Westside Messenger - February 9th, 2020

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PAGE 2 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - February 9, 2020 ONLINE PORTAL Continued from page 1 www.columbusmessenger.com said. During further discussion on the food service department, board member David Donofrio inquired about a recent federal proposal to scale back school nutrition guidelines set forth in 2012. “Do you anticipate any major impact on the department?” he asked. Hamrick said she has not had the time to go over the entire proposal but said she does not anticipate the department will make any changes at this time. In related news, Hamrick said the department serves 6,900 daily breakfasts and 13,400 daily lunches. She added that East Franklin Elementary School recently began to participate in the breakfast-inthe-classroom program, which brings the total number of elementary schools involved in the program to eight. The board of education also heard from transportation supervisor Tim Cox at the meeting. According to Cox, their fleet of more than 200 buses are in good shape and safety inspections are currently under way. He said he expects all of the buses to be inspected by the end of June 2020. Free Community Valentine Dinner WESTGATE BAPTIST CHURCH 4234 Clime Road North Saturday - February 15, 2020 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Come Join Us For A Good Meal & Lots of Fun! All Are Invited. PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP Continued from page 1 tive.” Peters said that the new rules are intended to facilitate constructive and civil public comments that respect the rights, sensibilities and time of all those in attendance at the meetings. Some of the new rules include limiting comments to five minutes, addressing the board no more than once per topic, per meeting and no slander or shouting. The biggest change to the rule is that speakers cannot complain about a township employee during the meetings anymore. Peters said employee complaints must be presented in writing to the township administrator. He will then be forward the complaint on to the board of trustees. In other news, township officials are evaluating opportunities for further development, including the use of vacant land owned by the township. “We recently got a request for the usage of a vacant parcel the township owns,” said Peters. “I will be presenting this opportunity to the board, but we would not consider selling this lot. Before we did anything like this, we would need to consider what is best for the community and what we want to do in the future with the parcel.” The parcel, which is located next to the Prairie Township Community Center, could be used for expansion of the center or a parking lot. The trustees are still trying to determine what the best use for the property should be. The trustees also took care of some housekeeping, including naming a new board chairman and vice-chairman. Cathy Schmelzer was voted board chairwoman and Steve Kennedy was named vice chairman. The board also promoted several township employees. Among the people promoted was the new director of the community center. Michael Pollack was promoted from interim recreation director to recreation director with an annual salary of $81,370. The township also promoted Courtenay Chaffin, who will go from aquatics manager to operation manager with an annual salary of $67,500. Chaffin will be eligible for a $2,500 pay increase after six months. Think Safe, Feel Safe, Be Safe. A LERT LARMS Inc. 2 Years of Monitoring for the Cost of 1 Year 20% OFF All Installation Packages Purchase 4 or more Installed Camera Systems, Receive Basic Alarm System at NO CHARGE Transfer your Existing System at NO CHARGE (Alarm Systems require montly service fee.) Love Is Protection Serving Greater Columbus Since 1986 Bus: 614-870-1088 | Cell: 614-783-2707 | Fax: 614-870-1198 Andy Andrews II, President, 40 Years Experience www.alertalarmsofohio.com | andyatalertalarmsinc@yahoo.com
www.columbusmessenger.com Government Focus Commissioners miffed over zoning applicant no shows February 9, 2020 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - PAGE 3 By Ris Twigg Staff Writer Two applicants have come to the Greater Hilltop Area Commission meetings over the last several months looking to propose two separate for-profit addiction recovery centers in the Hilltop. One applicant is simply seeking a letter of support from the commission for their project, but declined to return to this month’s meeting for the commission’s approval. The other applicant, after bringing the idea to the November zoning committee meeting, has no-showed their zoning hearing during full commission meetings at least twice, leaving several residents with concerns over representation. “I will not be able to attend the next meeting,” one resident said during the Feb. 4 meeting. “I just want to speak up because my right to vote or express myself is actually being damaged by this person repeatedly scheduling and not showing up.” Commissioners also spoke to the lack of follow-through from the zoning applicant. “This is totally unfair to the people that showed up tonight. Something has to be done,” Geoffrey Phillips, a Hilltop commissioner, said during the meeting. “It’s a forprofit corporation. They are making money off this enterprise and our neighborhood.” Residents and commissioners alike debated ideas for amending the commission’s bylaws to make sure zoning applicants show up when their project is put on WE NEED YOU! From changing a light bulb to shoveling snow, we need volunteers who would be willing to give a little time to an older member of our westside community. For more information call Barbara Camfield 614-276-8224 ex 5028 the agenda as well as ways to ensure the community can be alerted when a zoning applicant is no longer able to attend the hearing. The commission voted to table a vote on the proposed recovery center project. Scott Stockman, vice chairman of the commission, said the project itself wasn’t “totally clear” from the start. The applicant brought the for-profit recovery center to the November zoning committee meeting in 2019. Then, after failing to attend the zoning hearing for the project during the full December commission meeting, the applicant hired a new consulting company to represent the project. “They’re just working out what they’re trying to present to us. So there’s a little bit of going back to the drawing board,” Stockman said. “They called me before the meeting started without a lot of notice and just said that they weren’t able to come here tonight and make the presentation.” Stockman added that the applicant had emailed him on Sunday to inform the commission they would present the project during the full commission meeting. The proposed addiction recovery center would house up to 19 people at once. The applicant is looking to locate the center at 2456 W. Broad St. “It’s not entirely clear. That’s why we have a zoning committee and then following it up right away with a full committee hearing,” Stockman said. “But the delay is causing more clarity issues.” FREE "For Sale by Owner" seminar! Reserve your spot today! Saturday, February, 29, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Columbus Metropolitan Library Franklinton 1061 W. Town Street Columbus, Ohio 43222 R.S.V.P. your name, # of people, and your email address to: anthony.marcino@kingthompson.com or call (614) 330-2520 operated by a subsidary of NRT LLC ANTHONY MARCINO Realtor ® 4535 W. Dublin-Granville Rd. Dublin, OH 43017 anthonymarcino@cbintouch.com C: 614-330-2520
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Westside Messenger - February 9th, 2020

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