WESTON – For the third time in one year, Weston council has a vacant seat.
During Monday’s meeting, Mayor Howard Lashuay read a letter of resignation from Councilman Paul Perry who
was absent from the meeting. Perry expressed regret resigning his positions as council member and
council president, due to his job responsibilities. The resignation is effective Wednesday.
Village residents interested in the vacancy can contact Lashuay, Fiscal Officer Sarah Schroeder or attend
the Oct. 5 council meeting. The person who is chosen to fill the vacancy will serve out Perry’s term of
two years. Council will elect a new president after Sept. 30.
In a phone conversation, Perry said his new job as a truck driver takes him through several midwestern
states and away from home for long periods of time. He had been unemployed for a year, recently
retrained to drive semi-rigs again and enjoys the company for which he now hauls.
Perry said it is hard to leave council since he loves Weston and will continue to fight for it. He was
one of the leaders of the Otsego Citizens for Neighborhood Schools which worked to keep Weston
Elementary School open.
After roll call council took a voice vote whether or not to excuse Perry from the meeting. Prior to the
vote, Councilman Mark Sheffer reminded members Perry had missed six meetings, and if they excused him
"we’re paying him for service not rendered." Members chose not to excuse him.
Deputy Rod Konrad reported some individuals were arrested for theft and since then, no car break-ins in
the village have been reported. He was asked to have deputies watch for youth who congregate at Lawndale
late at night and for drivers of four-wheelers in town. Four-wheeled vehicles are not allowed to be
driven on village streets, only on the right-of-way to and from town.
Sheffer reported the Weston Township trustees sent a fire contract proposal, worded identically as a
previous one with the village paying all utilities at the new fire hall and 55 percent of other
expenses. It crossed timing with council’s direction to its solicitor to draw up a new contract offering
$1,000 a month toward expenses and going 50/50 with the trustees over big projects.
It was agreed the finance committee will look at the proposal for negotiation. Sheffer asked Schroeder
for levy income statistics for the township and village.
Sheffer also reported the township has applied to have Weston Road, which is half in the township and
half in the village, widened and repaved between Kiel and Sandridge roads. The village’s local share
would be $75,000.
"It’s probably a very worthy project for Weston business," he said. "Widening would be
good for traffic." Sheffer added it may even encourage people to build homes there.
"It needs it," Administrator Chris Douglas said about that portion of the road.
There was agreement among council members to cooperate with the township on the project. The township
will handle going out for bids.
During a second reading of an ordinance prohibiting bicyclists, in-line skaters and skateboarders on the
sidewalks in the business portion of town, Councilman Shad Kendall expressed concern about parents who
walk downtown with their young children accompanying them on bicycles. He did not want to see children
have to ride their bikes in the street.
Council agreed the prohibition is for older youth "who know better," and are "popping
wheelies," and agreed to amend the ordinance to allow children on bicycles accompanied by a parent
or guardian.
Schroeder announced a representative from the village’s income tax collection service, RITA, will be in
town on Dec. 18 to help residents file late taxes for free.
