Wednesday, May 26, 2021
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Newbury Trustees, West Geauga School Board to Meet with Task Force Members By Diane Ryder editor@geaugamapleleaf.com The long-awaited summit meeting of the West Geauga Schools Board of Education, Newbury Township Trustees and members of the Newbury Task Force Committee will take place in executive session at the school board’s May 24 meeting, Trustee Bill Skomrock said May 19. “That’s exciting news, Bill,” Trustee Glen Quigley said. Skomrock said the last time
he was able to meet with the West Geauga board was Dec. 7, with little communication since. Trustees are interested in taking ownership of the former Newbury Schools campus, for possible civic and community use. Skomrock appointed a five-person task force last year, shortly after West Geauga took over the Newbury district. The volunteer group, composed of five former Newbury school board members and a community activist, researched possible uses for the 17-acre complex.
Both Newbury groups have expressed frustration at West Geauga’s lack of response to their requests for old records and other information. Trustees hired attorney Joe Weiss, of Chester Township, to represent their interests in dealing with the West Geauga board. “Joe has made some progress and got some of the information we’ve requested for months and months and months and months,” Skomrock said at the May 19 trustees meeting.
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Task force members have said they need certain records and information to help them determine repair and maintenance costs, calculate how much revenue a community center could generate and estimate the size of a possible small recreation levy to cover costs. “It’s time to meet face to face,” the trustee said. “West Geauga has said they want the Newbury property off their books by June 30 and that looks like that’s not gonna happen. See Newbury • Page 5
Russell Township
Upper Chagrin Preserve Status Still in Limbo By Ann Wishart ann@geaugamapleleaf.com
Russell Township Trustees and the Russell Township Citizens Park District board are hoping to sort out the status of the 151-acre Upper Chagrin Preserve in the northern part of the township in the next few weeks. Trustees and the park board have been discussing a lease to give the board the authority to administer and protect the thickly-wooded preserve on the Chagrin River. Trustee Gary Gabram said May 10 he talked to township legal counsel and they decided the delay over the last few months was the result of a misunderstanding, but he believes they are on the right track to get the matter sorted out soon. The park board and the trustees have been working on a memorandum of understanding to give the three-member park board appointed by township trustees the authority to manage the preserve See Preserve • Page 9
WESTERN RESERVE LAND CONSERVANCY
This map includes parcels (1 through 7) owned by Russell Township Trustees that make up the Upper Chagrin Preserve.
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