New planner hired at stormy meeting

By Beth Baumgardner
Herald Staff Intern

Questions regarding the qualifications of Brookfield Township’s new comprehensive plan contract holder led one trustee to storm out of the meeting room Monday, another to abruptly end the meeting and provoked several angry outbursts.

The meeting’s transition from order to chaos followed the trustees’ decision to hire William J. Jones, Florida, to finish the township’s comprehensive plan by June 30 for $2,500.

Jones is to complete the plan begun by Pro-Con Enterprises, Youngstown, but not completed due to Pro-Con’s breach of contract, according to the Jones contract agreement. Jones is a former employee of Pro-Con owner Michael Walker.

The contract says Jones will be held free of any liability arising from the Pro-Con portion of the plan. It also holds that Jones will be paid in two installments.

On June 15 — after receipt of the completed commercial and business plan, and industrial and manufacturing plan — Jones is to be paid $1,250. The other half will be paid June 30 after receipt of completed recommendations for zoning and review of materials.

Former Trustee John Miller asked three times whether there was going to be any public input regarding the trustees’ decision as they discussed the contract. After the vote on Trustee Gary Lees’ motion to hire Jones, the board allowed Miller to speak.

Trustees hired Walker in October 1998 for $22,000 but he failed to complete the plan and left town with most of that money.

Miller asked Lees about Jones’ qualifications to complete the plan, noting that last fall Lees also praised Walker for more than 45 minutes.

“Why are you asking me that,” Lees said. “I don’t need to rub mud for The Herald. This is between you and me, John.”

Lees then abruptly stood, grabbed his coat and briefcase and stormed out of the room. Miller continued speaking to the trustees, “You’re doing the same thing you’ve done with Mr. Walker!”

Trustee Chairwoman Janalyn Saloom replied, “This is your opinion, John. And, John, we don’t want to hear your opinion.”

Miller asked if Mrs. Saloom was planning on paying the $2,500 under the Jones contract or if the township was footing the bill.

Mrs. Saloom replied, “Don’t you worry about it.” Mrs. Saloom said in November that if necessary she would pay for the plan herself to get it finished should the cost exceed the balance allotted to Walker — $300 to $500.

She added that Miller just wanted to “cut people down.” Mrs. Saloom said Jones was qualified and had done planning for Youngstown State University and Liberty Township.

Mrs. Saloom then ended the meeting while Miller asked more questions and trustees went into executive session. Meanwhile, other citizens at the meeting continued to argue with Miller. Several said Miller should leave the Walker matter to the courts so the township could move on to different issues.

Following their termination of the Pro-Con contract in November, trustees asked their attorney, Mark Finamore of Vienna, to recommend other planners.

Last month, trustees decided to file a $20,000 civil suit with the county prosecutor against Walker in an attempt to recoup their losses, but his whereabouts are still unknown.

Saloom’s abrupt end to the meeting echoed that of a September meeting during which Miller questioned the whereabouts of Walker and the quality of his work.

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