Brimfield Township trustees approve police grants, wage increase and online notice postings; enter executive session on personnel investigation

Brimfield Township Board of Trustees approved a series of routine motions at its April 2, 2025 regular meeting, including two grants for the police department, a 3% general wage increase for certain township employees and a change to how the township publishes legal notices. Trustees later convened an executive session under Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22(G) to consider an investigation of charges against a public employee and returned to open session at 10:18 AM.

The meeting, called to order at 8:00 AM by Trustee Mike Kostensky, listed Trustees Mike Kostensky, Nicholas Coia and Sue Fields and Fiscal Officer John Dalziel as present. During announcements Trustee Nicholas Coia read a letter from resident Dave Soos expressing concerns about ADP implementation; Trustee Sue Fields announced a township cleanup day on May 17, 2025.

On routine business, the board approved minutes from the March 18 public hearing and the March 18 regular meeting. Trustees recorded unanimous roll calls to approve the meeting agenda, purchase orders and warrants.

Under police items, the trustees approved MOTION #2025-119 to accept a $5,000 Walmart Community grant payable to the Brimfield Police Department and MOTION #2025-120 to accept a $33,260.20 grant from the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services for body‑worn cameras for the department. Both measures were moved by Trustee Nicholas Coia, seconded by Trustee Mike Kostensky, and passed by unanimous roll call votes.

Other approvals included a breakaway fence at the townhall/fire building (MOTION #2025-121), appointments to the township records commission (MOTION #2025-122) and a change allowing legal advertisements and public notices to be published on the official township website and social media in place of the Portage County Record Courier (MOTION #2025-123). The records commission appointments were made "per the Ohio Revised Code," and those named were John Dalziel, Holly Woods, Roy Mosely, Joseph Jamison and Trustee Nicholas Coia.

Trustees also approved MOTION #2025-124, a 3% general wage increase effective April 1, 2025, for nonunion employees not covered by an employment agreement in the administrative offices and the police department; the motion was moved by Trustee Mike Kostensky and seconded by Trustee Sue Fields and passed by unanimous roll call.

In zoning, the board authorized sending a statutory TIF notice to Field Local Schools and Maplewood regarding Dunkin' Donuts and Wohlwend Engineering (MOTION #2025-125). The parks item established Trick‑or‑Treat as the Saturday before Halloween indefinitely (MOTION #2025-126). Under cemetery business, the board voted to continue the Memorial Day ceremony as in prior years (MOTION #2025-127); the roll call on that motion recorded Mike Kostensky "yea," Sue Fields "no" and Nicholas Coia "yea," and the motion passed.

At 9:01 AM Trustee Nicholas Coia moved to convene an executive session under Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22(G) to consider the investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee; Trustee Mike Kostensky seconded and the motion passed by roll call. The board returned to open session at 10:18 AM. No additional details from the executive session were included in the meeting minutes.

There being no further business, Trustee Mike Kostensky moved to adjourn at 10:19 AM; Trustee Sue Fields seconded and the motion passed. The minutes were signed as a true and accurate record of the proceedings.