Trustees Also Approve Kimble Recycling & Disposal Contract
By Emily Chesnic
Work session recording
Trustee meeting recording
At the Oct. 5 regular meeting, much to his surprise, Northfield Center Township Trustees, Rich Reville and Russ Mazzola, made Oct. 5 Steve Wright’s last day as administrator, replacing him with a current member of the Summit County Planning Commission and former, longtime trustee for Copley Township.
Wright submitted his resignation to Northfield Center trustees earlier this month, with them collectively approving Oct. 23 as his last day as full-time administrator. The trustees then went on to advertise for a part-time administrator on the township website – with the job posting stating the position “would be vacant as of Oct. 26.”
Legislation making Oct. 5 Wright’s last day – almost three weeks earlier than he believed would be his final day working for Northfield Center – did not appear on the updated Oct. 5 meeting agenda and verbally was tacked on at the end of the meeting, as was legislation naming Helen Humphreys the new part-time administrator.
After Reville read the unexpected legislation, Wright questioned, “why is my final day today?”
You can listen in the above mentioned audio file from the trustee meeting - scroll the timeline to 30:17.
Reville told Wright it was beneficial for the township to give his responsibilities over to the next administrator.
“We decided to transfer to the new person today,” he told Wright.
Just prior to making Oct. 5 Wright’s last day, Reville and Mazzola approved legislation hiring Humphreys on a part-time basis, with her work week not to exceed 24 hours. Her salary was set at $2,500 per month.
“She has lots of experience,” Reville said of Humphreys, who is a past secretary and president of the Township Association of Summit County, as reflected on her LinkedIn profile.
The abrupt end to Wright’s employment with the township, as well as the hiring of Humphreys, came as a shock to Trustee Paul Buescher, who was absent from the Oct. 5 meeting for health reasons.
When contacted following the meeting to comment on the matter, he said, “this whole situation stinks.”
“This was done without my knowledge. It wasn’t even on the agenda that was sent to everyone prior to the meeting, and there was not a resolution for hiring Helen,” continued Buescher. “Heck, we were still soliciting applications.”
The trustee believes his colleagues talked about the situation secretively, not including him in on the discussion.
“Obviously, there were some private conversations to come up with this nonsense,” Buescher said. “These guys essentially fired him immediately without pay. I would not be surprised if Steve rightfully sues the township. Had I been there, there would have been fireworks.”
The legislation approved by Reville and Mazzola stated Wright’s health benefits would be active through Oct. 31. Trustees also authorized paying Wright for unused vacation time, in the amount of $1,032.91.
Reville said the action to end Wright’s employment was done so there would not be a disruption to township operations, as well as to provide Wright with more time to prepare for his move to Maryland.
“The board takes this time to thank him for his services and wishes him well on his future endeavors,” he said of Wright.
Wright continued to question the board’s legislation dismissing him of his duties, however.
“You already accepted a resolution making my final day Oct. 23,” he told the trustees.
Reville briefly responded to Wright, stating, “we will talk to you afterwards.”
Reville and Mazzola did not return requests asking for further comments on the matter, and Wright was unable to be reached to provide remarks.
Before the trustee’s made Oct. 5 his final day of employment, Wright took time at the meeting to thank the elected officials, township staff and members of the community for working with him for the past two years. He called the staff of Northfield Center “passionate and capable.”
“I feel like we got some good work done,” he said.
At the meeting, Reville did specifically highlight how Humphreys’ professional experiences would be of benefit to the township.
She knows “how to get things done,” he said of Humphreys.
With Northfield Center’s existing accounting system being phased out, Humphreys will be able to assist the township’s transition to the Uniform Accounting Network (UAN), said Reville.
“We thought she would be a good asset to us,” Reville said of Humphreys, who is being employed with Northfield Center on a one-year probationary period to demonstrate successful performance as township administrator.
Kimble Recycling & Disposal Contract
Also, at the regular meeting, the trustees approved a new contract with Kimble Recycling & Disposal, Inc. for the provision of residential refuse and recycling collection services for the period of Dec. 1 through Nov. 30, 2025. The approved contract allows Kimble to continue to serve as Northfield Center’s trash and recycle hauler. The township collected bids for the service and confirmed Kimble as the lowest bidder.
Township officials said residents’ bills will increase by $.90 per month for the first year of the new contract, going from $14.34 per month for regular service to $15.24.
Township officials reminded residents Kimble offers a discounted rate for senior citizens and a backyard pick up option for seniors, too.
Summit County Sheriff’s Office Contract
A discussion took place at the work session, held just prior to the regular meeting, concerning Northfield Center’s expiring contract with the Summit County Sheriff’s Office for policing services in the township. The trustees said information continues to be shared by the sheriff’s office regarding the breakdown of charges for continued police coverage. Township officials said Northfield Center would look at funding options for policing and consider a contract extension with the county.
Beacon Hills Park
Also, at the meeting, the trustees approved a purchase order in the amount of $26,143, payable to Infinity Paving, for the replacement of asphalt on the Beacon Hills Park tennis courts and the installation of aprons.
The trustees additionally approved a purchase order in the amount of $1.770, payable to Superior Seal Coating, for the sealing and striping of the basketball court and new parking lot at Beacon Hills Park.
Additionally, concerning the park, cameras now are in place to record all areas of the property as an added safety measure.
Crestwood Park
The trustees, at the work session, discussed the future of Crestwood Park, as the playground equipment that used to be in the park was reconditioned and moved to Beacon Hills Park. It was mentioned a retention basin or pond may be installed in the park in the future to relieve water issues in the area, if grant funding can be secured, with there being a possibility the land then could be sold to allow for future residential development on site.
Other Meeting News:
• Trustees heard a zoning update at the regular meeting of Oct. 5. It was announced Dunkin’ Donuts is almost constructed fully, and the Jiffy Lube project has started. Additionally, trustees were told zoning issues are being addressed in the township to resolve longstanding issues with deteriorating homes.
• Trustees were told Summit County will install a streetlight at the intersection of Olde 8 Road and Twinsburg Road by 2021, and Olde 8 would be widened, beginning in 2022.
• Trustees took time at the regular meeting to remind residents a road and bridge renewal levy is appearing on the Nov. 3 General Election ballot. Township officials have said the levy generates $220,000 annually – nearly 50 percent of the total budget for the service department.