Cuyahoga Falls City Council meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month and council committee meetings are held on the first and third Monday to publicly discuss pending legislation that will be voted on by council as a whole during its regular scheduled meetings. The public is free to comment on pending legislation during the allowed time on the night of committee meetings.
Prior to thee meeting of Cuyahoga Falls City Council on Tuesday, January 4, the Honorable Judge Thomas Teodosio swore in Don Walters as Mayor for his term beginning January 1st, 2022. From there Mayor Walters swore in all city council members beginning their new terms this year.
The organizational meeting was called to order by Jerry James, senior member of council, with the first order of business being accepting nominations for Council President. Councilman Brillhart nominated Russ Balthis, there being no other nominations. With a unanimous voice vote taken, Mr. Balthis was declared as council president and Walters administered him oath of office.
Council President Balthis then took nominations for the position of Clerk of Council, for which Dana Capriulo, with another unanimous voice cote, took the position.
Other council officers were voted upon as follows:
President Pro Tem: Tim Gorbach
Sergeant at Arms: Jerry James
Chaplain: Susan Spinner
President Balthis then appointed a committee on committees for the purpose of making appointments to council’s standing committees and various boards and commissions within the city, as required by council rules. By a vote of 5-0, the members of this committee are Jerry James, Meika Penta, Rachel Loza, Adam Miller and Russ Balthis. According to council rule 111.04 subsection a, “All Standing Committees shall consist of an odd number of persons, but not less than three (3) members on each Committee. At least one member of each Committee must not be of the majority party.” In adhering to this rule, because Councilman Miller was the only Republican elected to council, by default he will be required to serve on all committees.
Committee assignments were then made as follows:
Planning and Zoning
Chair: Susan Spinner
Mayor Don Walters swears in Cuyahoga Falls City Council members for this year’s term. (from left to right) Don Walters, Frank Stams, Adam Miller, Susan Spinner, Jerry James, Russ Balthis, Mary Nichols-Rhodes, Mike Brillhart, Meika Penta, Rachel Loza, Brian Ashton. –photo courtesy Tom Sullivan.
Vice Chair: Jerry James
Member: Adam Miller
Finance and Appropriations
Chair: Mary Nichols-Rhodes
Vice Chair: Tim Gorbach
Member: Adam Miller
Public and Industrial Improvements
Chair: Meika Penta
Vice Chair: Frank Stams
Member: Adam Miller
Public Affairs
Chair: Rachel Loza
Vice Chair: Mike Brillhart
Member: Adam Miller
Community Development
Chair:Brian Ashton
Vice Chair: Mike Brillhart
Member: Adam Miller
Sustainability, Energy and Environment
Chair: Mary Nichols-Rhodes
Vice Chair: Meika Penta
Members: Susan Spinner, Frank Stams, Adam Miller
This is a relatively new council standing committee and according to the Committee Chair Mary Nichols-Rhodes, as more residents are choosing things such as solar power and other energy saving measures themselves, legislation created by this committee will make it easier and smoother for residents to adopt these things in their homes. Citing that the city already has its own electric department and is a part of AMP Ohio, things like net metering should be something a citizen who utilizes solar power should be able to take advantage.
2022 Boards and commission assignments (appointments by council president to various boards and commissions)
ADA Advisory Committee: Brian Ashton
Art Board: Tim Gorbach
Capitol Cost Surcharge Hardship Committee: Frank Stams
CRA Board: Meika Penta
Moral Claims: Mary Nichols-Rhodes and Tim Gorbach
Tax Incentive Review Board: Mary Nichols-Rhodes
Planning commission: Susan Spinner; Alternate:Jerry James
Land Preservation Commission: Frank Stams
Medical Transport Review Board: Meika Penta
Sanitary Hardship: Adam Miller
Telecommunications Advisory Committee: Meika Penta and Rachel Loza
Traffic Committee: Frank Stams; Alternate: Mary Nichols-Rhodes
Tree Board: Mary Nichols-Rhodes
Appointments were voted on by Council as a Whole and passed 11-0.
The City Council organizational meeting was then adjourned and council committee meetings began with Planning and Zoning.
B-136: Accepting the Planning Commission Recommendation to allow construction of a 143 foot monopole tower on city property at Oak Park. Planning Director Rob Kurtz made the presentation to the committee, saying that this will replace the current antenna that is on a deteriorating water tower that the city owns in Oak Park. The water tower its self is no longer used in our water system and its condition is getting worse as the years go on. There is currently a lease agreement between the city and T-Mobile for antenna space on the water tower. As part of this legislation, a third party, TowerCo, would construct at their expense the monopole tower (to current city code and regulations) and that would release the city from the current obligation with T-Mobile and also allow the city to demolish the unused water tower. The Planning commission approved this measure in November. Representatives from TowerCo were present to answer any questions from the committee or council. The committee votes to bring this legislation out for a vote before council at their next meeting on January 10th.
Finance Committee
B-137: Authorizing the Mayor or his designee to enter into a contract with Atlantic Emergency Solutions for vehicle repairs, supplies, and equipment used by the fire department. Chief Martin made the presentation for this ordinance. He stated that this covers not only our vehicles but supplies our firefighters with things such as carry items and turn-out gear. Their pricing is very competitive and they do high quality work and sell quality products. The finance committee voted to bring this out for a vote before council next Monday.
Community Development
B-138: Authorizing the Mayor to execute and submit the Annual Action Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for program year 2022. Committee Chair Brian Ashton informed council that the administration has requested that this legislation be held until the next Community Development Committee meeting in two weeks.
