The Garrettsville Village Council met on September 11, 2024, with council members Deb Wordell, Tom Hardesty, John Chambers, Sheri Johnson, Richard Beatty, Jeff Kaiser, Assistant Fiscal Officer Tara Beatty, and Fiscal Officer Donna Love, Solicitor William Mason Rick, and Mayor Rick Patrick. Also in attendance were Police Sergeant Keith Whan, JAG School Resource Officer Emily Ahrens, and Sergeant Timothy Vecchio.
The minutes from the August 14, 2024 meeting were reviewed and approved without changes. The financial reports were accepted, though Mayor Patrick noted that income tax collection appeared to be down. Fiscal Officer Love clarified that no deposits were made last week, so this will be reflected in the October report. Bills paid were also approved by the council.
ORD 2024-24: This ordinance aims to adopt Chapter 1164 of the Village of Garrettsville’s codified ordinances, setting regulations for commercial districts within the village. It received its third reading at the meeting. The ordinance addresses concerns that new commercial developments, such as a modernized McDonald’s and a Taco Bell, clash with the village’s aesthetic. Hardesty explained that while the historic district is tightly regulated to ensure adherence to the village’s western reserve aesthetic, there are currently no similar regulations for the other commercial districts, which prompted the need for this ordinance (the text of which can be found online alongside this article at weeklyvillager.com). The legislation was amended at the meeting to shorten the turnaround time from 60 to 30 days. Richard Beatty expressed strong concerns about the ordinance, calling it “incredibly vague” and warning it could place undue hardship on small businesses in the village. He stated that he had reviewed the ordinance multiple times and remained opposed. After some debate, a motion to amend the turnaround time was made by Hardesty and seconded by Wordell. The ordinance passed, with the shortened timetable, with Richard Beatty as the sole ‘no’ vote.
RES 2024-30: A resolution honoring the late Mark A. Brady for his outstanding service to the Village of Garrettsville was unanimously adopted. Brady, who passed away on July 20, 2024, was a dedicated council member from January 2022 until his death. He was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army and an integral part of the community, having served as past president of the Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary, the Portage County Realtors Association, and the Garrettsville Masonic Lodge #246. Brady was also a member of the Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Fraternal Order of Eagles #2705. The council recognized Brady’s commitment to the village and its residents, describing him as a friend to all, always willing to listen, offer advice, and share his optimistic outlook. His family will be presented with the resolution next month.
ORD 2024-31: An ordinance to amend section 555.02(A) of the village’s codified ordinances, which pertains to the maximum height of grass and weeds, was introduced and received its first reading. Wordell asked for clarification on the origins of the amendment, and Hardesty explained that the prior height limit was too stringent. The amendment raises the maximum allowable height of grass and weeds from six inches to ten inches, providing more leniency for property owners. Hardesty went on to explain that this change reflects a desire to strike a balance between aesthetic and practical considerations. The ordinance will head to a public hearing at the November 13 meeting before final consideration.
Sergeant Whan was asked by Chief Tim Christopher (who was on vacation and could not attend the meeting) to make a request on his behalf; the police department has an administrative assistant position approved for 30 hours a week, but their current employee is only available to work about six hours weekly. The department received an application for a second administrative assistant position and would like to hire for this role, ensuring that the total hours worked between the two employees do not exceed 30 hours a week. Donna Love confirmed that the wage ordinance does not specify the number of employees required for this position; she also reminded Whan that the position must be posted internally for seven days before they can hire the applicant. A motion to allow the hiring was made by Chambers and seconded by Beatty. The motion passed unanimously.
Round Table
Feral Cat Issue: Wordell raised concerns from several neighbors regarding feral cats in the village, specifically around parking lots and residential areas. She asked whether the village has legislation for this issue, or if it would fall under the county’s jurisdiction, requiring the contacting of animal control. Tara Beatty mentioned that there are organizations that specialize in capturing and rehoming stray cats, which could provide a solution.
Emergency Sirens: Chambers presented a quote for additional emergency sirens for tornado alerts, as requested by Mayor Patrick. These would potentially be installed near the village’s water tower on Park Avenue and the Industrial Drive standpipe. Wordell expressed interest in determining the age of the quoted system (which was a used, refurbished model) and the availability of replacement parts, citing issues faced by smaller communities with maintaining aging sirens. The topic has gained traction after a tornado siren failure in Windham earlier this year. Discussion amongst council and the audience ensued around the topic of where residents can/cannot hear the siren located at the GFN Joint Fire District’s station. Wordell stated that she supports adding more sirens but requested additional quotes for new systems to compare with the proposed refurbished sirens.
Upcoming Events: Mayor Patrick reminded residents that the village’s new time capsule will be installed and sealed on September 21, with letters still being accepted by the Historical Society to be stored inside and opened in 80 years. He also announced the Fall community cleanup scheduled for October 17 and trick-or-treating hours set for October 26 from 6-8 p.m.
