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LIBERTY -- Resident Mary Lou Finesilver said that she and her family are unable to attend the 7:30 a.m. Liberty trustees meetings because the meeting conflicts with getting ready for work, and she questions if this new meeting time was set so fewer residents would attend.
Trustees Arnie Clebone and Greg Cizmar, who voted to establish the morning sessions, said morning meetings allow them to meet with department heads without interrupting those employees' work with meetings held in the middle of the day.
At their organizational meeting in January, township trustees set their regular meeting for 7 p.m. the third Monday of the month, with a 6:30 p.m. caucus and an additional caucus meeting at 11 a.m. the first Thursday of the month.
"I was OK with that," said Trustee Jodi Stoyak, who then in February went on a trip out of the country, and the 11 a.m. Thursday time was changed to 7:30 a.m. each Thursday.
While most of the meetings have been discussion only with department heads, the May 10 meeting included action on a controversial topic of splitting speed camera revenue 50 / 50 to police and general fund for a trial period of six months.
"This was done pursuant to a new opinion by attorney Cherry Potteet, our new counsel, to allow Optotraffic (speed cameras) on I-80 and state Route 11. This is something I have openly stated that I oppose," Stoyak said recently.
As Finesilver sees it, Clebone and Cizmar appear to be excluding their fellow trustee, Stoyak, along with a large percentage of the public.
"If they could meet at a reasonable time, that would help," she said.
Stoyak said she is unable to attend the early morning meetings due to "personal commitments."
"I have stated publicly that I cannot attend these 7:30 a.m. meetings. I have other things to do in the mornings and a schedule of personal things I do, and am not available," she said. Those include delivering meals to people who cannot leave their houses for Trumbull Mobile Meals, family matters and exercising.
Stoyak said she is concerned that she was not in attendance to vote on the meeting change or to debate the issues. She said many of her constituents also are unable to attend the morning meetings and they should also be able to be there to scrutinize board discussion and action.
Stoyak said she was led to believe the morning meetings would be "for informal discussions" only.
"When I was on the board with others, we always cooperated with each other on setting meetings, such as special meetings. Those meetings were most always set at times when the public can be there," she said.
Clebone and Cizmar said early meetings with department heads is more convenient for employees. Cizmar said the township offices all open at 7 a.m. for the public as well, and is when department heads arrive.
"While we did act on some items at a recent meeting, the morning meetings are more work sessions with usually discussions to go over things with the department heads," Cizmar said.
He said most action on agenda items will be taken at evening meetings.
Clebone said because of concerns, "We will not pass any resolutions at the morning meetings unless absolutely necessary. We will call special meetings."
Cizmar acknowledged that few residents attend the morning meetings.
"I don't see what the big deal is to meet in the morning and also at night," he said.
Clebone said the only time items are acted on in the morning is when "they are time sensitive and shouldn't be delayed a few more weeks," such as hiring a part-time road worker.
"If a resident can't attend early and wants to discuss, they can call me and meet at a different time," he said.
Clebone said Liberty trustees modeled the morning meetings after Weathersfield Township trustees' morning meetings. Additionally, some other communities also meet in the mornings including Brookfield and Bazetta.
Clebone said going forward, if action is necessary and Stoyak is unable to attend, they will attempt to schedule a special meeting.