City of Norton, Ohio 2023 Council Meetings, 17 Jan 2023

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From YouTube: 01-17-2023 Committee Work Session

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Committee Work Session

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He's more excited he's more starting feelings.

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It's feeling rowdy.

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But there's passive bedtime.

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I now call to order the Norton city council committee work session on Tuesday January 17 2023. Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance in a moment of Silent prayer.

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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation.

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Under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

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Before we go to Communications from the public, I just want the public to be aware. Mr tursky is here is our new administrator today and he has agreed to stay afterwards for a small meet and greet so everybody as well, and we will move on to Communications with the public Michael Eisenhower.

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Please state your name and address for the record, and you have five minutes.

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Good evening everybody, my name is Michael.

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132 Cleveland Avenue, Doylestown, Ohio 44230 I was just up here to mention to remind everybody that the safety forces chili cook-off, is next Saturday, the 28th from noon to 3 at the community center. So if anybody who's interested in entering a chili uh get a hold of me, fires are out there with my number on it.

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We have eight chilies so far, so anybody else interested, let me know- and it's open to the public to come and taste and and judge no charge of taking donations, because all the money goes back to FD and PD buying candy. You pass out at Halloween time for the kids so and then also the Norton full-time Union, we're over doing a casino night uh Saturday April 1st at the Barberton moose we do have tickets we're selling 200..

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We have table sponsors from some places like Sherman, Meads, uh Cheers bar and then also we have a bunch of gift baskets to wrap off at the end of the night from like Dana Miller, popcorn and such so. It's gonna be a good time hope to see a lot of people with the community again uh I can give you guys the Flyers and anybody interested give me a contact me and let me know so.

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Thank you, Mr Eisenhower,.

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Moving on to Committee of the whole letter, A boards and commissions, Mr Lukens,.

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Thank you, Mr President, so up for discussion tonight we have resolution number 03 2023, which is um resolution confirming appointments and reappointments of individuals to boards and commissions in the city. um Mr President. Do you think I should I read the names of the different? Yes.

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If you don't mind.

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That would be fine, yeah I'm.

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Thought yeah, absolutely okay! So first up we have um Andrew Mullins a reappointment to the board of building and Zoning Appeals. um We have James I'm. Sorry! If I butcher this peak peeker wreck, a reappointment did.

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I say that right, the Carrick.

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Picaric reappointment to the board of building and Zoning Appeals. um We have James lotta a reappointment to the Planning Commission. We have Marion Marianne Peterson, a reappointment to the Planning Commission Ralph Dowling reappointment to Planning Commission Richard, whitwer, A reappointment to the parks and Cemetery board did I get that one wrong too Whitmore.

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Okay and then we also have Justin Markey a reappointment to the Income Tax Board of Appeals.

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Any uh discussion or questions concerning any of these appointments.

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Yeah absolutely.

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And I'll, second, that as well, you know for anybody to give of their time. You know that's one thing we can't get back and uh it's good to see that we have all those positions filled and I. Thank them as well.

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Mr Lucas doesn't mention if there's any Resident, who would like to serve on income. Tax board of appeals I'd be happy to step away, uh even if it's midterm, whatever um that's more just to fill it to make sure we have the board filled.

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I'm glad to step away at any moment.

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All right anything else, anyone else all right, I'd like to move to add resolution, number zero, three 2023 to our next agenda for our first reading. Only.

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There's a motion.

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Is there any further discussion? We'll click, please call the roll Mr.

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Lukens, yes, Mr Kila, yes, Mr Bates,.

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Yes, all right. Moving on the letter, B Council rules, Mr.

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Blue, thank you. Mr President, so up tonight, uh for discussing on only is a possibility of a rule. Addition to our our Council rules uh would be section 208 use of cellular phones during committee or council meeting um the proposed rules in the agenda I'll go ahead and read it so it would be rule 208, use of cellular phones during committee or council meeting and the rule is members of council shall not use cellular phones during a council meeting or committee work session.

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So I was curious, since this rule has been being brought up. Did we have a complaint over this or is this an issue? Is this something that we felt was an issue.

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I feel it's an issue.

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Okay, you so you feel it's an issue.

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Yeah I've always felt it was an issue. Okay, but I wouldn't allow them back. In my day, yeah.

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One, obviously things have changed over.

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The years and also we don't have the iPad computers addressed on here, either, which that's it'd be the same thing you can get text or whatever across through there.

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I was going to say, you know with most of us using iPads or computers, laptops or tablets, really it's kind of pointless, because you can get whatever communication through those verses right.

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So so I guess that was some of the questions I had just concerning the rule was uh just first off like what what is the intent of the rule is is, would the proposed rule be the intent that it's just to cover cellular phones or is it to cover like any kind of a device? That's capable of a like a Wi-Fi signal. So then you're talking, you know like laptops or even like apple watches, I mean it's. How how far would we want to.

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Get that access, okay,.

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That's whatever we'd cover that I mean. uh Actually there could be another council meeting going up here in the public and never know it.

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That's exaggerating a lot, but it's a fact.

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Well, I guess I'd like to hear other council members opinions as well. I mean I the rule as it stated here. You know no cellular phones during a council meeting, okay I mean I, think I think it kind of goes without saying it should be common sense. You know it's something that obviously, if there was a violation of that you know it would be up to council president to to correct it um now if we start talking. Okay, no, no, no!

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Tablet, no laptop, like some of us like to pull up the agenda and have it there as a digital copy. um I, don't know you're starting to get into a little bit of a gray area. Is it? Is it really necessary? Is that you know well.

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Know when, when we come when powers that be come up with the idea for the iPads, the idea was save on paper, so things wouldn't be getting printed.

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Stuff, so you can have your agendas or whatever up on your computer, but laptop iPad, whatever you want to call them and still not be online.

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Actually, you can't because the mine is on the email, and so, if I can't get to the email, I can't get to the agenda.

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Don't you just download it I mean for actually I think this rule is silly, we're all adults right I mean it does go without saying that you shouldn't be on your phone, answering email or texts or or texting people or playing around or whatever, but I mean come on.

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In today's day and age, I mean you know, Communications is is key to almost anything that we do from before. The meeting starts.

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Somebody checks to see are we on are We broadcasting live, you know, I mean I, don't see any council person up here firing off text uh anybody else, so yeah I'm not sure what the then purposes or I think it's uh useless. We have a council president that if he sees somebody abusing something like that, maybe.

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Can speak up? Excuse.

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Me, um maybe you're not sending them, but you could be receiving and that wouldn't be, you know, doesn't take.

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uh Either way a lot of effort, I, don't see anybody up here with their phone up and scrolling reading texts or emails.

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And I know it was also brought up to me. You know, since I am the uh chair of the rules committee, that you know you know someone maybe has a family emergency I mean I. Would I would imagine we're all in here with the expectation that we're here for whatever time it takes for the meeting, but I mean sometimes family emergencies do happen.

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Sometimes things happen, you know a lot of us have family members, um I mean there's what 10 11 of us 12 of us here like um I, don't know, I, think it's I'm still trying to to mull through whether this is really necessary or not I, don't think it's ever been brought up. I mean I've been here for one year now, I, don't think it was ever been. It's ever been brought up once during the last year that this was a problem. So that's it kind of came out of nowhere.

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For me at least I, don't I, don't think I've ever I know I've, never heard it brought up that hey. This is a problem. This is something we need to address. So that's why it was kind of a surprise when I seen this.

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Well, you wouldn't be cut off from everything, because the administrationists still have access to their phones or whatever, because sometimes they do have one of the department heads contact them or they and they also check to see if we're online but um I, don't know I, just I'm not comfortable with it. I don't think they ought to be here.

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Like I said you can still get information through that and we ought to all have we ought to have our information already with us or be getting it given to us, are verbally receiving it or another documentation, while we're sitting here.

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What if it were to state there will be no electronic communication between council members during the meeting? Would that be sufficient? Well,.

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Even or receive them even from you know the public someone out anybody could send something.

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Well, you know I mean we actually have an Ohio Revised Code section that covers that under the Sunshine Law. So we don't need a rule for it. It's covered by Ohio law.

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State that Sunshine Law you're supposed to have open discussion. That's why I keep harping about having open discussions on things here, so you shouldn't be communicating with each other. With this, you should be saying whatever you want to.

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Mean I assume the sunshine law covers that Justin. Is that correct.

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Yeah any any deliberation, a deliberation on a topic that comes before Council should be done in public forum, not by email, not by text, not by outside meetings of three or more members or a committee meeting. All that deliberation actual the business of council should be done in the open forum.

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Anything else, any other comments.

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Sunshine Mall.

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It seems it seems as though it does to me as well. I mean I, don't know what like, if you know in respect of you know, Mrs whitkey's opinion like uh I I mean like uh you know, a citizen would send like a text message or someone, and you think that would affect the vote. Is that kind of what what you think or there's some kind of an unfair advantage to someone based upon a message that they get during the meeting?

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It could but you're getting what we stay here on at the diocese. The public ought to be a part of, or at least be able to hear it right as as opposed to getting somebody's opinion or information sent or whatever the case may be, I think even the website over there with no watching it I think it's early on. It allowed the public to have access to that and actually send um messages out on that, and then that ceased as well.

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They have no access to chime in on anything right at the website or the the meeting be the recording going on.

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I think we have at least one number of the audience that would like to address Council. If you could state your name and address for.

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The record please Tom, petrich 3762, Easton Road, just on this matter, I think the Genesis of this I would assume was from. In the past there were some administrators council members. You know you're talking amongst yourselves, uh saying that you should communicate directly with the Sunshine Law, it's already in the books. Maybe that could be incorporated into that since we're a charter City that that could be incorporated into it.

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But the other thing is uh in the past what residents witnessed a lot of times was somebody's up here speaking and whether they're gone on and on- and you don't have interest in the topic, if somebody's on their phone, whether it's you know legitimate or not, but when it repeatedly happens, then people start to say well that councilman wasn't even listening or the city administrator has been on his phone. The whole time. That's happened in the past, so I think that's somehow that it could be modified.

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That you know refrain appoint the council president that he can interrupt the meeting and say you know, hey, let's bring it back to uh person speaking or you know you amongst yourselves. It's the same thing, but you should be able to witness and police yourself uh I, don't know if there's a difference that you can make it.

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So it's uh not so strict, as you said, that it's just no electronic devices, because that's just fact of life right now, but it could be tempered in a way that makes it uh a little more palatable to the public watching how's that so thanks. Thank you.

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So it appears to me that um at the very least, we need to modify this somewhat.

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If not just like.

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Own position to do the right thing.

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Why don't we just rule 308 just indicate that during Council meetings, council members will use electronic devices only in accordance with the Ohio Sunshine Law.

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That sounds reasonable. I mean it's 208, yeah.

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I, don't know the exact language on that, yet it's something I would have to look up and we can be ready. You know to discuss it again next week, but I would like to read the exact language so I understand that.

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Anybody have any opinions on this. You know, did you say something this weekend.

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No I said no: oh okay,.

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Probably the next word.

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Okay, so moving on to non-agenda items, are there any non-adjustment items that come before Council this evening.

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I have one thing: Mr President um I received a call from a resident about parcel number four, six, zero, seven, four, seven three, it's the corner, Heritage Parkway uh in 261 for a dump truck. That's been parked there at Beaman for a long long time um in a lot of trash on that corner a lot. So we have somebody, take a look at getting that cleaned up and seeing what's going on with that abandoned truck, that's all I have all right. Thank you look into it. Thank.

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You anyone else um I'll take my turn. I had received some complaints about speeding and heavy trucks on Rhymer Road that people would like to see addressed. I was down there and they do move along pretty quickly through there and uh also with the heavy trucks it's coming through. It's not good that Road's not going to hold up well under that either and um I also had some questions on the Brookside greens. Who's who's actually doing the plowing over there on Golf Course drive and in Brookside itself.

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Is that uh a private company we're not doing that right. We're.

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Not as of yet we are not, we are not doing it. No yeah.

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We won't, but we will be once everything's wrapped up.

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Once the roads get accepted,.

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Then only the portion that we accept in the city back where uh Redwood is that's all private back there. So.

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That well yeah that'll.

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Be done by private individual.

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Private, the apartments yeah, but they're only actually going to have one Road in a parking lot so and then also I mean get some inquiries on the H homeowners association. It's supposed to be in place. There I did a search on the web and I come up with the web page. It says some properties require monthly HOA dues to cover common amenities or services.

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So what does that exactly mean? Do we have anything in writing on that, because the way I was understanding it that they were going to be responsible for the green areas, the Mounds, the Landscaping, the parks, any buildings outside of the private residences there, um the right of ways and such is that the way it is and do we have anything saying that or do we have any idea what that uh HOA cost is you're? Looking for.

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The HOA declaration: well so there there should be a declaration. I, don't know if it's been filed or not. uh That would govern all that right.

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Could see if it's available, but I've not I've, not looked at it personally.

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Well, I would like to have it like I said: I've been getting questions on that people's concerned about it, particularly with looking at the mounting and stuff and the Landscaping going on. We want to make sure that they're going to be taking care of that.

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um Did we get an agreement with Barberton on a benefit fees, yet.

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You and then just a reminder to set up an executive session, maybe next week on the new Park Drive repairs.

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And then also Matt is still going to need. A citizen from Norton I haven't I didn't go to their last meeting. Did um you.

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Get there Mr Bernie no, but um we haven't had any applications for it. Yet right.

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That's why I keep saying it on the floor, hoping that somebody from Norton.

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Will step up somebody could step up for that? That would be wonderful, but we haven't it's been since uh I think it was advertised in July or August.

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They did it twice: yeah yeah and nobody came forward. No, um that is a Norton citizen. It would be wanting to take part of that. They had generally have meetings like once a month, I think they're paying a hundred dollars a meeting if I would call correct um yeah it's a hundred dollars a meeting.

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Charlotte, do you remember what night says usually are those usually Thursdays.

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Wednesday or Thursday Wednesday or Thursday yeah generally about six.

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Five or six.

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Unless you know that they're kind of flexible with that I would think.

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um The towing comparison I'd ask before what happens when hookers doesn't do the towing and another company has to come out. Do we pay that company, or do we or just hookers, is hookers responsible for that from what we give to them and isn't isn't there a record on that.

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We haven't paid any other towing company, why? Why would we not if hookers are not the one doing it.

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So we pay hookers, but we would know on the records whether hookers actually did the job or not. Yes, that.

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Would be something yeah.

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I'd, like a list on on that, the toes and I'm still wondering about the huge discrepancy between the matter, the number of impoundments between the two companies and then I'm getting a lot of questions. What's going up on Akron Wadsworth Road next to 21, where they cut all the trees down. If we have any idea about that.

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Said nothing has been sent to Consular to Administration, as of yet to the city. Okay,.

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Going back to the Barberton benefits, if you guys haven't, had come to an agreement yet I'm, hoping that, uh if you're still in discussion to please consider putting that Clause protecting the Norton residents from utility shutoff that I'd suggested in relation to the benefit charge, Norton's cost and well. Since we don't know, what's going on, have we ever come to anything about the water line? It was just. We were looking at putting up one Akron Wadsworth for the ODOT property that gotten anywhere yet.

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Other than that I yep I'm a done for now. Thank you. Mr.

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You beat me, go.

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Regarding um the the fees and the water shut off and and that discussion, um if I could suggest that as president that you add that either to finance committee or utilities, then I think it's a discussion that we need to have I, don't think personally, don't think just forgiving that or allowing not collecting on it is the way to go, but there may be something that we can do that's somewhere in between.

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um That would help a resident who really needs the help, um as opposed to just not doing anything and they never pay it. Okay,.

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We'll put that on the next work session. Thank you. It.

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Actually goes on our property taxes as a lien.

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That's what I said Norton um has a means for getting collecting collecting as far as property taxes go, but.

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Barberton, wouldn't do that we would have to do that.

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Well, that's what you were going to do to begin with? Wasn't it when it was set up? Is that if they didn't pay the the benefit fee that was going to go on the tax lien, if you're, making an agreement with them and they're sending back uh the payments to us I believe it was quarterly, they would just give you a list of who didn't send them, so you could get them on there through the county, like you'd,.

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Have to go through anyway, we we might be talking about two different things: I, remember you talking about the water bill and if, if that portion of, if they were paying for their water, but not that other portion, you.

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Want the water to be turned off exactly.

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I want to protect them and forget they would get their money right and you know they would. They could go after their money and.

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I think you know I think we certainly should take a look at that. I mean I'm, not sure that the way to go is to say well we're not going to do anything about it. I mean I. You know if, if we forego those payments for six months or something like that or they show that there's a need and great but to give up that ability to collect that I, don't think serves the citizens very well, so I mean I. Think we need to have that discussion. I I!

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You know I, agree that maybe there's something we can do for them.

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But what is going on their taxes yeah, so we just have to figure it.

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Absolutely yeah I did have one thing uh just I wanted to touch base in reference to that uh commercial complaint. We had about the lot over on uh Barber Road. There I think it was 2915. 29 25.

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um I have not had the chance to go. Look at it yet, but it did say in the email that overrun with rats and raccoons and piles of trees, because the piles of trees have been there um just uh curious. If we've anybody else go, look at it or what uh what the plan is going to be. You.

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Did something right, Barber Road.

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I've been up by there, um there were three Parcels I think.

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To us, did you realize that one of those Parcels is um Ganley Ford.

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Well, I think that's at least on the email I got.

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That one of them's, Hercules and I think maybe two of them was possible. No, the other one was somebody else, but the one lot that was coming, that email was um Ganley Ford's property.

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Yeah Ganley.

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And then Hercules I think is in the middle and then there's the third one which um I don't remember what the name of it was. It started with the p I do believe, but.

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Was Pitch, Roofing, I, think or something it was called pitched Roofing or something.

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Yes, there was a roofing company involved in and it um based in Akron I think but um I don't I I didn't see what I mean we have trees and bushes everywhere. I, don't I, don't see where that would have been an attraction.

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For it's like, like piles of logs, that have been there for a long time, is what they complaint was, but.

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So well, we have a lot of that all up and down Akron Wadsworth Road I'd be I'm more concerned about how Ackerman Wadsworth Road looks for the plain and simple fact: that's a major. You know road coming into our city and you come through there and, and it looks bad in a lot of places up through there. It looks a little I mean it's pretty bad when some of those businesses look worse than the dump does.

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This would be more of a concern to me than what's through there now, and it just looks now because the trees aren't out, but we could drive down Cleveland Massillon even and come to where the you know the leaves are going and stuff and it looks some concern there, but I mean I. Wasn't impressed by I didn't see the problem there myself and I can't see where the only ones over there to complain would be Ganley and um I'm thinking, that's common L.

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On the other side of it, it's called the new park, LTD I think which sounds like that's communal, I, don't see, think ganley's going to come, Ganley gainly going to complain about their own property.

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That was all I had.

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Anybody else we will move on to topics for next work session.

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The council rule we just spoke about tonight and the water benefit Church, hoping we have some projects coming up, we're hoping- and that was um anybody else- okay and then just another reminder that we're whatever small meet and greet with Mr President at the final meeting.

C

Did you want to say anything, Mr Churchill right now.

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Happy to be here is it on yeah.

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It is yeah happy to be here uh looking forward to working with everybody and.

H

uh Getting going, it's been a couple months and I'm sure and chilling at the bit. So thank you all.

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Right anybody else before we adjourn a motion to adjourn the meeting on.

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The meeting is.

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