Trustees honor long-serving zoning board members, appoint replacements

by Dan Holland and Laura Bednar

Nov. 12 township trustees meeting; Nov. 25 zoning commission meeting

Sagamore Hills Township trustees passed three resolutions honoring long-serving board members of the zoning commission and board of zoning appeals who are retiring. Proclamations were presented to outgoing members Dwight Chasar, Dennis Witkiewicz and Frank Gambosi at a Nov. 25 zoning commission meeting.

Chasar was recognized for serving two years on the board of zoning appeals, which was followed by 45 years of service as a member of the zoning commission, 15 of those as chair. Witkiewicz served on the zoning commission for 15 years and Gambosi served on the board of zoning appeals for 25 years, three as chairman.

Zaccardelli commended all three honorees for their years of service. “For these individuals, who are residents, they all care very much for the township and have a love of serving, and the township is very grateful to them for having served for as many years as they have. It will be hard to replace them,” he said. “They all served the township very well, and we wish them the best as they enter their retirement years.”

He added that with the three retirements as well as the retirements of former zoning commission members Dr. David Koncal and Dr. Robert Woodruff earlier this year, there was 155 years of service among the five men. 

Zaccardelli said the township has kept a list of residents who have applied and shown interest in filling zoning roles over the last few years. Resident Chris Wojtkiewicz was appointed to fill Witkiewicz’s seat on the zoning commission in August. 

At a special township trustee meeting on Dec. 4, trustees appointed Halle Lingo to fill Gambosi’s seat on the board of zoning appeals. Zaccardelli said she wrote a letter of interest in serving on the board in March 2023. John Bush, a 23-year Sagamore resident, wrote a letter of interest in June of this year and was appointed to fill Chasar’s seat on the zoning commission. Both appointees will serve five-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2025 through Dec. 31, 2029.

Zoning update

The zoning commission will hold a public hearing on changes to the zoning code on Jan. 21 at 6:45 p.m. Changes include amending language regarding accessory buildings/structures, removing an outdated text amendment regarding assisted living and amending language regarding swimming pools.

Commission members unanimously voted to change monthly meetings to the third Monday of the month instead of the fourth.

Announcements

Zaccardelli noted that First Energy will be sending out contractors to mark trees along township roads along distribution lines (that bring power into homes). 

“They’re going through and coming up with a plan to trim the trees along the streets,” he said. “That will include Carter Road, South Boyden, West Highland, West Aurora Road and some other ones they’ll be doing.”

In other business, trustees approved: 

• A resolution to authorize the fiscal officer to appropriate and expend $495,000 to the OPWC Issue 2 Capital Projects Fund for the OPWC Village Parkway project.
• A resolution to approve the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association and the full-time patrol and full-time sergeants contract of Jan. 1, 2025 through Dec. 31, 2027.

A motion to pay the township worker’s compensation premium for 2025 in full. 

photo caption: Dennis Witkiewicz (l) and Dwight Chasar retired from their zoning commission positions this year. Photo by Laura Bednar