Trending
BAZETTA -- After eight years as a township trustee and six years as a zoning board member, Trustee Ted Webb announced Tuesday he will retire from public office at the end of the year.
Webb, who has retired from and sold his graphic design / plate-making business, said at the trustees meeting he wants to spend more time with his family and will not seek re-election in November.
Trustee Frank Parke also has indicated he will not seek re-election this year.
"It's time to bring some new people in to serve the township," said Webb, who served five of the past eight years as trustee chairman.
Webb said he always was very active in the community, starting with the zoning board, and was involved with a committee that worked on a comprehensive township plan for 18 years.
Webb remembered when the former Packard Electric was planning to tear down one of its buildings in Bazetta when he was on the zoning board. He said he co-authored a resolution that would have made it expensive to bring down the building, and as a result, Packard Electric officials chose not to demolish it. Today the Larchmont Avenue NE building is used as a warehouse housing retail fireworks.
Webb said he has enjoyed being a trustee during his two terms. He said the trustees have faced various projects and issues, including a January 2019 tornado that damaged Hillside Cemetery. He has worked with four fiscal officers and selected the current one Stacy Marling.
Webb said he does work as a part-time consultant.
Bazetta fire Chief Dennis Lewis also has announced his retirement in November.
"There are several critical people who are retiring at the end of the year. We want to get the right people to fill these positions," Webb said.
Trustees are seeking applicants for a new fire chief through June 1 and then will set up interviews.
Webb said a committee will review the applicants. He said the position pays between $60,000 to $70,000 per year, based on experience.
Plans are to get someone in place to work with Lewis before he leaves in November.
"The sooner we get this person started, the better the transition will be," he said.
Also, trustees are seeking bids for a new storage building for Hillside Cemetery after the last one was destroyed by the tornado. Bids are due May 21.
Webb said the building will be used for storing equipment, such as a backhoe and dump truck.
"This will be the final project for the cemetery since the tornado," Webb said, noting new fencing, gravestone setting and tree removal have been completed. Parke said all fallen trees and wood have been hauled away from the cemetery and new trees have been planted.