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PERRY TOWNSHIP -- Township residents continued to speak out on lingering issues regarding properties with deed restrictions mandating annexation into the city on Beechwood Road, Countryside Drive and Hampton Place in the board of trustees meeting Monday.
Residents have rallied against the annexations, and the prospect of similar situations in other areas of the township since the issue rose to prominence in June. This trend has only continued since the city announced its proposal to resolve the situation in the Jan. 16 city council meeting that would see the township purchase a 22% stake in the utilities department for approximately $12 million, which trustees discussed at length in their Jan. 22 meeting. At that time trustees Jim Armeni and Tony Ieropoli both criticized the proposal calling it "one-sided" and "unrealistic," while trustees Chairman Steve Bailey called the feasibility of the proposal, with both its up-front and continuing cost into question.
Resident Barb Fink said that she was against the idea, noting that the city had a history of attempting to "bully" the township, not only regarding annexation but municipal and utility services. Fink also stressed that while the city would likely make subsequent offers, trustees could "be sure that they're going to want it to favor them," because the city "doesn't care about the township."
"I'm against this. The city has tried to annex before, and they just end up bullying us, and now they're bullying us over the water, but are still going to charge the surcharge. When we started the fire department it was the same thing, they were bullying the township then to get more money out of the township, and we said, 'No, we'll start our own department," said Fink. "So, I hope that you don't go along with this stuff and let them bully you because we in the township do not want the city, if we wanted the city we would have moved into the city."
Resident Maria Harrold questioned what the trustees' current stance on the annexations were, and Bailey assured her they were not in favor, reminding those in attendance that the trustees had sought outside counsel to prove the properties were not contiguous with the city as originally believed.
"We went and got legal advice on it from two different places fighting the annexation, proving that it was not able to be annexed, so I think that would show you that we are not in favor," said Bailey.
Bailey thanked both for their attendance and comments, assuring them that the trustees were researching all the township's options for the situation.
The board of trustees will meet next at 4 p.m. Feb. 26.