The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
4 seek 2 Chardon Twp. trustee seats
Roads, finances, communication among top priorities for candidates
The candidates are Steven J. Borawski, Michael Brown, Ilona Daw-Krizman and Tim McKenna.
Four candidates are vying for two Chardon Township trustee positions on Nov. 7.
They are Steven J. Borawski, Michael Brown, Ilona Daw-Krizman and Tim McKenna.
Township trustee pay is set by the Ohio Revised Code and based on each community’s budget. Chardon Township’s annual budget falls in the $1.5 million to $3 million range, which qualifies trustees to be paid $59.42 cents per day for not more than 200 days.
About 3,500 township residents are registered to vote.
Borawski
Incumbent Borawski said he hopes to have a new board to work with, “so we can bring back rules and regulations set forth by the past Board of Trustees.”
“Rules are made to follow not break,” he said. “I will work to keep our zoning regulations intact to protect our rural way of life. I will keep on fighting to hold frivolous spending in check.”
The longtime trustee and city of Chardon employee gives the following reason for supporting his re-election:
“For the past 20 years as trustee and 23 years as street superintendent, I will continue to use all my experience to keep costs down, curtail unnecessary spending, and make sure all the
rules and regulations are followed without exception,” he said.
“I don’t own a business so I have no agenda, except to keep serving the residents of Chardon Township to the best of my ability. I hope to be able to utilize my 40-plus years of experience to make our township ours again.”
Brown
Brown, also a current trustee, said his priorities include road maintenance and reconstruction, and assisting Berkshire Estates residents through an upcoming sewer construction project.
“I wish to continue to look for ways to minimize the financial impact of this mandated project on the residents and represent them to the county and state agencies,” he said.
Improving communication with residents is another goal.
“I believe we need to expand our use of social media and direct mailing newsletters as well as continuing to encourage everyone to attend our regular meeting and get involved in their township government,” he said.
“I believe I have shown over the last 12 years a record of thoughtful decision-making and commonsense leadership, and wish to continue to do so for my township. I was instrumental, along with Trustee Chuck Strazinsky, in rebuilding our Road Department, starting with the hiring of Road Superintendent John Washco. We now have what I believe is the best road department in Geauga County, and the work they do for our township has been incredible. To continue to represent my fellow residents for another four years would be an honor.”
Daw-Krizman
Daw-Krizman sees the need to “bring back respectability and decorum to the position of trustee” by following rules set forth in the Ohio Revised Code. In addition, she seeks to update the Policy and Procedures Manual.
“As business environments, state and local laws and technology change, policies and procedures require maintenance and updating also,” she said.
She espouses using progress reports, budget reviews and other tools to help the board make educated decisions.
“I understand the encumbrance and budget process governments use to manage their finances,” she said, adding that she also would like to review and potentially help correct any issues in the township’s Independent Accountants’ Report.
“With strong and accurate financials, the next step would be to focus on other external grants or opportunities to gain funding for special projects and community improvements,” she said.
Along with focusing on finances, she would like to protect the community’s open spaces and maintain its standard of living.
“I bring over 25 years of experience in project management and accounting, working with small businesses, county and city governments, and Fortune 500 companies,” she said. “I am known for being a motivated, solutions-oriented person with strong communication, technical and leadership skills.”
McKenna
McKenna, former Chardon police chief, said he decided to run after a group of residents asked him to consider it.
“I looked at it and started going to meetings, and decided we could do better,” he said. Improving communication between the fiscal officer and trustees is one of his goals. Another is addressing road conditions.
“I’ve been talking with the county engineer to see what we can do jointly with our roads,” he said. “Probably a good eight to 10 roads need to be looked at.”
He also sees a need to create a comprehensive plan for the community. He noted, for example, that there is no plan for replacing township vehicles.
“At what point do you stop spending money on old equipment and save money for new equipment?” he said.
He lists his experience overseeing 35 employees in the police department among his qualifications. The township has four road department personnel and a cemetery sexton.
“Common sense needs to come back to the table,” he said.