Trustees say that residents can still watch meetings online after July 1

by Jennifer Taggart

June 1 township trustees meetings

Trustee Melissa Augustine said that Mike Lyons, head of the Civil Division at Medina County Prosecutor’s Office, said that it may be possible for government officials to use virtual meeting systems after July 1, as long as no one watching virtually participates during the meeting.

“If there is no legal requirement for us to allow somebody who is virtual to ask questions of us, then we will follow that ruling,” Trustee Jim Burns said. “We will be in-person with the trustees here in this office, in this room.”

Fiscal Officer Martha Catherwood suggested a trial period for conducting in-person meetings that can be viewed on Zoom. Burns said he did not anticipate any issues but said they could try that system starting in July for four meetings and tweak it as necessary.

Starting on June 7, Hinckley Township government meetings (Board of Trustees, Zoning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals) will be hybrid, which means that residents have the choice of attending the meetings virtually or in-person.

Starting July 1, residents will be able to view meetings virtually. In order to participate, however, they will be required to attend in person.

“I think it’s smart for us to not take public comment virtually,” Augustine said. “If people have something they are passionate about or want to speak about, they can come to the meeting or

they could call us or email us. I just don’t want to risk us getting into a legal issue.”

Emma Schulte, wife of former Hinckley Township Trustee Ray Schulte, holds the 2021 Citizen of the Year plaque presented during the June 1 township trustees meeting. The plaque will now hang on the wall at town hall in Ray Schulte’s memory. Photo provided by Melissa Augustine

Potential Property Donations

Burns said that Charles Gibson wants Hinckley Township involved with his 22-acre property “somehow, at some level.” Burns said a special meeting may be required between Western Reserve Land Conservancy, Gibson, the Cleveland MetroParks and the trustees to determine how the township will be involved.

“I think that’s wonderful,” Augustine said. “I’m accessible and available for that conversation and discussion, I look forward to it. I’m just very grateful that Mr. Gibson is so adamant to have Hinckley Township involved.”

Burns said he spoke with Western Creek Conservancy regarding another potential property donation. Resident Jim Kopchak presented about 8 acres on Ridge Road, near Weymouth Road, for the trustees’ consideration. Burns said he spoke with West

Creek Conservancy regarding the property, however a date to visit the property has not been established yet.

“I had another idea that they wished to discuss with Mr. Kopchak and then us,” Burns said. “That’s not a conservancy, but it does keep the land unbuildable and undevelopable. That’s in progress. It really won’t make much headway until that visitation occurs between West Creek and Kopchak.”

Burns said resident Kathleen Bacik presented a third potential property for donation: 16.5 acres of property located north of Arborcrest. Burns said that West Creek Conservancy would like to examine that property when they visit the property presented by Kopchak.

Burns said the Arborcrest Reserve of Hinckley Homeowners Association expressed potential interest in the property, however Burns said the township would have to discuss the donation with West Creek Conservancy to determine details on how the transfer would work.

“Everything is really holding on West Creek making that visit and then getting their feedback on the properties,” Burns said.

In other action:

  • Trustees passed a resolution to contract with Brilliant Electric Signs at a cost of $31,491. Project cost will be reimbursed by a $32,000 grant from Senate Bill 310, with $640 in administrative costs for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
  • Augustine reminded residents with long driveways that they can contact Kimble’s Recycling and Waste Disposal customer service  department to have the company navigate the property to determine where residents should place bins for pick up.
  • Trustees rejected all construction bids for repairs to the east wall of the old fire station because they exceeded the $50,000 threshold as permitted by the Ohio Revised Code. Crown Commercial Construction bid $64,559; Rycon Construction, Inc. $57,600; and ATWW Inc. $56,497. Catherwood said ATWW Inc. was disqualified anyway for missing the noon deadline for bids. ∞