Brimfield trustees approve police grants, install breakaway chain at fire plaza, move public notices online and approve 3% pay increase

Brimfield Township trustees on April 2 approved multiple administrative and public-safety measures, including two grants for the police department, a traffic-control barrier for the fire station plaza, a change to how the township publishes legal notices and a 3% general wage increase for nonunion administrative and police staff.

The meeting, called to order at 8:00 a.m., opened with departmental updates and a string of motions the board approved by roll call. The board voted unanimously on the major items reported by department heads and administration.

Trustees accepted two grants for the Brimfield Township Police Department. Police representative Roy Mosley asked the board to accept a Walmart community grant of $5,000 and a State of Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services body-worn camera grant of $33,260.20. "I would like to make a motion to accept the State of Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Service body worn camera grant, payable to Brimfield Police Department in the amount of $33,260.20," Mosley said. Trustees voted yes; the motions passed.

Mosley also updated the board that the department will extend a conditional employment offer to a candidate this week and will later present that hire to the board for formal approval pending background and other checks.

On public safety infrastructure, the board approved a motion to install a breakaway chain across the back entrance between township property and a nearby car wash to reduce cut-through truck traffic and protect emergency vehicle egress. Fire department staff described repeated truck cut-throughs that have left tire marks on the plaza and could block fire apparatus. A fire representative moved to install a permanent pair of posts with a removable chain marked "Emergency vehicles only," and trustees voted to authorize installation and to have the road crew and facilities staff finalize cost and method.

In administration business, the board moved to change its official method for publishing legal advertisements and public notices. Citing House Bill 315, trustees authorized posting legal notices on the township website and on the township social media account instead of publishing them in the Record-Courier. Administration staff said the township’s website (hosted on CivicPlus) retains records and that staff will capture screenshots of posts for records-retention purposes. The motion passed unanimously.

Also under administration, trustees approved a 3% general wage increase for all nonunion, nonemployment-agreement employees in the administrative offices and police department, effective Jan. 1, 2025. The board stated the increase was part of the 2025 financial plan and budget.

Zoning and economic development staff asked authorization to send statutory tax-increment financing (TIF) notices to the local school districts for two near-term projects — the Woodland Reserve condominium development (State Route 43) and a Dunkin' Donuts project — to begin the statutorily required notice and resolution process. The board approved sending the notices; staff said a formal resolution and associated exhibits will follow after the required public-notice window.

Parks and recreation items included a reminder that a township cleanup at Sioux Fields is set for May 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; the department is arranging dumpsters (one for trash, one donated for recyclables). Trustees also set the township’s annual Trick-or-Treat observance as the Saturday before Halloween going forward and approved continuing the Memorial Day ceremony at the cemetery after discussion of attendance and community support. Parks staff reported the lake maintenance contract at Maguire Park was renegotiated from $5,859 to $3,250 by reducing treatment frequency and the treatment months.

Votes at a glance: - Approve March 18, 2025 meeting minutes — approved (unanimous). - Accept purchase orders and warrants as presented — approved (unanimous). - Accept Walmart community grant, $5,000, payable to Brimfield Police Department — approved (unanimous). Motion made by Roy Mosley. - Accept State of Ohio OCJS body-worn camera grant, $33,260.20, payable to Brimfield Police Department — approved (unanimous). Motion made by Roy Mosley. - Install a breakaway chain across the back entrance between township property and car wash (emergency-vehicle access retained) — approved (unanimous). Motion made by fire department representative. - Appoint/confirm Records Commission membership consistent with Ohio Revised Code (chairperson, fiscal officer and named members) — approved (unanimous); motion amended on the floor to align with statute. - Authorize publication of legal notices via the official township website and social media in accordance with House Bill 315 (administration will retain screenshots for records) — approved (unanimous). - Issue a 3% general wage increase to nonunion administrative and police department staff, effective 01/2025 — approved (unanimous). - Authorize sending statutory TIF notices to affected school districts for Woodland Reserve and Dunkin' Donuts projects — approved (unanimous). - Set Brimfield Township Trick-or-Treat observance as the Saturday before Halloween, moving forward — approved (unanimous). - Continue Memorial Day cemetery celebration as previously held — approved (motion passed with one board member noting attendance concerns previously).

What was discussion vs. formal direction: Several items were discussion-only (for example, the ADP payroll/time-tracking implementation concerns raised in a correspondence from resident Dave Seuss), while other items led to formal board action. Trustees discussed local grant-seeking practices and the need to document software requirements and project resourcing after staff read a letter from Dave Seuss calling for more detailed requirements and for assigning project resources. The fire department presented evidence of repeated cut-through traffic and requested a physical barrier; that request culminated in a formal motion to install a breakaway chain. The records-commission appointment was amended on the floor to ensure compliance with Ohio Revised Code requirements specifying the chairman and fiscal officer as statutorily required participants; trustees adopted the amendment before voting.

The board convened an executive session under Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22(G) to consider an investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee; no action was announced on return.

Looking ahead, staff said they will return any necessary resolutions for the TIF matters after the statutorily required notice period, bring the recommended hire for the police candidate forward once post-offer checks are complete, and provide cost estimates for the chain/gate installation. Parks staff will continue outreach and fundraising planning for Maguire Park and will follow up on the May 17 cleanup and other spring events.

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