By Noell Wolfgram Evans

Cuyahoga Falls City Council Meeting

May 12

6:30 p.m.

In attendance were Council Members Rachel Loza, Susan Spinner, Joe Siegferth, Michael Brillhart, Gary DeRemer, Jerry James, Frank Stams, Russ Balthis, Mary Nichols-Rhodes and Brian Ashton. Also in attendance were Mayor Don Walters, Finance Director Bryan Hoffman, Service Director Anthony Zumbo, Deputy Law Director Matthew Dickinson, City Engineer Tony Demasi and Community Development Director Diana Colavecchio.

The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. Councilwoman Spinner then led an invocation. James next led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Council President Balthis proposed the approval of past council meeting minutes from February 24, March 10, March 24 and March 28. The minutes were approved as written.

Three orders of business were on the agenda. One was a letter from Walters regarding the appointment of resident Nancy Iula to the Charter Review Commission. This appointment was to fill the vacancy of Jeff Iula. The council was also presented with Temporary Ordinance B-31, which would allow the city to enter into a contract to replace the roof on the municipal garage. Also up for consideration was Temporary Ordinance B-32. This was concerned with the creation of the Reserve at Boulder Estate Tax Increment Financing incentive district.

With no public hearings set, Balthis recessed the council meeting to call to order a Committee of the Whole meeting to further discuss the mayor’s appointment.

Walters said that Nancy Iula’s appointment would be to cover the final two meetings of the commission. She would be taking a seat her husband stepped away from for medical reasons. Walters felt like there could be strength in this type of continuation.

James brought forth the motion for approval, and it passed the committee unanimously. Balthis then brought the council meeting out of recess and put the appointment before the council. It passed with a vote of 10 to 0.  

The meeting then shifted to the review of standing committee reports. Planning & Zoning, Finance & Appropriations, and Public Affairs had no reports.

Stams provided a Public & Industrial Improvements report. He requested the passage of Temporary Ordinance B-29, which would enable the city to enter into a contract for concrete pavement repairs. Stams stated that Perrin was the “best and lowest bidder.” The request was approved 10 to 0.

As chair of the Community Development Committee, Siegferth put forth Temporary Ordinance B-30, which would enable the mayor to “execute a Community Development Block Grant Agreement.” There were no remarks on this proposal, and it was then passed with a vote of 10 to 0.

The Finance Committee will next meet on May 19 at 6:30 p.m. The Community Development committee will hold a public hearing on Temporary Ordinance B-32 on Monday, June 16. All other committee meetings will be held subject to call.

The last order of business was brought by James. He proposed a motion that the council excuse Councilwoman Meika Marie Penta for her absence from the meeting. The motion was approved 10 to 0.

Balthis then adjourned the meeting.