Discussion over several routine items during the most recent Jerome Township Board of Trustees meeting led to a disagreement among officials regarding government processes and transparency.
“It’s just not how we anticipate government to work – just show up and say, ‘Vote on this,’” Fiscal Officer Robert Caldwell said to Trustee Wezlynn Davis.
The discussion originated with a proposal from Davis to accept a quote for the purchase of three new zero-turn commercial lawn mowers.
Davis recommended accepting a quote from Hilliard Lawn and Garden Equipment for three Ferris brand lawn mowers, each with a four-year warranty. After the trade-in of the township’s three mowers for $6,000 each, the township would be left to pay $17,700.
A quote from Ag-Pro for three Hustler mowers with three-year warranties, following a trade-in value of $13,500, would cost the township $12,674.99.
Director of Departments Douglas Stewart said the township has historically used Hustler mowers. He said “Ferris is considered an upgrade.”
He added that the “typical” length of a warranty for a commercial zero-turn lawn mower is three years.
“I think that it would be prudent” to update the existing mowers, Davis said.
Still, Adler said he was “not totally convinced” the extra cost is warranted.
Aside from the additional $5,000 cost, Adler said he was “concerned” that the recommendation was brought by Davis rather than Stewart, who supervises the Roads Division.
“It does not necessarily follow the chain of command,” Adler said.
Stewart said township staff is working to abide by a policy in which they trade in the mowers whenever their warranty expires in order to ensure they are still valuable and do not incur excessive maintenance costs.
With the knowledge that the township’s three mowers have warranties that expire this year, Stewart said he advised Roads Superintendent Breht Fillinger to solicit quotes and bring forward a recommendation.
“In my opinion, you’re not going to go wrong either way,” Stewart said.
Davis said she followed the suggestion of Fillinger and brought that before the board.
She also emphasized that she personally called and spoke with each vendor who provided quotes to the township.
“I’m asking for your trust,” she told Adler.
Ultimately, the board voted 3-0 to accept the quote from Hilliard Lawn and Garden Equipment.
Shortly after, Davis motioned to authorize the filing of a complaint to the Union County Board of Revision surrounding the appraisal of the FedEx property, 8285 Industrial Parkway.
Adler asked for more information, as he was unaware the topic would be discussed at the meeting. “BOR” was added as a topic under New Business to a revised version of the night’s agenda.
Davis said filing a complaint could result in an increase in the valuation of the property, which would generate more taxes from a company in the TIF (Tax Increment Financing) District to be used for capital improvements in Jerome Township.
Caldwell noted that the township “has never filed a complaint in the past.”
“Where did this come from?” he asked Davis.
Davis deferred to Chair Megan Sloat, who said she spoke with the township’s legal counsel earlier that day regarding Davis making the motion to authorize, though the origin of the conversation remained unclear.
Sloat said she was unaware that Caldwell did not have prior knowledge that the topic would be discussed.
“The request to put ‘BOR’ on the agenda is the only knowledge I had,” Caldwell responded.
Adler agreed, adding that he was unsure what “BOR” referred to in this instance.
“I expected, because you’re so communicative, you would’ve reached out” if uninformed of the agenda item, Davis told Adler.
“Who was he to ask?” Caldwell said, noting that Ohio Sunshine Laws prevent certain conversations among elected officials behind closed doors.
The motion passed, with Davis and Sloat in favor and Adler abstaining.
Caldwell emphasized that he was not arguing the validity of the motion or the possible benefit to the township, but the way it was handled.
“I’m seeing a pattern,” he told Davis.