In a comprehensive meeting on April 7, the Northfield Center Township Trustees addressed multiple critical issues including a settlement with transparency advocate Brian Ames, a detailed crime report from the Summit County Sheriff, and approval of participation in a regional road maintenance program.
Settlement with Brian Ames
The trustees voted to approve Resolution 25/04-07 H, accepting a settlement agreement in the case of Brian Ames versus Northfield Center Township Board of Trustees (Case number CV-2024-07-2791) in the Summit County Common Pleas Court. Trustee Rich Reville explained that Ames “has a history of suing everybody. He sues the libraries. He sues the townships… for how they keep the records of their legislation, for their agendas and so forth, and how they act on certain things.”
The lawsuit concerned how the township conducted its meetings, particularly regarding the use of consent agendas and proper procedures for entering executive sessions. While the trustees maintained they could potentially win the case, they decided settlement was more cost-effective than extended litigation.
Who is Brian Ames?
Brian M. Ames is currently running as a Republican candidate for Portage County Clerk of Courts in the November 5, 2024 general election. He successfully secured the Republican nomination in the March 19, 2024 primary and will face Democratic candidate Jill Fankhauser in the fall.
Known throughout Ohio as the “Open Meetings Act Bounty Hunter,” Ames has filed upwards of 160 lawsuits against local governments over the past decade for alleged violations of the state’s sunshine laws, which are designed to ensure government transparency. Ames, who is from Mogadore, has taken legal action against school boards, budget commissions, boards of elections, and various township entities across Ohio.
Ames says his motivation is twofold: he aims to prevent local governments from paying potentially larger settlements if someone else discovers violations, and he believes his work benefits the public by making government bodies more trustworthy and transparent. His settlements typically include a $500 civil forfeiture fine for each violation plus attorney fees.
Ames is president of The Advocate, a nonprofit organization based in Mogadore that works for transparency in government. He is also a former software engineer with a reported 95% win rate in his legal actions.
Law Enforcement and Community Safety
Summit County Sheriff Candy Fathery delivered a comprehensive presentation about law enforcement activities in Northfield Center Township throughout 2024. The Sheriff’s Office reported responding to or initiating a total of 6,968 calls for service in the township, including 459 traffic stops. Sheriff Fathery noted that 41 individuals were either arrested or summoned during the year.
Crime statistics for 2024 showed notable decreases in several categories compared to previous years:
- Assaults decreased to only five reported incidents
- Burglaries were down with just five cases
- Vandalism reports dropped to only four incidents
- Thefts decreased from 65 to 51 reports
- Vehicle theft remained steady with three cases each year
The Sheriff reported two categories that saw slight increases:
- One kidnapping/abduction case was reported in 2024 (which had not been seen previously)
- Sexual offenses increased slightly from seven to eight cases
- One robbery was reported in 2024
Sheriff Fathery emphasized that crime decreased in three of the four patrol areas under her jurisdiction. She attributed this success to two factors: deputies choosing to work in Northfield Center Township because they enjoy the community, and the addition of “float cars” that provide additional visibility throughout the county.
The presentation also highlighted the extensive specialized units available to the township at no additional cost:
- SWAT team
- Crisis negotiators
- Crime Scene Investigation Unit
- Crash investigation team
- Bomb squad (the only one in Northeast Ohio)
- Mounted Unit (described as the largest and most sought-after in the state)
- Dive rescue and recovery team
- Mobile field force
- Newly established drone response team
- The largest canine unit in the county (soon to be expanded to 12 dogs)
Sheriff Fathery also detailed several multi-jurisdictional task forces under her supervision that benefit the township:
- A drug unit that collaborates with federal, state, and local agencies
- The newly established Summit-Stark narcotics interdiction team
- A human trafficking task force that rescued 112 victims and arrested 50 suspects last year
- An OVI task force targeting impaired drivers
The Sheriff noted that her detective bureau conducted 81 investigations in Northfield Center in 2024 and serves as the investigating agency for several county organizations. Two full-time deputies were dedicated to the warrant division, resulting in nearly 250 felony arrests across Summit County.
During the meeting, trustees inquired about House Bill 315, recently passed, which allows enforcement of zoning violations through the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Fathery acknowledged this new development and committed to working with the township on implementation strategies.
Zoning Department Restructuring
The meeting marked significant changes in the township’s zoning department with multiple personnel shifts:
Scott Peters was officially hired as the Northfield Center Township Zoning Inspector at an hourly wage rate of $22, following his resignation as the alternate on the Board of Zoning Appeals.
The trustees accepted Julie Plato’s resignation as assistant zoning inspector and Tim Black’s resignation as interim zoning inspector, then appointed Black as the new assistant zoning inspector.
Ongoing Property Challenges
A long-standing property issue took center stage, with trustees discussing the demolition of a house that has been a point of contention for nearly three decades. The initial building permit for the property dated back to 1995, and the township has been working with utilities to prepare for demolition.
The township plans to manage demolition costs strategically, with Trustee Reville explaining, “We will file on the tax certificate the cost of tear down… we will get reimbursed if the property [owner] pays it, pays it either pays it on the taxes… or if the property is sold.”
Community Engagement and Support
The Historical Society of Old Northfield made their annual donation request, continuing a tradition of community support. The society, founded in 1957, highlighted their mission of preserving local history and the impact of previous donations, including recent window replacements.
Financial and Infrastructure Developments
The trustees approved several key financial resolutions, including loan payments for the township’s new building and hiring of seasonal road workers Evan Mlachak and Quinn McKiernan.
Road Maintenance Program
The board approved Resolution 25/04-07 J to authorize Northfield Center Township to participate in the Summit County Engineers Regional Pavement Maintenance Program for 2025. This collaborative approach allows the township to potentially secure better pricing by combining road projects with other municipalities.
Tim Black, Director of Services, explained: “What Summit County engineers office does is they go to the townships, even some of the cities, are involved in it, and they do a mass bid for the roads we wish to put into the aggregate. And so we get a better price.”
Rich Reville noted the township has benefited from participating in this regional program for about 15 years. The process allows flexibility, as the township can decline projects if bids come back too high or adjust which roads are included.
The trustees mentioned they were also exploring “Reclaim light” treatment for some roads in the township. Once Summit County engineers complete the bidding process, they’ll present actual costs to the township, at which point the trustees can make final decisions about specific road projects for 2025.
