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Norwich Township trustees accept fire chief's retirement, approve promotions and a string of capital purchases
Summary
At their April 7 meeting, Norwich Township trustees accepted Fire Chief Jeff Warren's retirement effective April 30, approved three internal fire-department promotions effective April 21, and authorized multiple 2025 capital purchases and cemetery improvements, with most motions passing unanimously among attending trustees.
Norwich Township Board of Trustees voted on April 7, 2025, to accept Fire Chief Jeff Warren's letter of intent to retire effective April 30, 2025, and approved a series of personnel moves and capital purchases to support township operations.
Chairman Greg Young and Vice Chairman Rick Tidd led the meeting; Tidd moved and Young seconded the motions recorded in the minutes. The board approved promotions within the Norwich Township Fire Department effective April 21: Firefighter Trevor Collier to lieutenant; Lieutenant Rick Warren to captain; and Captain Matt Tackett to battalion chief. Each personnel motion passed with Trustee Charles Wm. Buck absent (votes recorded as Tidd yes, Young yes, Buck absent).
Trustees also approved several 2025 capital budget expenditures for the Safety Services Building and the new fire station: $4,200 for kitchen supplies to be charged to the township Chase credit card; $8,760 to Phoenix Safety Outfitters for two replacement sets of turnout gear; $6,600 for multiple display screens throughout the new fire station; and $2,400 for a bronze plaque from Capital Awards. All purchases were described as 2025 capital items and were approved by motion (Tidd moved; Young seconded).
On facilities and grounds, the board approved an interior painting quote from Kiner's Kustom Kolors for $5,200 for the Safety Services Building (costs to be partially split with the City of Hilliard) and approved Cardinal Pressure Washing, LLC's $2,402.51 estimate for window washing (also a split cost with Hilliard). Trustees discussed proceeding with a bidding process through the Franklin County Engineers for rear parking-lot improvements at the Safety Services Building (a 2025 capital item with shared portions) but tabled that item pending further action.
Cemetery and road staffing and improvements were on the agenda: the board approved hiring Rick Rapp as a seasonal laborer for the Cemetery & Road department (not to exceed 40 hours per week) at $17.95 per hour effective April 21, 2025. Under old business the trustees also approved Trudeau's Fence Company to install 90 feet of 6-foot-high fencing and a 14-foot gate at the cemetery for $4,475.00, and approved Waugh Landscaping to plant 25 seven-foot trees in raised beds with black mulch for $7,500.00.
On fiscal and intergovernmental matters, the trustees approved extending Local Waste Services' collection agreement for service year 2026 and approved financially supporting the Hilliard Recovery Court with OneOhio Opioid Fund monies totaling $10,007.01. The fiscal officer provided the monthly fiscal report at the meeting; the minutes do not record further budget detail beyond the amounts approved for specific items.
All recorded motions were moved by Vice Chairman Rick Tidd and seconded by Chairman Greg Young and passed with Trustee Buck absent. The meeting ended at 6:33 PM after a discussion about a proposed resolution to place restrictions on door-to-door solicitation; the minutes record discussion of the resolution but show no final vote on that item.
Meeting attendees listed in the minutes included Chairman Greg Young, Vice Chairman Rick Tidd, Trustee Charles Wm. Buck (absent), Fire Chief Dave Baird, Assistant Fire Chief Jake Wells, Township Administrator Jamie Fisher, Fiscal Officer Omar Tarazi and Cemetery Sexton and Road Superintendent Robbie Thomas.
