Sylvania Twp. trustees OK raises

12/22/2000

Sylvania Township trustees handed out raises to department heads and other administrative employees last night, talked about the proposed Lucas County smoking ban, and endorsed a proposal for motorcycles for the police department.

Trustees approved raises for a dozen employees, including Administrator Jim Maxwell, police Chief Wayne Seely, fire Chief Christopher Maurer, zoning Inspector Robert Sabo, and road Superintendent Greg Huffman.

The raises ranged from 4 percent for Mr. Sabo to 8 percent for Mr. Maxwell, who will be paid $80,200.

Mr. Sabo will be paid $48,050. Mr. Seely, who received a 5.2 percent increase will be paid $72,824. Mr. Maurer and Mr. Huffman, who both received 6 percent increases, had their salaries raised to $72,822 and $69,428, respectively.

“We think we had a pretty good year,” Trustee Chairman George Fanning said last night. “We get good comments back that these people are doing good jobs. It makes it a nice community to live in when people do their jobs.”

In other action, the trustees:

Instructed Mr. Maxwell to write a letter to county commissioners requesting the proposed countywide smoking ban be placed on the ballot.

Dr. David Grossman, Toledo-Lucas County health commissioner, has proposed the health board pass a regulation banning smoking in all public places, including restaurants and bars.

Nonelected people making laws is “bad policy,” Trustee Dock Treece said. Voters don't have an option voting them out, he said. “If it passed countywide, it would be self-enforcing,” he said. “I think it's a good idea, but I don't like the way they are going about it.”

Gave the police department approval to enter into a contract to lease two motorcycles for patrol. The department will get two-white Harley-Davidsons.

Officers Kevin Graber and Keith Murray will be assigned to the patrol. The bikes should arrive in April or May. Start-up costs are estimated at about $7,600 including training and clothes. The department will lease the motorcycles for $200 a month.

Heard Thomas Skeldon, Lucas County dog warden, discuss the cost of having the county help with animal control for the township after hours, on holidays, and weekends. There's a $2,500 initial fee and a charge for each call for service.

In 1999, Sylvania, Oregon, and Toledo, spent about $6,100, $7,000, and $108,000, respectively, for similar situations, Mr. Skeldon said.