Bath Township Administrator Applicants: Bill Snow

First up in our is current Administrator Bill Snow. 

Snow has more than 30 years of service in the public sector, and started his career in Bath Township as a firefighter in 1982. He has been administrator since 2000.

He but did so in June to protect is pension from changes at the state level. Snow also asked trustees to consider rehiring him and threw his hat back into the ring when trustees advertised the position.

and Fairlawn-Bath Patch asked each the same five questions. If you have a question for the applicant, tell us in the comments and we'll ask them.

Editor's note: No one is running a campaign for this position. The new township administrator will be appointed by trustees.

FB Patch: Why do you want to be Bath Township Administrator?

Bill Snow: Thank you for the opportunity to serve Bath Township in the past, and I grow up in Bath on a Farm and where I learned to work hard. I joined the Bath Fire Department where I served many years learning what providing township services is all about, from the bottom up I understand the township. I served as the Township Clerk Treasurer for three years, coming into the position in difficult circumstances and I have served as the Township Administrator since 2000, and the record reflect many accomplishments.

I bring to the table strong financial budgetary skills. It not what I have done but what has been accomplished as a team from the Board of Trustees to the department heads while supporting and getting results. It’s about setting goals and following up and making the goals a reality.  It is all about customer service to our residents, listening to residents and I bring problem solving and mediation to job each and every day. I have those skills.

It’s about strong interpersonal skills to deal with employees, residents, and other governmental officials.  I have their respect, and cooperation. It’s all about the ability to negotiate fairly and wisely while treating people with respect and looking out for our township resident’s interest. 

It’s about be progressive in planning and anticipating problems before they occur fiscal cut backs, HR problems, and many issues that affect Bath Township from the outside.  It’s about setting real goals and objectives and be held accountable.

FB Patch: What changes do you want to make/new ideas do you want to implement in Bath?

Bill Snow: The future is good here in Bath Township due to the strong leadership from the Board of Trustees and Fiscal Officer but challenges are on the horizon.  Sustainability for our service level will be the key as we move forward with state cut backs to our budget.  They will challenge us to keep our service level where it is without additional taxation.  I have the skill set to address those challenges.  All while we continue provide strong outreach to the community. Fiscal management to protect our tax payers, and bring effect local government forward is imperative in the future.

But in light of the cut backs.  I have goals: we can provide another recycling drop off in the future. We can review our dispatch operations and look to vitalization with another community to enhance service. We can improve our staffing our in our fire department with redevelopment of our fire department explorer post to build our staff. We can find funding to refine our parks. All without additional tax dollars. With all the budget issues that we face we have a bright future, and I bring the integrity, dedication, problem solving and more than anything I am a proven leader that is always accessible. Thank you for taking the time to read this. 

FB Patch: Do you live in Bath Township? 

Bill Snow: Yes.

FB Patch: Why are you qualified for this position?

Bill Snow: Private business owner experience, along with serving as Clerk Treasurer, and twelve  years of experience in the position of Township Administrator.   In summary, I have tackled many problems and here is a summary of those.

• Financial:

Strong skills in drafting budgets, implementation of appropriations and day to day tracking of the  financial position of the community.

Effective budgetary projections were drafted and many decisions effective decisions were based on those projections. i.e. levy renewals, project management, and long range planning.

Fifteen years of excellent audit reports under three different Fiscal Officers including:

Drafted and implemented an Investment Plan which remains in place.

Drafted and implemented a Safety Committee and safety protocols which have limited risk exposure, and resulted in substantial savings on insurance premiums.

Implemented the creation of an Audit Committee to improve accountability.

The accomplishments listed above have resulted in an improvement of our Bond Rating in several instances.

• Infrastructure:

Oversaw the purchase of land, the development of specifications, and the completion of Bath-Copley Fire Station No. 2.

Oversaw the purchase of land and the expansion of cemeteries in Bath Township.

Assisted in the negotiations and renovation for the new Service Facility on Ira Road.

Oversaw the renovation of the 911 Dispatch Center.

• Community Cooperation:

Helped to establish and maintain community organizations such as the Bath Business Association, the Bath Homeowners Association, the annual clean-up day, public shredding and hazardous waste drop-off days.

Using grant monies and working with the local schools designed and built a recycling facility.

Instrumental in creating a Township presence on the Internet (website, facebook, and links to community groups and events).

• Maintaining Rural Character:

Worked on the last two JEDD proposals by helping the JEDD Committee develop policies and doing extensive research on annexation and its probable impact on our township.  Failure of the JEDD had the potential of a 14% reduction in our property tax revenues. 

Assisted with the creation of Bath Hill Park.

Worked on the financing (both short term notes and long term bonds) for the Bath Nature Preserve.  Worked on the early retirement of the Bonds saving significant interest cost to Bath Township taxpayers.

Worked on the effort to prevent drilling on the Bath Nature Preserve.

Served on a state-wide committee to regulate oil and gas drilling, testifying in Columbus on the concerns of local governments.

Recruited and supported the work of the Blue Ribbon Committee on Home Rule.

Worked on various issues affecting Bath Township such as panhandling, local gambling, sex businesses, redistricting, radio towers, and subdivision issues.

Progressive action taken on several measures to protect the community such as controlling Ghent and Cleveland-Massillon development issues, addressing nuisance properties concerns and monitoring general Northeast Ohio issues that directly affect Bath Township.    

FB Patch: What is your favorite season and why? 

Bill Snow: Fall — the colors are beautiful.