Northfield Center Township Trustees Meeting: Sewer Odor Complaints, Bayberry Drainage Project, RT 82 Bridge Update

Residents Press Officials on Odor, Infrastructure and Public Safety at Northfield Center Township Trustees Meeting

NORTHFIELD CENTER, Ohio – The Dec. 1 Northfield Center Township trustees meeting packed a lot into just under an hour, as the Northfield Center Township trustees meeting covered everything from persistent sewer odor complaints near Valley View Road to updates on the Bayberry Drive drainage project and the possible installation of Flock camera license-plate readers.

Key Actions From the Northfield Center Township Trustees Meeting

Board members present were Chair Russell F. Mazzola, and trustees Gene M. Lim and Richard H. Reville, along with Fiscal Officer Andy LaGuardia and Director of Services Tim Black.

Trustees unanimously approved:

• Minutes from the Nov. 3 regular meeting and Nov. 24 special meeting
• Payment of $382,981.54 in current warrants and vouchers
• Acknowledgment of completed November bank reconciliations

They also passed a series of resolutions tied to winter operations and township services:

• Road salt purchase:

  • Resolution 25/12-01 A approves buying about 250 tons of road salt at $62.89 per ton, capped at $18,000, through the Community University Education (CUE) program.
  • Mazzola noted carryover salt from last year and said this order should be enough for the season, weather permitting.

• Leaf disposal vendor switch:

  • Resolution 25/12-01 B rescinds an earlier $9,000 appropriation for leaf drop-off at Sagamore Soils.
  • Resolution 25/12-01 C authorizes up to $9,000 for leaf drop-off and disposal at Neid’s Garden Center, at roughly $3 per cubic yard, with trustees saying Neid’s is closer and should save fuel and time.

• Township phone for zoning inspector:

  • Resolution 25/12-01 D approves purchasing an iPhone 17 Pro and line for the township zoning inspector, not to exceed $1,537.75 over a 24‑month plan, from funds 01-A-26 and 01-J-03.
  • The board also agreed to add a formal policy to the township’s policy manual and organizational resolution to cover township-issued phones for the zoning inspector. Staff said the current monthly line cost is $36.99, with the phone’s purchase price spread across the two-year contract.

Trustees agreed the cell phone and related policy changes will be folded into the annual organizational work in January.

Sheriff Reports Calls, Traffic and Arrest Stats

A Summit County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant presented the monthly and year-to-date policing report:

• Calls for service: 7,477 so far in 2025
• Traffic offenses:
  • 13 in November
  • 139 year-to-date
• Arrests:
  • 5 in November
  • 47 year-to-date

Trustees did not raise specific concerns and thanked the sheriff’s office for the update, with one trustee noting how useful the Flock camera system has been regionally for tracking serious offenders.

County Engineer Representative Updates Bayberry Project and SR 82 Bridge

A representative from the Summit County Engineer’s Office, addressed several ongoing infrastructure projects:

• Bayberry Drive Drainage and Roadway Improvements

  • Contracts are out for signatures.
  • A pre-construction meeting is expected either late December or early January.
  • Gas line relocation along Bayberry should begin around January, with road construction targeted for about March.
  • The engineer’s office is coordinating closely with the township, as also reflected on the Bayberry project page on Northfield Center’s “Special Projects” site.

• Crosswalk striping and Route 82 work

  • Crosswalk striping should now be complete, including along State Route 82.
  • Trustees asked about drainage work near the Aldi at the border with Macedonia. The engineer’s representative believed that work was likely either ODOT or private, not the county.

• SR 82 bridge over the Cuyahoga Valley

  • The bridge remains under heavy repair. Concrete patching is underway and must cure before traffic can be fully restored.
  • The county representative said the goal is to reopen in “a couple weeks”, but stressed that the bridge is also under a broader engineering study that will determine whether a full replacement or additional major rehabilitation is needed.
  • Trustees and residents expressed frustration about traffic backups, especially along Highland Road, but acknowledged the work is necessary.

Trustees also pushed the county to help resolve a long-standing issue at Leonard Avenue and Olde Eight Road, where a poorly located stop sign has become a safety concern. The engineer’s office was urged to determine and mark a proper stop-sign location so drivers stop closer to the actual intersection rather than far back in the parking lot area.

Zoning, Town Center Facelifts and Leaf Collection

Zoning activity is slowing as winter approaches, but the zoning inspector reported that 10 permits were issued in November, including:

• 1 driveway replacement
• 3 additions
• 1 front porch
• 1 privacy fence
• 4 certificates of compliance, following fire inspections

In the Town Center, several commercial buildings are getting updated exteriors. Trustees noted that Farinacci plans to paint white façade boards black for a more cohesive look while awaiting new powder-coated steel siding.

On code enforcement, three zoning violations are now in legal proceedings, including:

• A property with two boats stored on-site
• Another property approaching a third violation related to maintenance of a lakefront parcel

Staff explained that all case documents and photos are being scanned into the township’s DocuWare system, with older paper files maintained in alphabetical hard-copy files.

On leaf collection, trustees reported:

• The road department has already collected over 2,000 cubic yards of leaves.
• The final township-wide round began Dec. 1 in the Butternut/Beachwood area.
• Once crews complete a full loop and return to that starting area, leaf pickup will end for the season, with crews hoping to finish by Thursday of that week, weather permitting.

Resident Raises Persistent Sewer Odor Concerns Near Valley View

During public comments, a Valley View Road resident who lives near State Route 8 spoke at length about continuing sewer odor problems in his neighborhood.

Key points from the resident:

• Neighbors have repeatedly called the county and township about a strong sewer gas smell that seems worse than ever, despite prior promises of improvements.
• Summit County Department of Sanitary Sewer Services (DSS) had previously described installing carbon filter systems in manholes along a force main that transitions into a gravity line near the intersection.
• The resident said he has since been told those filters may never actually have been installed and believes the odor is still venting into the neighborhood and, at times, into basements.
• The Macedonia Fire Department has been called out because passersby sometimes mistake the odor for natural gas, raising fears of an explosion.

He also relayed input from a relative who previously worked in municipal sewer operations, suggesting there are proven drip or treatment systems that can help break down hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) gas at pump stations and better control odors.

Trustee Gene Lim and the engineer’s representative said:

• They have been in ongoing contact with county sanitary officials, including a staffer named Matt at DSS.
• The county previously reported installing carbon filtration in multiple manholes along that line.
• The township will again reach out to DSS for a clear, written explanation of what has been installed, where, and what additional options exist.

Trustees acknowledged that residents have been dealing with this for several years, and one trustee noted that the odor appears significantly worse on the Valley View side of Route 8 compared to the opposite side.

Senior Welfare Concerns and Possible Adult Protective Services Referrals

Trustee Gene Lim said he has received calls from residents worried about neighbors who appear to have frequent ambulance calls and may not be caring for themselves adequately.

Discussion points:

• The Summit County Sheriff’s Office offers senior checks, but residents must enroll themselves.
• In cases where seniors are resistant or clearly struggling, the trustees and sheriff’s representative suggested exploring referrals to Summit County Adult Protective Services (APS) under the Department of Job and Family Services.
• Trustees agreed that educating residents on when and how to seek help—either through the sheriff or APS—would be a good topic for the township newsletter.

Planning for 2026: Comprehensive Plan RFQs and Policy Review

Trustees spent considerable time on long-term planning:

• The township has received around 10 RFQs (Requests for Qualifications) from consulting firms interested in developing or updating Northfield Center’s comprehensive plan.
• Staff are scanning all RFQs so trustees and zoning board members can review them electronically.
• Trustees want to:
  • Narrow the field of firms,
  • Invite a smaller group for interviews, and
  • Clearly define the scope of work—especially whether zoning code rewrites will be part of the contract, or handled in-house to control costs.

To move that forward, the board scheduled a work session on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, at 6 p.m. to:

• Review comprehensive plan RFQs
• Create an inventory of all township policies and the employee handbook
• Discuss doing an annual policy review each year

The first regular trustees meeting in January was moved to Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, at 7 p.m. to give the fiscal officer more time to close the 2025 books and prepare appropriations. A joint work session with township boards is tentatively set for Jan. 15.

Trustees also:

• Reiterated the need for a more robust shared calendar system—potentially tied into DocuWare/Toshiba tools—to track key deadlines like levies, appropriations and policy updates.
• Expressed interest in eventually allowing online zoning applications, even though the township still cannot accept online payments and must hold applications until payment by check arrives.

Flock Cameras Under Consideration for Crime-Fighting

Trustees revisited the idea of installing Flock Safety license-plate reader cameras in cooperation with the Summit County Sheriff’s Office and nearby communities.

Highlights of the discussion:

• Annual costs run about $3,000 to $3,500 per camera, including hardware, maintenance and data services.
• Trustees and the sheriff’s lieutenant said Flock cameras are particularly valuable for:
  • Identifying vehicles tied to felony warrants, robberies and serious crimes
  • Quickly broadcasting alerts across jurisdictions when a suspect vehicle is spotted
• Nearby communities, including Sagamore Hills and Macedonia, already use the system at key intersections such as Highland Road and State Route 8.
• Northfield Center’s highest priorities would likely include Twinsburg Road and Olde Eight, and potentially coverage along Brandywine Road, though the latter may already be captured by cameras in Boston Heights.

The board took no formal action but agreed to gather more information, including exactly how existing neighboring cameras cover traffic entering the township, before deciding how many cameras to purchase and where to place them.

Recognition for Improving Businesses and Welcome Signs

Trustee Lim suggested reviving past township recognition awards for local businesses that significantly improve their properties, noting the current wave of upgrades in Town Center. Staff recalled that plaques from earlier recognition programs still hang in the old town hall, and trustees agreed it’s worth revisiting that program.

They also briefly discussed updating or adding “Welcome to Northfield Center” signs, but opted to wait for Director of Services Tim Black to return before making decisions.