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WEATHERSFIELD -- Trustees have approved extending the township's moratorium on data centers by six months to allow officials more time for research.
Trustees at their meeting earlier this month said the zoning commission, law director Cherry Poteet and zoning inspector Kelly Clarke have been working on zoning regulations and guidelines for data centers.
Trustee Ed Whittaker said the six-month extension will provide the needed time to get that finished and forwarded to trustees for their approval.
"Everyone has heard a lot about data centers in the past year. There are a lot of places across the country who don't have zoning guidelines in place for data centers. We need to have protection in place for those types of facilities. The township is trying to do its due diligence to get what we need in place to protect the residents," Whittaker said.
He said the process takes time.
"This is a huge undertaking and will not happen overnight. It takes a lot of digging into and is why we need time," Whittaker said.
Trustees said there are concerns of what effect data centers will have on the community.
Trustee Chairman Steve Gerberry said the current moratorium was to have expired in October and will be extended six months into April.
PARK PROJECT
The township secured a $500,000 grant, which will be used for township park improvements.
Trustee Richard Harkins was in contact with state Rep. Nick Santucci, R-Niles, in pursuing the funds.
The township had planned to build a training center for the police department at the park, but the local match for grants was too high. The project has since been scaled back.
Township Administrator David Rouan will seek proposals for the design, build and construction of a pavilion, restrooms and parking area for the township park.
Also, resident Kimberly Brunson of Prospect Street asked if there could be a speed limit reduction from the current 25 mph to 15 mph on the street.
She said there have been cars that speed on the street and in the area where the street has a hill, which creates a blind spot with the sunrise and sunset. Brunson said she is concerned that someone, such as a child playing, will get hurt.
She also said some police cruisers are going too fast when they go in and out of the nearby police department.
Brunson said that during the annual Flag Day Festival, which includes closing a section of state Route 46 for the parade, many drivers who do not know the area will cut through on Prospect Street and speed in the area to get around the parade.
She asked if a sign could be posted during the parade that Prospect Street is not accessible to the public to prevent all the vehicles traveling through and speeding.
She said another route people could take is Ohltown Road to Niles Carver Road.
VEHICLE TRADE
Trustees approved the trade of a 2017 transport van used by the Weathersfield Police Department to the Niles Police Department, which provided $10,000.
Police Chief Michael Naples said Weathersfield will still be able to use it. He said the department decided to trade with Niles since it does not use the van as much.
"This is a win-win for both communities," Naples said.
Weathersfield will transfer the 2017 Ford Transit prisoner transport van to Niles, and the city will then transfer a 2020 Ford utility police interceptor, with Niles paying $10,000 to Weathersfield.
Naples said the 2017 vehicle in Weathersfield is no longer needed by the township and the 2020 vehicle is no longer needed by Niles.
OKTOBERFEST
Trustees gave their approval to allow an Oktoberfest from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Oct. 17 at the township park off Route 46.
The event is being organized by Weathersfield Community Connection Partners, who hosted the annual Flag Day Festival in June and National Night Out in August.
Whittaker said assistant Fire Chief Jeff Tucker is among those on the committee.
In other action, trustees:
• Accepted the resignations of Trent Cochran, a firefighter who has taken a part-time position with the Howland Fire Department, and Brandon Freer, a police officer who has accepted a position with the Liberty Police Department.
Gerberry said the fire department is an active volunteer department where people get experience here and then move on to other departments. He said many move on to larger departments, such as Howland and Boardman.
"Many stay here in Wethersfield and then move on to full-time positions," Gerberry said.
Whittaker said the police officers also gain experience in the township and then move on to other jobs.
In other business, trustees:
• Heard from resident Michael Moore who asked questions about the zoning guidelines, including exterior lighting on properties and portable above-ground swimming pools.
• Held a moment of silence to recognize Brian Pennick, a former member of the McKinley Heights Fire Department, who died last month at age 68. Pennick attained the rank of fire lieutenant. He was a Youngstown State University mechanical engineering graduate and had a career in the trucking industry.
• Set trick or treat for 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31.
• Passed a motion for the removal of three junk vehicles at 2896 Niles Carver Road.