.50 per hour. The fifth is certified as an emergency medical technician and will earn $12 per hour.

Hired were:

• Mark D. Carter: A Liberty Township resident, Carter owns Deck Works. He is certified as a paramedic and works part-time for the Miami Valley Joint Fire District in Montgomery County, near Dayton.
• Jamison Benoit: A Hamilton Township resident, Benoit also works part-time for the Salem/Morrow Fire Department. He is certified as a paramedic.
• Steven Mohr: A part-time Sharonville firefighter and paramedic, Mohr has also worked for the Springdale, Greenhills and Mount Healthy fire departments. He lives in Colerain Township.
• Glenn Caminiti Jr.: A Hamilton County resident, Caminiti is certified as an EMT and works as a firefighter for the Delhi Township Fire Department.
• Russell Cheesman: A Middletown resident, Cheesman is a paramedic who works part-time for the Madison Township Fire Department and full-time for EMT Inc. He has also worked at the Germantown Fire Department in Montgomery County.

Three other firefighters, Chad Canupp, Cathleen Marksteiner and Matthew Owen will be promoted to fulltime fire lieutenant/shift supervisors effective Sept. 8. Each will earn $24.48 per hour. They will be sworn in at a later date.

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: board of trustees, Glenn Caminiti Jr, Jamison Benoit, Liberty Township board of trustees, Liberty Township Fire Department, Mark Carter, Mark D. Carter, Russell Cheesman, Steven Mohr

Sue Kiesewetter reports

Non-union employees in Liberty Township will see a slightly fatter paycheck beginning Aug. 17.

An average pay increase of three percent, based on performance, was granted to the township’s non-union employees, said Dina Minneci, township administrator.

“Some were higher depending on promotional testing that would put people into a different pay classification,” Minneci said.

Every May employees are evaluated with 80 percent centered on performance and 20 percent on how well employees met their goals. Together, those factors averaged together determined pay increases, Minneci said.

The township has 55 fulltime, 66 part-time and one seasonal employee, said Melanie Brokaw, assistant township administrator and human resources director.

Firefighters covered by the union are under a separate contract that outlines pay adjustments.

Altogether, the pay increases are expected to add about $25,000 to payroll costs through the end of the year, said Kristen Bitonte, finance director. That figure includes raises stipulated for the part-time firefighters and workers and could vary slightly, depending on number of hours worked.

Bitonte said the increases represent less than a one percent change in the township’s 2012 operating budget.

Under the new schedule the pay of the department heads will be: Minneci, $117,459; Bitonte, $63,912; Brokaw, $63,912; Caroline McKinney, economic development director, $73,132; Paul Stumpf, fire chief, $83,878; Rick Plummer, services director, $76,469; and Jonathan West, director of planning and zoning, $82,719.

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: board of trustees, Dina Minneci, Liberty Township Administrator Dina Minneci, Liberty Township board of trustees, Liberty Township pay increase

Sue Kiesewetter reports

Liberty Township’s 2013 budget is going to look a lot like this year’s officials say.

Trustees got their first glimpse with the approval of the July tax budget that must be submitted to Butler County.

The budget shows a projected beginning balance Jan. 1 of $17.6 million. Revenues from property taxes are estimated at $8.3 million and from other sources at $11.4 million.

Appropriations for 2013 are projected at $20.9 million, with an ending balance on Dec. 31 estimated at $16.6 million.

“This is just the beginning of the process,’’ said Kristen Bitonte, the township’s finance director.

Over the next several months, each department will review estimated funds and put together a budget that will be reviewed by trustees in December before being approved.

Two join Liberty Township Fire Department

The Liberty Township Fire Department has two new firefighter paramedics.

The hiring of Kyle Nelson, 19, and James Montgomery, 28, bring the department’s roster up to 93 career and part-time firefighters, said fire Chief Paul Stumpf.

Both part-time firefighters began work earlier this month. Each will earn $13.50 per hour and may work up to 106 hours during every two week pay period, up to a maximum of 1,500 hours annually, Stumpf said.

Nelson, a Fairfield High School graduate, attended Butler Tech’s fire rescue academy and took classes at St. Clair Community College.

He was in the Fire Explorer program at the Fairfield Township Fire Department and has experience with the Hanover Township and Washington Township fire departments.

Montgomery, a St. Xavier High School graduate, received his training at Butler Tech and St. Clair Community College. He also works part-time for the Colerain Township and Fairfield Township fire departments.

Stumpf said he plans to hire five additional part-time firefighters in the coming weeks to fill his roster.

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: board of trustees, James Montgomery, Kyle Nelson, Liberty Township board of trustees, Liberty Township Fire Department

The Enquirer

The West Chester Board of Trustees approved a three-year contract with the township’s fire lieutenants and firefighters on Tuesday.

The contract affects 57 full-timers who are represented by the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 3518, and replaces a contract that expired at the end of last year.

“The contract provides the standard step increase historically found in collective bargaining agreements and an annual 2.5 percent cost-of-living increase in each year of the agreement,” a township news release said.

But the contract also increased employee premium contributions for healthcare.

“West Chester vigorously negotiates contracts with all collective bargaining units, representing the community’s best interest and good stewardship of taxpayer dollars,” the release said.

“Through responsible management, fiscal mindfulness, and meaningful implementation of alternative strategies relating to delivery of service, the West Chester Fire Department continues to maintain costs within the constraints of a levy approved by voters in 2006.”

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: board of trustees, West Chester Board of Trustees, West Chester Fire, West Chester Fire Department, West Chester Township Board of Trustees

Sue Kiesewetter reports

Liberty Township residents will get their first chance to tell township officials how they would like to see the community develop during a Vision Plan open house.

Members of the township’s Vision Plan committee will seek input during a Wednesday, April 25, gathering at the township administration building, 6400 Princeton Road.

The 25-member Vision Plan Steering Committee is working to update the township’s 2006 comprehensive plan. Besides development issues, the plan will address the preservation of environmental features, greenways, parks, trails and economic development.

“It’s critical we properly plan for the future of our community so this is a priority project,’’ said Christine Matacic, president of the Liberty Township Board of Trustees.

“The Vision Plan update will help us best direct our efforts to promote the growth of our commercial tax base with minimal impact on existing residents while preserving the character of Liberty Township.”

Anytime from 5-8 p.m. residents and business owners can visit a series of panels that will be set up in trustees’ meeting space. Members of the steering committee will be available to answer questions.

There will be spots at each station where people can place color coded dots to show agreement with new or existing goals on several topics, said Jonathan West, the township’s director of planning and zoning.

There will also be places where the public can add goals or make suggestions on several topics.

“We want to know what the public’s vision is for how the community should develop,” West said. “We’re looking at where we’ve gone and where we’re headed.”

Input gathered from the public hearing will be used to develop a draft plan by the end of the year.

The public can view the committee’s progress and follow along through a new tab under the ‘planning/zoning’ section of the township’s website, www.liberty-township.com

There, the steering committee has posted PowerPoint presentations, the 2006 comprehensive plan, meeting minutes, demographic information and several land use and other maps.

For more information, call 513-759-7500.

Posted in: Government, News |

Tags: Tags: board of trustees, Christine Matacic, Jonathan West, Liberty Township board of trustees, Liberty Township Director of Planning and Zoning Jonathan West, Liberty Township Trustee Christine Matacic, Liberty Township Vision Plan, Liberty Township Vision Plan committee

West Chester and Liberty Townships have negotiated an intergovernmental agreement and policy for the activation of its outdoor weather warning sirens, according to West Chester Township public information officer Barbara Wilson.

Under the proposed policy, which is expected to be soon adopted by the respective townships’ Boards of Trustees, sirens will be activated under slightly different parameters in each jurisdiction.

The outdoor weather warning sirens will be activated in Liberty Township following the Butler County Emergency Management Agency guidelines, while West Chester will maintain its own guidelines.

“West Chester and Liberty have developed mutually beneficial collaborations over the years,” West Chester Township Administrator Judi Boyko said. “In this matter, West Chester wanted to be supportive of Liberty Township and the Butler County Emergency Management Agency’s guidelines for activation of the outdoor weather warning sirens, while maintaining our own community’s long-standing guidelines.

“The resulting agreement to be considered by the Boards of Trustees responsibly responds to the interests of each community.”

According to a release, Liberty’s sirens will be activated upon notification from the Liberty Township fire chief, Liberty Township administrator or the National Weather Service in the following conditions

• A tornado warning that covers all or part of Liberty Township
• Whenever a confirmed tornado touchdown has occurred in or near the Liberty Township weather zone
• A funnel cloud sighting has been confirmed in or near the Liberty Township weather zone
• Or when any other outdoor weather warning sirens have been activated in Butler County

Meanwhile, West Chester Township will activate its outdoor weather warning sirens when the National Weather Service issues the following:

• A tornado warning that covers all or part of West Chester Township, all of Southeast Butler County, or Southwest Ohio
• Whenever a confirmed tornado touchdown has occurred in or near the West Chester Township weather zone
• A funnel cloud sighting has been confirmed in or near the West Chester Township weather zone

West Chester’s sirens will not be activated when a tornado warning is issued in a portion of Butler County that does not include some portion or all of West Chester as a part of the warning. (more…)

Posted in: News, Weather |

Tags: Tags: board of trustees, Liberty Township board of trustees, Weather warning sirens, Weather warning sirens Butler County, Weather warning sirens Liberty Township, Weather warning sirens West Chester, West Chester Board of Trustees