Jerome Township officials are hoping to better prepare for growth in the area by expanding the zoning staff.
During the Wednesday night trustees meeting, Director of Departments Douglas Stewart presented the board with two job descriptions.
With the amount of growth the township is experiencing, he said the current staff is extremely busy.
There are days when Zoning Inspector Eric Snowden handles more than 20 zoning applications, Stewart added.
Additionally, he said the workload of applications alone makes it difficult for Snowden to regularly follow up with zoning complaints or check on adherence to the zoning permits he issues.
The department currently consists of Snowden, Zoning Clerk Anita Nicol and Zoning Intern Kamran Khorshidi, an Ohio State student who works at the township part-time several days a week.
Trustee Megan Sloat agreed that the zoning department needs additional help given the rate of growth projected in the community.
“With that growth… one person as zoning inspector is going to eventually get overwhelmed,” she said.
Stewart said he hopes to hire another zoning inspector that will report to Snowden. Additionally, he would like to shift Nicol’s position to a zoning and administration clerk so she can assist with other township duties.
“This is building that structure in and allowing us to expand slowly without adding a tremendous amount of employees,” Stewart said.
Sloat said she likes the flexibility the proposed position would create between departments.
Stewart said it allows employees to practice guidance he gives to firefighters in his capacity as fire chief: “Build your number two.”
If the new positions are added, he said there will be another person to fill in when an employee is sick or unavailable.
Trustee Chairperson Joe Craft agreed with the need to expand staff. He said reviewing and refining the job descriptions is a good first step to ensure the township hires the right person.
“It’s the first part of trying to decide, ‘Who are we looking for?’” Craft said.
He said he wants to further discuss the position when all trustees are present, as C.J. Lovejoy was absent Wednesday.
Together, Craft said current officials can then set clear goals and expectations for the positions.
He said he also wants to ensure the township organizational chart is well-defined, since the clerk will be split between the zoning and administrative departments.
Stewart provided a proposed organizational chart that indicates the zoning and administration clerk and new zoning inspector will report directly to Snowden. Snowden reports to Stewart, as Director of Departments, who reports to the Board of Trustees.
Craft also asked that Stewart continue to research an appropriate salary range for each position.
The trustees agreed to further discuss the proposed positions at their next meeting.
“This is a big step for us – long overdue,” Sloat said.
In other business:
– Stewart shared expenditures the township has made using federal funding from the CARES Act, provided to assist with expenses related to the coronavirus.
He said the majority of the purchases made so far – which total just over $146,000 – are for disinfecting or cleaning township buildings or equipment.
Stewart noted two significant expenditures.
The fire department purchased 12 sets of turnout gear using the CARES Act funding for $38,794. He said firefighters did not previously have a second set.
Additionally, the township purchased three temperature scanners for $4,650. Each scanner looks similar to a tablet with a camera on a post that individuals stand in front of to have their body temperature scanned.
If their temperature is in a normal range, the screen will turn green. If the person has a high temperature, which could be indicative of a COVID infection, it will turn red.
One is at the front entrance of the township building and another at the door to the meeting room used for trustees meetings. The third is at the fire station. Stewart said every firefighter uses it every day before reporting for their shift.
He said the system is completely “touch-free” and the scanners are easy to disinfect.
“This is to keep our people safe… and not spread the virus any further,” Stewart said.
– Trustees discussed plans to improve township branding and signage throughout the municipality.
Stewart said he would like to add a digital sign in front of the township building and the fire department, as well as a simple welcome sign for people entering the township.
Sloat said it is something the community has “needed for a really long time, from a communications standpoint.”
She will lead a committee that solicits input from residents and create options for officials to discuss. Those interested should contact her at msloat@jerometownship.us.