In attendance at the June 12th Garrettsville Village Council meeting were Councilpersons Deb Wordell, Tom Hardesty, Sheri Johnson, Richard Beatty, and Mark Brady; also present were village solicitor Michele Stuck, Mayor Rick Patrick, and Assistant Fiscal Officer Tara Beatty. Councilman John Chambers was not present.
Prior to the regular meeting a public hearing was held by Council President Tom Hardesty for ORD 2024-11, adopting section 1163.09 of the codified ordinances of the village of Garrettsville in order to adopt regulations regarding yard parking within the village. The ordinance is on its third reading at the evening’s meeting. Edward Baker, a resident of Water Street, expressed his opinion against the ordinance.
Garrettsville Games, residents and business owners Michael and Maia Skocdopole, asked council to explain what led to the need for the ordinance, and if the full text of legislation, especially legislation up for a public hearing, could be posted online so that residents could read it. Currently legislation is not posted online until it is enacted, with public display limited to the bulletin board in the lobby of village hall (subject to office hours).
Council agreed that the new website supports posting meeting packets online, and that the legislation could be posted, but they had not yet instructed the Fiscal Officer to do that. On the subject of the origin of the ordinance, Hardesty explained that there has been abuse by people parking randomly in their yards, and in a number of cases on the sidewalks. He also shared that the Planning Committee had discussed other impacts of the legislation where residents have been found using vacant lots as parking lots. With no further comments, the public hearing was closed.
During the business portion of the meeting, council reviewed and approved the minutes from the May 8th meeting, as well as the minutes from the finance meeting on May 6th. Additionally, they examined financial reports and income tax receipts. Council accepted the bills paid since the last meeting.
Hardesty provided updates on the progress of road paving, noting that it was ahead of schedule for the year and largely complete. He offered insight into the road repair process, explaining that the surface is ground down to expose the base, and repairs are made at the base layer before paving. He highlighted a particular road that required extensive repair due to improper installation during its initial construction. Hardesty expressed confidence in the repairs made but acknowledged that the road might need to be fully rebuilt in the future. He also mentioned that the current road budget needed to increase by nearly $20,000 to cover materials for extensive repair work at project sites this year.
In legislative matters, the following was discussed:
ORD 2024-09: An ordinance amending the Village of Garrettsville’s employee handbook regarding the physical fitness bonus, compensatory time, and vacation time received a third reading. Hardesty inquired if all three items were included in the legislation. The ordinance was subsequently amended to include only the physical fitness bonus. The amendment to Ordinance 2024-09 was approved, and it will receive a second reading in July.
ORD 2024-11: Adopting Section 1163.09 of the Codified Ordinances of the Village of Garrettsville to establish regulations regarding yard parking within the village. The ordinance was amended to add Section 1D, clarifying that parking is not permitted on non-occupied lots, thereby preventing off-premises garages or parking lots. Garrettsville Police Chief Tim Christopher inquired whether the enforcement would fall under the Zoning or Police Department. Stuck clarified that the Zoning Inspector would be responsible for enforcement. The ordinance was approved as amended.
ORD 2024-16: An ordinance approving and adopting a permanent budget for 2025 for the Village of Garrettsville, following publication and a public budget hearing as required by Ohio Revised Code 5705.30, and declaring an emergency (second reading). The final reading and public hearing of this budget ordinance will take place at the July meeting.
ORD 2024-19: An ordinance setting forth the compensation rates for certain employees of the village and the Board of Public Affairs Trustees, repealing prior inconsistent ordinances, and declaring an emergency. This ordinance will proceed to a third reading in July.
ORD 2024-20: An ordinance setting forth the compensation rates for certain employees of the village to eliminate a council member’s voting conflict and declaring an emergency. This ordinance received a second reading and will proceed to a third reading in July.
ORD 2024-21:An ordinance authorizing all actions necessary to accept Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC) 2024 Energized Community Grants and declaring an emergency. This ordinance allows the acceptance of NOPEC funding in the amount of $5,700.
RES 2024-22: A resolution accepting the low bid of $1,154,210.50 from Fabrizi Trucking and Paving for the Windham Street water main replacement project, authorizing the Mayor and Fiscal Officer to enter into a contract for said improvements, and declaring an emergency. The resolution, sent to council by the Board of Public Affairs, was approved on first reading.
RES 2024-23: A resolution was approved honoring Michele Stuck for her many years of outstanding service to the village of Garrettsville and the community as a whole.
ORD 2024-24: An ordinance adopting chapter 1164 of the codified ordinances of the village of Garrettsville in order to adopt regulations applicable to commercial districts within the village. Hardesty was asked by Patrick to explain the ordinance. In the commercial district, Garrettsville has several different sets of regulations, with the historic Main Street Commercial District having the most stringent in regards to exterior colors, signage, and appearance.
The legislation aims to preserve and enhance the character of the Village of Garrettsville by ensuring that new development and significant alterations within commercial districts are appropriate and compatible with their surroundings. It promotes high-quality architecture in the Western Reserve style, encouraging pedestrian mobility and enjoyment. Compliance is required for all new construction or significant alterations, defined as changes to exterior elements visible from the street, such as windows, doors, colors, and materials. Planning Commission approval is mandatory for these changes, (with the exclusion of ordinary maintenance that doesn’t require color changes).
The Western Reserve architectural style, characterized by symmetry, balance, and traditional materials like stone, brick, and wood, is preferred. Design standards encourage specific architectural details to maintain this style, including gable roofs, multi-paneled windows with shutters, decorative lintels and cornices, and prominent entrances. Natural materials or high-quality simulations are required for walls and fences. Buildings should avoid large, featureless walls and employ design elements to enhance visual appeal.
Additional requirements prohibit metal buildings and mirrored/reflective glass while ensuring mechanical equipment and waste receptacles are screened and minimally impactful. Drive-ins must be located at the back or side of buildings, and accent lighting and pedestrian-friendly fixtures are encouraged. Ordinary maintenance and necessary changes for public safety are not restricted by this chapter. Violations of these regulations will be enforcable under the Zoning Code, and the Village may take action to prevent or abate unapproved changes. The full four page ordinance is available for review in the Village of Garrettsville’s fiscal office, or by calling Village Hall and requesting a copy of the ordinance.
The proposed ordinance will allow the village to have a little more say over changes to business aesthetics in commercial districts, which will give the village more leverage when asking for a more compatible look throughout town. Examples of where being able to push for a more cohesive Western Reserve look would have been beneficial include the recent McDonald’s battleship grey remodel, and the modern-style Taco Bell. With McDonalds rumored to be undergoing a full demo and rebuild in coming years, the village would like to get this legislation in place. Michael Skocdopole expressed concern that the village was willing to limit growth to enforce aesthetics. Hardesty and Richard Beatty do not believe that the Planning Commission would be heavy-handed with the application of the ordinance, and that the benefits of maintaining the atmosphere of the village are important.
A resident of Fox Hollow asked council how to go about requesting to close part of Fox Hollow for a block party. Patrick informed the resident that the streets in Fox Hollow haven’t been accepted as village streets yet, so there is nothing they need to obtain from Council. Stuck recommended that they reach out to Community EMS and the fire department anyway, just to let them know about any closures in case of an emergency.
Nathaniel Adams, candidate for District 72 Ohio state representative, was in attendance to introduce himself to Council. Adams has been a resident of Portage County for 17 years, graduating from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 2013, receiving his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Hiram College in 2017 and his master’s degree in Communication Studies from Kent State University.
Chief Christopher has been talking to Donna Love, who suggested he ask council about adding a line item to the budget to allow expansion of the Shop With a Cop program shared with the Hiram Police department. Hiram’s Police department has a line item for the program, the Garrettsville Police would like a line item for the same purpose, so donations are stored in one place. Stuck will work with Love to create the legislation to establish a special fund in the Police budget for the next meeting. Christopher congratulated Stuck on her retirement and years of working well together.
Concluding the meeting, the round table discussion covered various topics:
Wordell seconded Christopher’s comments regarding Stuck’s time as solicitor, adding to the acknowledgment of her valuable service.
Johnson addressed an issue brought up by a resident whose address misregistered as belonging to Nelson Township. The BMV found that this was specifically affecting Fox Hollow addresses. Stuck cautioned against delving too deeply into the matter, noting there were likely other addresses misassigned that couldsurface. She mentioned that the village could lose as much as they gain from the vehcle tax if they pushed the BMV to fix it.
Stuck expressed her gratitude and fondness for everyone present.
Mayor Patrick fondly recalled Stuck’s tenure, reminiscing about shared meals and her famous Christmas cookies. He then introduced Bill Mason as Stuck’s successor, marking a transition in the role of village solicitor. Additionally, Mayor Patrick proposed council approval for the allocation of funds to cover the expenses of port-a-potties and garbage services for the upcoming Garrettsville Summerfest. However, the council opted to table the decision until July, awaiting potential adjustments to legislation that could increase the reimbursement cap to $2,500. The initial quote for these services amounted to around $2,400 and current legislation is capped at $2,000.
The mayor expressed gratitude to Keith Whan for his efforts in constructing a base for the computers at the village hall, acknowledging his contribution to the improvement of municipal facilities.
Mayor Patrick then addressed the positive feedback received regarding this year’s street paving projects, underscoring the success of the endeavors. He also proposed utilizing accumulated funds from NOPEC for the purchase of seasonal decorations and the replacement of damaged recessed lights at the veterans’ memorial on Maple Avenue. These fixtures, installed in the early 1990s, were found to be irreparable, and Scotchman Electric provided a quote for their replacement with new LED fixtures. The council unanimously approved the use of NOPEC funds for these purposes.
Tara Beatty shared information about MITS (Municipal Income Tax System), an online platform designed to facilitate the filing and payment of income taxes. She provided details regarding the cost, including a $5,082 fee plus an additional $437 for a filing module. However, information regarding fees charged to residents for paying their income tax bill through the service was not available at the time.
Richard Beatty expressed satisfaction with the positive feedback received regarding the street paving projects and suggested exploring the feasibility of engaging an engineering firm to compile a list of roads in need of repair. He proposed establishing a priority ranking to determine timelines for the work, aiming to streamline the process and ensure efficient allocation of resources.
Upcoming Events
The Garrettsville Farmers’ Market opened last week, and is open every Thursday.
On June 22nd the Chamber is having a car cruise night at Sky Plaza from 5:00-8:00
Garrettsville Summerfest will take over Main Street June 28-30 with food, rides, and music.
