By Linda Dillman
Staff Writer
The Madison Township trustees are hanging out the Help Wanted sign for volunteers to serve on a newly established Citizens Advisory Committee.
Trustee Michele Reynolds, elected in November and now vice chairman of the board, proposed establishing the committee to provide a means for citizens to offer input on “matters that affect them,” such as a proposed $5 motor vehicle tax.
Representatives are needed from both the unincorporated and incorporated areas of the township.
“The first thing to address is the permissive motor vehicle tax,” said Reynolds, following a discussion to postpone action on the tax until the committee was formed and started meeting.
Trustee Chairman John Pritchard added, “By doing this, one of the goals (of the committee) is to put information out to the community and then get it on the agenda. My preference is that we establish a framework and allow the members of the committee decide how to run it. There are a lot of people who don’t come to the meetings, but might be interested.”
Madison Township Administrator Susan Brobst said, while the committee would not have any real authority, they could bring recommendations to the board for consideration on the monthly agenda.
In order to begin collecting the permissive tax as soon as possible, the trustees must take action and have the Bureau of Motor Vehicles approve the tax by July.
However, there is no window of opportunity that closes if the board does not take action within the next few months.
If approved, car owners would start paying the tax when they buy new license plates or renew old ones. If the Citizens Action Committee is formed quickly, it could present its recommendations in time for the trustees to make a decision this year.
Estimates by the state project future revenue at $80,000 for the township’s roads and bridges fund. The permissive motor vehicle tax only impacts vehicle owners who live in the unincorporated areas of the township.
A decision on approving the tax was postponed from the November 2019 trustee meeting following Reynolds’ election unseating former trustee John Kershner.
“There’s been lots of conversation about moving forward,” said Brobst.
About the Citizen Advisory Committee
The Madison Township trustees established a Citizen Advisory Committee to include community residents of Madison Township, including the unincorporated areas and the cities of Canal Winchester and Groveport.
The committee will review information on certain township matters determined feasible by the trustees, discuss it with other residents and provide recommendations to the trustees through a representative delegated by the committee. Meetings will be held at the Township Community Center, dates and times to be determined. Meetings will be open to the public and the position is voluntary.
Township residents interested in the committee should email by Feb. 4, CAC@madisontownship.org and include name, address, email, and phone number. Call 614-836-5308, for further information.
Those that have expressed interest will be contacted following the Feb. 11 trustee meeting.
