Following the acceptance of the Jan. 12 meeting minutes, members of the public were invited to address the council. Ted Hurd spoke with great pride about the new City Hall, which he said “was always my dream to see.”
According to the banking statements shared, the village ended December with $173,273.10 in the bank and with $119,845.60 in investments with STAR Ohio.
Calfee asked Smallfield for an update on the Flock system and if it has been “worth it.” Smallfield enthusiastically shared his positive opinion on the system and said that it has helped to solve about 100 crimes already.
Unanimous approval was also provided for entering into a service agreement with Southeast Local Schools for the services of an ELL tutor, the establishment of an Indoor Track and Field Club at the high school, and the purchase of a new van for the transportation of special education students.
Errera was unanimously elected and immediately sworn in. Errera thanked those in attendance and quickly cast his first vote, which was an approval to move the board into executive session.
The township is done crack sealing for the year, according to Ruefner. He said that they were finally able to do some road mowing now that the political signs had been taken down. The road department currently has plans to complete some road ditching in the coming days, as well.
The Franklin Township trustees held a regularly scheduled meeting on Oct. 28, 2025, at Township Hall. In attendance were Chairperson Kellie Kapusta and trustee Scott Swan. Also attending were Zoning Inspector Joe Ciccozzi, Deputy Fire Prevention Officer Richard Smith and Road Superintendent David Akerley.
In development news, O’Malia said that 717 Credit Union had taken over the vacant Walgreens. He also announced that O’Hooligan’s barber and tattoo shop was planning a soft opening in November.
Curtis then offered the superintendent’s report, which led off with a warning about an expected slate of votes on property taxes in the Ohio statehouse, which would upend school funding. “The state is still not fulfilling their part,” she said.
The first order of business of the council was to hear a report from Tia Rutledge from Portage County Water Resources. She provided an update on the current project in the village to replace the water mains.
Wisniewski offered a report on Maplewood. They are preparing to celebrate their 50th anniversary and are currently in the planning stages for this event.
The installation of the pickleball courts is on schedule with the installation of fence posts. Akerley met earlier with Tim Perrin of Perrin Asphalt on the Hudson Road repaving project.
O’Malia announced that a resident entrepreneur is opening a combination barbershop and tattoo studio. “We have been without the services of a traditional barber for some time,” he said.
Four members of the public, each a member of the Charter Review Board, took to the podium to use their time to express disappointment that the council voted not to advance three proposed changes to the charter at the last council meeting. The item that drew the most attention was a proposal on holding non-partisian elections. It had been suggested that this be put before the voters.
A second member of the community questioned the board as to if the district has been asked, and has in turn made, any changes to its DEI policies based on recent actions by the Trump administration. Larkin said the Department of Education has asked schools to review a “list of materials.” Larkin stated that they “have no choice but to be compliant without jeopardizing millions in funding.”