Bedford Twp. board balks at road contracts

Trustees opt for revised one, defer on other

5/19/2014

TEMPERANCE — The Bedford Township Board questioned two contracts from the Monroe County Road Commission up for routine approval last week and decided to accept one contingent upon changes and defer action on the other.

The first contract, for $21,562, was for an application of mineral brine on gravel roads for dust control. It wrongly stated the road commission would pay for 25 percent of the project, but allocated the total cost to the township in the cost breakdown. In fact, the whole cost is to be borne by the township.

Trustee Nancy Tienvieri said the contract should stipulate the roads to be treated and noted the incorrect wording in the contract language.

“I don’t think this board should sign a contract that says the board will pay 75 percent and they’ll pay 25 percent and they’re not,” she said, adding that she sympathized with households on gravel roads in the summer. “You can’t open windows or hang clothes out to dry.”

Phil Goldsmith, the township attorney, agreed the contract was not accurate. Treasurer Paul Francis then suggested that the board could approve the contract subject to removal of the two inaccurate sentences about the cost allocation, and Mr. Goldsmith agreed, saying the board could sign the contract subject to changes.

Trustees Paul Pirrone and Rick Steiner agreed with Ms. Tienvieri that the roads to be treated should be specified in the contract as well. The final vote to approve the contract, subject to the changes, was 6-0, with Supervisor Greg Stewart on medical leave.

The next road commission contract up for a vote elicited the same objections from the board about the wrong stated cost sharing. The $19,200 agreement was for mowing along local roads. It did not stipulate the roads, but a road commission letter to the township stated they would be Clegg, Dean, Monroe, and Crabb.

Trustee Larry O’Dell said there should be no vote until the board knew more about the roads to be mowed. “I can’t believe they’re only going to mow four roads,” he said.

Mr. Goldsmith agreed: “It needs some clarification.” The board then voted unanimously to table the item until its next meeting.

In other business, the board approved road closures for the Celebrate Bedford parade slated for June 28. The lineup is to start at 9:30 a.m. at the Bedford Public Schools administration building, 1623 W. Sterns Rd., with the parade to begin at noon.

Detective Sgt. Jeff Pauli, of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, said a minimum of four deputies would be assigned to the parade. The route will go west on Sterns to Jackman Road, north on Jackman to Dean Road, and west on Dean to the south parking lot at Bedford High School.

Arriving late, Monroe County District 8 Commissioner Jason Sheppard said he had been at a meeting of the Samaria Heritage Committee on the rebuilding of Samaria Road. He said there were concerns that the $5 million budgeted for the job would be insufficient, and said the board of commissioners would be monitoring the project.

Contact Carl Ryan at: carlryan@theblade.com or 419-724-6095.