By Noell Wolfgram Evans

On Jan. 14, the Twinsburg Township Trustees held their first regular meeting of the new year. Attending the meeting in the Twinsburg Township Hall were Trustee Chair Jim Balogh, Vice Chair Jamey DeFabio, Trustee Jessica L. Favitta, Fiscal Officer Tania Johnson and Township Manager Rob Kagler. 

Balogh called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. and then led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance. He next invited a Summit County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant to provide a police report. In December, there were 940 calls to service, bringing the total number for 2025 to 11,807. Additionally, there were 32 traffic citations issued for a 2025 total of 449, and four arrests, bringing the complete 2025 number to 43.

With a pending winter storm, the lieutenant offered a reminder that people should not park on the street so plows could clear them effectively and efficiently. He said it was important to remove cars pre-storm, as trucks would be out salting the road in advance of the weather.

The lieutenant also offered a reminder that the weather can delay trash and recycling collection. He encouraged residents to call the township if, at the end of the day, collection had not been made at their house.

Johnson asked if those reminders could be sent out to the full community via Instaconnect and if they could include a reminder to people in the next township communication to sign up for that service.

Johnson then provided her fiscal report. At the end of December, the township had $993,043.16 in receipts. That included payments, the bank reconciliation fund status, appropriation status and revenue status. On Jan. 19, her office would complete the financial accounting rollover from 2025 to 2026. Johnson also said that the 2023-2024 state audit has been completed, and they were just awaiting the final report, which would be made available to the public as soon as they had it. 

The trustees then offered their individual reports. Balogh started by welcoming Favitta, who provided a bit about her background and what she hoped to accomplish as a trustee. DeFabio wished everyone a happy new year and spoke briefly on the progress he has noted on the square. Balogh then offered an update on a meeting he had with Metro RTA. The purpose of the meeting was to see if the group would restore RTA bus service to the interior streets of the Joint Economic Development District. He said “that was a no, but they have rolled out the METRO NEXT program in that area.” That program allows people to take a standard bus to any regular stop within the district and then call for a “SCAT-type bus” to take them to their final destination for an additional charge.

Kagler returned to the podium for the next item, a review of the Consent Agenda. Resolution 10-26 would allow the township to make payments of $95,915 for services to be rendered throughout the year. Resolution 11-26 would authorize the payments of then-and-now purchase orders amounting to $6,392.58. The content agenda also included the meeting minutes from December 2025 and the December 2025 financial report. The consent agenda was approved without comment.

“A perfect storm” is how Kagler then characterized the next items up for discussion. He wanted to alert the trustees to the contracts and projects that would need to be taken care of in 2026. These included the fire and EMS contracts; the construction of the fire station; the contract with the sheriff’s office; the trash and recycling contract; depository agreements for the township; agreements for the postage meter, copier and building access management system; upgrade to the basketball courts on Harvard Road; Kensington Ridgetop phase 4; JEDD roads phase 1; the annual township road programs; updating and upgrading the website; and managing service department funding. That last item was the only time-sensitive item, as it would require placement on the ballot.

Kagler would later ask trustees to consider drafting three resolutions: 12-96, which would craft language to put a 1.24-mil continuing levy on the ballot; 13-26 for a 1.12-mil continuing levy; and 14-26, which would be a .99-mil continuing levy. Those would allow more investigation and decision-making on a direction the township should take. The trustees unanimously approved moving forward in that process.

A number of residents took the microphone during a spirited public comments section to ask questions and voice concerns. Andrea Crosby wanted to know the status of a parcel of land on Hadden Road. At one point, the land belonged to her family, and she was interested in purchasing it back. 

Robert Marchiando next shared a story about a bullet that had become lodged in his family room wall. He expressed disappointment that there was never a formal police investigation and asked the township for a more formal review of the incident and a review of the gun range laws. 

Steven Hummel then took the floor to discuss the planning of Tynes Farm. He used a number of handouts, photos and planning documents to share his concerns.

Marchiando returned to the podium to share his concerns over the development, as well. He suggested that “this thing is being handled incorrectly” and suggested a third party be engaged. 

When his time was up, Hummel returned for another 5-minute session. His frustration with the pace of the project and his inability to get answers became evident. As his time ended, he asked for another 5 minutes but was denied.

Balogh then reviewed the upcoming calendar. On Jan. 19, the township offices would be closed. On Feb. 10, there will be a zoning meeting, and on Feb. 11, there will be a regular board meeting. The meeting was then adjourned.