Pre-Meeting Activities
The evening began at 6:15 PM with “Council Office Hour,” where Councilor Vini Ventura was available for one-on-one discussions with residents. This program, instituted in 2018, provides citizens an opportunity for face-to-face conversations with council members before regular meetings.
Finance Committee Meeting (6:45 PM)
The Finance Committee convened at 6:45 PM in the Council Caucus Room to discuss the 2026 tax budget and conduct a mid-year financial review. Director of Finance John Veres led the discussion, which included several council members and city officials.
2026 Tax Budget Discussion
Director Veres presented the alternate tax budget information for fiscal year 2026, explaining this annual requirement. “This is an annual item we do to send on the tax budget each year with our estimate of what the inside millage rates will be and our outside millage rate,” Veres explained.
Key points from the tax budget discussion:
- Inside millage rates:
- General Fund: 2.53 mills (generates approximately $1.6 million annually)
- Police Pension Fund: 3.0 mills (generates approximately $194,000 annually)
- Submission deadline: July 2025 to Summit County
Council members expressed concern about House Bill 335, which threatens to eliminate inside millage. “If that got eliminated, we’d be losing $1.8 million a year that we’d have to make up in some other way or cut costs,” Veres noted.
Operating Levy Renewal Discussion
The committee extensively discussed the 5.07 mill operating levy renewal scheduled for the November ballot. A particularly confusing aspect drew questions from council members.
“So what’s the difference between the item that we’re putting on the ballot this November?” one council member asked, noting the discrepancy between the ballot language (5.07 mills) and the effective rate (1.1 mills).
Veres explained: “Originally passed in 1967, it’s now 58 years later. The effective millage is 1.1. It went down because property values went up.”
The discussion revealed frustration with state requirements that force the original millage rate on the ballot rather than the actual effective rate. “Why don’t they correct it? Has it ever been asked? I mean, why is it so confusing?” a council member questioned. “The average person I don’t think understands that.”
Mayor Molnar agreed to revisit this issue with state officials, though past attempts to change the requirement have been unsuccessful.
Manor House Renovation Budget
Council members questioned the $125,000 budgeted for Manor House renovation. Veres explained this was part of a two-year capital plan:
- $125,000 this year
- $125,000 next year
- Total $250,000 to replace the slate roof
“The roof is… we’ve patched it and patched it and patched it. If the roof goes, everything goes,” Veres warned. The Mayor added context: “That’s our one piece of history in Macedonia that I think we want to hang on to.”
Council member Dave Finley, who has experience with slate roof projects at the University of Toledo, offered to review the estimates and potentially donate his time for design work, pending legal review for conflicts of interest.
Budget Meeting Schedule
The committee established the following schedule for 2026 budget discussions:
- September 11, 2025
- September 25, 2025
- Two meetings in October
- First reading of the 2026 budget ordinance: October 23, 2025
Work Session (7:00 PM)
Following the Finance Committee, council members reconvened for an informal work session to preview the evening’s agenda items. Discussions continued about various ordinances and resolutions scheduled for the regular meeting.
Regular Council Meeting (7:30 PM)
Mayor Nicholas Molnar called the regular meeting to order at 7:30 PM with all council members present: Jessica Brandt, Matt Ferraro, Dave Finley, Jeff Garvas, and Vini Ventura.
Opening Ceremonies
- Invocation: Led by Chaplain O’Brien
- Moment of Silence: Observed for Lorain Police Officer Philip Wagner, who died from gunshot wounds in the line of duty
- Pledge of Allegiance: Led by Mayor Molnar
Meeting Minutes Approval
Council approved minutes from three previous meetings:
- June 12, 2025 regular meeting
- June 19, 2025 special meeting
- June 30, 2025 special meeting (Councilor Finley abstained)
Public Comments
One resident, Vinnie Milianta of 1095 Hampton Drive, spoke against the proposed dog leash ordinance, calling it “too strict.” A dialogue ensued between Milianta and council members about the ordinance’s scope and current laws regarding dogs on private property.
Legislative Actions
Second Reading
- Ordinance 40-2025: Dog leash ordinance requiring dogs to be on leashes no longer than 20 feet when off owner’s property
Passed 1-2-3 (All Three Readings)
Resolution 43-2025: Alternate tax budget for 2026
- Director Veres reiterated the annual requirement
- Passed unanimously
Ordinance 44-2025: Compensation schedule for non-union employees
- Creates temporary part-time administrative assistant position in Building Department
- Commissioner Monaco explained they have an employee going on 3-month maternity leave but won’t need the position because they’re borrowing staff from another department
- Creates the position for potential future needs
- Passed unanimously
Resolution 45-2025: OPWC grant application for North Bedford Road resurfacing
- Project planned for 2027 if grant successful
- Between State Route 8 and Ledge Road
- Passed unanimously
Resolution 46-2025: Operating levy renewal for November ballot
- Emergency measure due to August 6 deadline
- Extensive discussion about millage rates and property tax impact
- Passed unanimously
Resolution 47-2025: Reappointment of John Potkalitsky to Civil Service Commission
- Six-year term
- Mayor praised his corporate perspective on the commission
- Passed unanimously
Resolution 48-2025: Opposition to House Bill 335
- Would eliminate inside millage for municipalities
- Could cost Macedonia $1.8 million annually
- Passed unanimously
Ordinance 49-2025: Recreation Center renovation contract
- Millstone Management Group, Inc. for $356,967
- Project includes two main components:
- Converting the women’s locker room into a family changing room that will also serve as a handicap-accessible changing space
- Removing the second floor front desk and expanding staff office space
- Director Eckendorf explained the family changing room “becomes more accessible for handicap needs as well as a better overall guest experience with more private areas to shower”
- The office renovation addresses the current setup where staff work in modular desks with limited privacy
- Mayor noted recreation center guests have been requesting the family changing room for quite some time
- Project was budgeted and planned under previous Parks & Recreation director
- Passed unanimously
Ordinance 50-2025: Phase III citywide signage project
- Signarama Cleveland for $99,900
- Includes North Bedford, Walters, Chick-fil-A, North Freeway, and Sugar Bush Park signs
- Passed unanimously
First Reading with Referral
Ordinance 51-2025: Residential driveway requirements
- Would require hard-surface materials for new driveways
- Referred to Planning Commission for review
- Motion by Councilor Finley to refer passed unanimously
Other Legislative Actions
- Motion to accept $5,000 donation from Dufour Family Foundation for Flock cameras (passed)
Mayor’s Report
Mayor Molnar covered several topics:
- Welcomed new Parks & Recreation Director Peter Eckendorf
- Remembered Sergeant Chuck Gazelka (27 years of service)
- Announced Sloan’s Ice Cream ribbon cutting
- Discussed fire department rail emergency training
- Emphasized importance of operating levy renewal
- Highlighted Macedonia’s 13th place ranking for lowest property taxes in Northeast Ohio
- Birthday wishes to Director Veres (July 24) and Commissioner Monaco (July 27)
- Reminded about distracted driving dangers
Committee Reports
- Parks & Recreation Commission: Next meeting August 20 at 6:00 PM
- Cemetery Commission: Meeting in early September (date TBD)
- Finance Committee: Confirmed budget meeting schedule
Department Reports
Each department head provided updates:
Service Department (Director Wilson)
- Thanked staff for council caucus room updates
- Hiring two maintenance technicians and one admin
Engineering (Director Gigliotti)
- Ledge Road Phase 2 paving starts mid-August
- One-day closure required for railroad bridge work
- Summit County fiber optic project coming through Macedonia
Parks & Recreation (Director Eckendorf)
- Annual shutdown: Pool (August 21-31), Building (August 25-31)
- Hiring recreation manager for sports and facilities
Finance (Director Veres)
- Macedonia resident refund deadline has passed (extensions honored)
- Reiterated operating levy details for November ballot
IT (Director Collins)
- 54 help desk tickets since last meeting
- Phone system replacement upcoming
Building (Commissioner Monaco)
- Sloan’s Ice Cream opened
- Del Reserve broke ground
- Divinity Landing installing utilities
- St. Gregory Church addition approved
- Clean Express Car Wash has new owner
- Sidewalk program starts next month
Human Resources (Director Smith)
- Employee health fair scheduled for September 18, 2025
Fire (Chief Ripley)
- Detailed hazmat exercise success
- Call volume up 8% year-to-date (projecting 5,000 calls)
- Thanked participants and observers
Police (Chief Yakopovich)
- Condolences for Chuck Gazelka and Lorain officer
- Thanked Dufour Foundation for donation
- Hiring dispatchers from civil service list
- Praised dispatch center performance during hazmat exercise
