By Noell Wolfgram Evans

The Cuyahoga Falls City Council held a meeting at the Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 15. In attendance were Council President Russ Balthis, Ward Two Council Member Susan Spinner, Ward Three Council Member Meika Marie Penta, Ward Four Council Member Joe Siegferth, Ward Five Council Member Michael Brillhart, Ward Six Council Member Gary DeRemer, Ward Seven Council Member Jerry James and At-Large Council Members Mary Nichols-Rhodes and Brian Ashton. 

Ward One Council Member Rachel Loza was not in attendance but, shortly after the roll call, a motion was made to excuse her. Ward Eight Council Member Frank Stams did not attend. 

Also in attendance were Mayor Don Walters, Finance Director Bryan Hoffman, Clerk of Council Dana Capriulo, Deputy Law Director Matthew Dickinson, Assistant City Engineer Mackenzie Kaser and Community Development Director Diana Colavecchio.

Balthis gavelled the meeting to order at 6:30 pm and the roll was called. He then introduced ordinance B-121, which would empower the mayor to enter into a contract for the sale of a vacant property. This ordinance was unanimously accepted and moved directly to the Finance Committee. With that, Balthis adjourned the council meeting and a Finance Committee meeting started.

The Finance Committee was meeting to consider a number of time-sensitive ordinances. Each ordinance was brought up in turn, explained and, in some cases, discussed. Every ordinance then was voted out of committee and forwarded to the full council for a vote at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

Ordinance B-113 is for the implementation of a new cybersecurity program. It was explained that while the city has had a cybersecurity program in place, a few adjustments were needed in order for it to be in compliance with Ohio House Bill 96.

Ordinance B-151 would authorize the purchase of three truckloads of carts for the refuse and recycling programs. The amount asked for is $151,890. It was noted that this was the same amount in the budget for 2025, although the actual amount spent was less than that. Brillhart questioned what the typical lifespan of a cart was. Charles Novak, street commissioner, said that they can last on average about 10 years.

Ordinance B-115 would cover the city's salt and asphalt purchases for 2026. This request is for the purchase of 7,000 tons of salt and 3,000 tons of asphalt materials. Novak said that the 10-year average for the city in regard to salt usage was 7,000 tons. Novak explained that the budget request is slightly higher than what was in the 2025 budget because the city had excess salt at the start of the year due to a mild winter in 2024.

Fire Chief Chris Martin spoke to ordinance B-116, which would enable the fire department to use Atlantic Emergency Services for vehicle repairs and maintenance. The amount of the contract would be $175,000.

Ordinance B-117 would allot an amount of $1,864,500 for the garage to purchase gas, tires and parts and to pay for some vehicle repairs in 2026. B-118 would allocate $7,267,000 for the purchase of 16 vehicles over the course of the year. The highest priced item of this group is a firetruck, which would cost $1,200,000.

Hoffman asked that ordinance B-119 be considered. This is an annual ordinance that allows his office to request an advance from the county on property tax payments. He also discussed ordinance B-120, which he described as a general “clean-up” ordinance. This would adjust appropriations based on actual spending throughout 2025. 

The committee then took up ordinance B-121, which council had opened the evening by sending to the committee. Colavecchio explained that this was a time-sensitive issue, and she thanked the committee for taking it up on short notice. She then explained that the city had an offer on a parcel of land, which they could not accept until council approved it. The land was initially purchased by the city through the land bank for $800; it was appraised for $30,000 and that is what they were currently entertaining an all-cash offer for. The vote to approve this ordinance and move it to the full council was passed with four members voting yes and Ashton abstaining. He explained he had worked with the courts prior to the land being acquired, as the resident who had lived there had a number of property violations.

That brought the Finance Committee meeting to a close and opened up the Community Development meeting. Colavecchio spoke here in support of ordinance B-99, which would establish a 30-year TIF on the senior center property being built between Bath and Graham roads. She said this “is one of the tools in the toolbox we use for the benefit of the city.” The ordinance was unanimously passed by the committee and sent to the council for a full vote. 

The council then adjourned.