By Julie Erickson

Attendees:  

Chris Foster, president

Jeffrey Anzevino, mayor

Karen Heater, council member

Nicole Kowalski, council member

Mike Bird, council member

Skylar Sutton, council member

Patricia Goetz, council member

Thomas Sheridan, city manager

Marshal Pitchford, city solicitor

Aparna Wheeler, clerk of council

The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. with the pledge of allegiance and roll call.

The minutes were accepted as provided and unanimously approved for the Aug. 19 council meeting and for the Aug. 26 workshop.

Anzevino read a proclamation honoring Liz Murphy for 35 years of service to the Hudson community. At one time, Murphy was owner of the Learned Owl Book Shop in Hudson and held many events at the store with one event, a Harry Potter event, which brought 14,000 attendees to the city of Hudson. Murphy played a role in Destination Hudson and recently retired as their executive director. Murphy served as unofficial chair of the merchants of Hudson and served as the chair of the lighting committee for the Christmas lighting of the green.

Several council members spoke up on what a pleasure it was working with Murphy throughout the years on community events. Foster stated he had childhood memories of buying books from Murphy as a Hudson High School student. Foster went on to state the list of Murphy’s accomplishments is indeed impressive and he wished her a happy retirement.

No public comments were made.

Kowalski stated that due to the Labor Day holiday, the Environmental Awareness Committee would be meeting Thursday.

Goetz stated that there would be an interfaith prayer service held to advocate and pray for peace at the gazebo on the green in Hudson on Sept. 3.

Foster stated he was contacted by some charter review committee members that were concerned about some misinformation regarding the charter review process and the amendments to be placed on the ballot this November. Foster said he hoped that the Environmental Awareness Committee will be provided proper information around the formation and submission process of ballot initiatives by the Charter Review Committee. 

Foster stated that at the last Environmental Awareness Committee meeting, the committee was provided what could be considered “seriously erroneous on one side, probably straight outright lie on the other side information was provided.” He then said he wanted to play a short audio tape of that erroneous information that was provided to the Environmental Awareness Committee at their last meeting.

Before Foster could play the audio, Kowalski said that the council had not been slated to review and make recommendations to the initiatives from the Charter Review Committee until, she thought, a July 8 regularly scheduled dual City Council and workshop meeting. Kowalski then stated that “at which point the deadline to make any revisions to the recommendations had passed.”

Foster stated that there is no deadline for the City Council to make recommendations or revisions to the Charter Review recommendations. The City Council plays no part in the Charter Review Committee except to appoint members to the committee and then to forward the Charter Review initiatives to the ballot. The City Council, if it chooses, can establish its own competing amendments. 

City Council cannot at any point in the process try to influence the recommendations from the Charter Committee. Foster said this is important information that needs to be passed on to the Environmental Awareness Committee. 

Anzevino then commented that he spent four hours this past Sunday on the Hudson green at the demonstration being held there. The mayor said that he wants residents to know that a week ago, the city started to review what is within the city’s right legally to do to protect the community from disruptive demonstrations held on city property.

Kowalski then asked to be recognized to speak again and asked Foster “for clarification” on what specifically he wants to be clarified to the Environmental Awareness Committee. Foster first reminded Kowalski that she is to be speaking to the floor, but he would answer her question. Foster stated that the Environmental Awareness Committee needs to specifically be told that “there is never an opportunity, for council as a body, to weigh in on the initiatives that the Charter Review Committee recommends being forwarded on to the ballot.” 

Kowalski then stated she had no idea why Foster is playing “this game” and continues to constantly “vilify her,” but she is not going to take it and will be gone in three months as she is not running for re-election to council. Kowalski also stated that on the tape just played of her speaking to the Environmental Awareness Committee that she was only speaking in generalities as far as making changes to recommendations made by the Charter Committee.

Sheridan reminded that on Sept. 11, in conjunction with the city schools, the city will be holding a Climb the Stairs event at Hudson Memorial Stadium.

ACTV has a new app ACTV-Ohio that can be downloaded from the city website and elsewhere.

No appointments were made at this meeting, but Foster reviewed that in January, there will be positions available for appointment to a variety of boards and commissions.

Item 25-0104: Resolution to acknowledge the timely receipt of July 2025 monthly financial report.

Item 25-120: Resolution to authorize the city manager to enter into a preliminary engineering agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway for Hines Hill Road grade separation project.

Item 25-121: Due to the modification of the original design of the SR 303 Safety Project from Boston Mills Road to SR 91, the amount of ODOT safety grant funding was reduced from $330,000 to $100,000.     

Item 25-122: This project includes pavement striping, signage improvements and curb ramps along West Streetsboro Street (SR 303) between Boston Mills Road and Atterbury Boulevard. The construction total cost is $162,971.56, with $100,000 funded by a safety grant from ODOT.

Item 25-123: The city of Hudson is interested in selling approximately .1705 acres of a parcel located at 5431 Hudson Dr., identified by the Summit County auditor as Parcel 3001315, for $10,416.36 to the owner of a parcel located at 5411 Hudson Dr., identified by the Summit County auditor as Parcel 3001552. The land is currently owned by Jessi Brown. 

Item 25-124: The city of Hudson has been awarded a State Capital Budget Grant in the amount of $62,700 to fund an ADA accessible kayak ramp with no required match. Funding received should cover the project entirely.

Item 25-125: On Aug. 13, the city of Hudson experienced a substantial lightning storm in the area of the Southside Substation. The storm tripped one of the main transformers at the substation. The transformer has been out of service since Aug. 13. The transformer was tested after the storm, and it was determined that the transformer cannot be re-energized. The distribution circuit that this transformer served was transferred to another substation, and the system is still being supplied from that location, which reduces the reliability of the system. 

Item 25-126: Per the terms of Section 9.02 of the charter, all park and playground construction shall be submitted to the Planning Commission for report and recommendation.

All above consent agenda items passed 6 in favor to 0 opposed after the rules were suspended to pass the consent agenda.

25-113: A resolution authorizing the city manager to advertise for competitive bids and to enter a contract for Hudson Drive waterline extension. Second reading.

25-119: The city is interested in creating a regulatory scheme addressing vehicles, such as golf carts and UTVs, after recent changes to state law. Second reading. 

25-127: This ordinance allows for the refinancing of existing financial obligations of the city. It allows for the rollover of note proceeds used to pay for the former Windstream property at 100 Owen Brown St., purchased as part of the Downtown Phase II Project. First reading.

25-128: This ordinance allows for the financing of the former Windstream property at 94 Owen Brown St., purchased as part of the Downtown Phase II Project. First reading.

25-129: This ordinance allows for the refinancing of existing financial obligations of the city. It allows for the sale of notes to finance the cost of the new bus garage and salt storage facility. First reading.

25-130: This ordinance allows for the financing of the purchase of the Hudson Drive property that will be used for the new Public Works facility, as well as financing the cost of design of the new facility. First reading.

25-131: This ordinance allows for the financing of the construction of the new Public Works facility. First reading.

25-132: This ordinance allows for the financing of the new clubhouse at Ellsworth Meadows Golf Club. The total cost is estimated at $3.1 million. The balance of the project cost will be paid from the golf course fund balance. First Reading.

25-133:  This ordinance allows for the multi-purpose trail along Boston Mills Road between Omni Lake Parkway and Lake Forest Drive. First reading.

25-134: This ordinance allows for the financing of the trail along Valley View Road between SR 91 and Hunting Hollow Drive and on Hunting Hollow Drive to Prospect Road as part of the connectivity plan. First reading.

25-135: This ordinance allows for the financing of the remodeling/renovation of the fire/EMS facility. First reading.

25-136: This ordinance authorizes borrowing for the installation of the expanded residential broadband services. First reading.

There was no third reading on any of the above, so there was no vote taken or needed on the above. 

The meeting was adjourned to go into executive session.