Cuyahoga Falls City Council holds regular meetings on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. Council committee meetings are held on the first and third Mondays in order to allow councilmembers to publicly discuss pending legislation that will be voted on at regular meetings. The public is free to comment on pending legislation during the allowed time set aside as part of committee meetings.
Cuyahoga Falls City Council met on Tuesday, January 2 for their first meeting of 2024 as an organizational meeting to elect Council President, President Pro-tem, Chaplin, and Sergeant at Arms. The meeting of the whole was called to order by Ward 7 Councilman Jerry James who is the ranking member of seniority.
Officers were elected 11-0 as follows:
President :Russ Balthis
President Pro-Tem: Jerry James
Chaplin: Susan Spinner
Sergeant at Arms: Jerry James
Council Clerk: Dana Capriulo
Committee assignments were made, and with last December’s change of council rules, committees now have five members rather than three.
Planning and Zoning
Chair: Susan Spinner
Vice Chair: Joe Siegferth
Members: Frank Stams, Mike Brillhart, Rachel Loza
Finance
Chair: Mary Nichols-Rhodes
Vice Chair: Mike Brillhart
Members: Meika Penta, Brian Ashton, Joe Siegferth
Public and Industrial Improvements
Chair: Meika Penta
Vice Chair: Frank Stams
Members: Jerry James, Rachel Loza, Gary DeRemer
Public Affairs
Chair: Rachel Loza
Vice Chair: Brian Ashton
Members: Jerry James, Frank Stams, Gary DeRemer
Community Development
Chair: Joe Siegferth
Vice Chair: Brian Ashton
Members: Mary Nichols-Rhodes, Meika Penta, Susan Spinner
Sustainability, Energy and Environment
Chair: Mary Nichols Rhodes
Vice Chair: Frank Stams
Members: All of council
The following council members were appointed to serve on various boards and commissions within the city.
ADA Advisory Committee: Brian Ashton
Art Board: Meika Penta
Capital Cost Surcharge Hardship Committee: Frank Stams
Community Reinvestment Area Committee: Joe Siegferth
Curfew Penalty: Joe Siegferth
Design and Historic Review Board: Meika Penta, Mike Brillhart
Evaluation Review and Appeal Committee: Brian Ashton, Susan Spinner
Land Preservation Committee: Frank Stams
Medical Transport review board: Meika Penta
Moral Claims (member and Alternate): Mary Nichols-Rhodes, Mike Brillhart
Planning Commission (member and Alternate): Susan Spinner, Joe Siegferth
Sanitary Hardship: Mary Nichols-Rhodes
Tax Incentive Review Commission: Mary Nichols-Rhodes
Telecommunications Advisory Committee: Meika Penta, Rachel Loza
Traffic Committee (member and Alternate):Gary DeRemer, Rachel Loza
Tree Board (member and Alternate)-: Brian Ashton, Mary Nichols-Rhodes
Following an 11-0 vote, Russ Balthis was sworn in as council president by Mayor Walters –photo courtesy Tom Sullivan
