Also, Village Pushes Parking Lot Project Back Among Varying Ideas for the Site
By Emily Chesnic
The Village of Northfield is continuing to iron out the budget for fiscal year 2021, having to finalize and submit it to Summit County Fiscal Officer Kristen Scalise’s office by the end of the month.
At the March 10 regular meeting of Village Council, a revised 2021 appropriations resolution went through its first reading, with the amendments made decreasing the originally proposed budget by about $250,000.
Finance Director Jennifer Potvin told Council, at a March 8 work session to review the first draft of the budget, the village would see expenditures exceed revenues in 2021, with adjustments made in response, including delaying the proposed parking lot project, at least until the second part of the year.
Council’s changes to the original budget included: adding $3,500 to afford 800 MHZ radio expenses and $3,000 for fire department turnout gear; and decreasing the budget by taking out $20,000 for Pitluk parking, $175,000 for creating a police department preliminary plan, $48,000 for village parking, $10,000 for an extrication tool for the fire department, and $10,000 for a storage building on Ledge Road.
With the revisions made, village-wide total appropriations for the year will be $8.1 million, with expenditures still anticipated to exceed revenues overall by $171,247.19, she said. Potvin told Council the village could use surplus money from previous years to cover the difference, however.
She anticipates the village receiving more stimulus funding this year than it did in 2020.
“We will plan for a mid-year budget review, like we did last year. We can reset and look at where we are at with revenues,” Potvin told Council.
She said Council likely will pass the revised appropriations at the regular meeting March 24.
Parking Lot Issue
A great deal of time was spent March 8 reviewing each section of the budget, with discussions taking place specifically regarding when the village should move forward with a building project to provide a new police department and a new town, as well as a fire station project, and if a parking lot project is an appropriate expenditure for the community.
The conversation centered around what could be done with the village-owned property at 10435 Northfield Road, aside from a parking lot. The property was donated to the village in 2017.
At a cost of about $27,000, the village recently demolished the former PNC Bank on the site, paving the way for the property to be used for parking in the village.
Last month, Mayor Jesse Nehez told Council the lot would be beneficial, providing added parking for those patronizing village businesses, including Russo’s Plaza and Spennatos, an Italian restaurant.
Service Director Jason Walters said the parking lot also could be used for village employees, specifically if a building project to provide a new police department and/or town hall takes place soon.
At the March 8 work session, Councilman Gary Vojtush questioned if the village should spend $48,000 this year for the parking lot. He suggested the village put down “dirt and grass seed and put it up for sale,” as the money could fund other projects in the community. Several members of Council expressed opposition to selling the property, wanting to see it used for the good of the village.
Councilman Keith Czerr also spoke out against the parking lot project. He said having people crossing Route 8 to get to businesses is a safety concern.
He also reminded village officials of his desire to use the land to provide the community with added green space, as the property could be used to bring the community together.
“I grew up in Northfield. It has been my community since 1973. I want to make our community beautiful,” Czerr said. “People need somewhere to go. I want to do something cool here.”
Since the village is a “small town,” he said the village really should use the property as the residents see fit.
“We want to spend money where we don’t need to spend money,” Czerr said. “I don’t think residents will support a parking lot. “
He added he knows community members who likely would step up to “spruce up” the land.
Councilwoman Renell Noack said she supports gathering community input on the matter, with Council ultimately tabling the issue and vowing to revisit the topic mid-year.
Mayor’s Spending Authority
Also, at the March 10 meeting, Council heard the first reading of legislation to amend the Village Administrative Code to increase the mayor’s spending authority.
If the measure is approved by Council later this month, the mayor’s spending authority would increase from $5,000 to $10,000.
Law Director Brad Bryan said the mayor had no spending authority in the village prior to 2016, as every expense had to be approved by Council. In 2016, the current spending authority amount of $5,000 was established, he said.
Some members of Council questioned if the matter was appropriate.
Nehez said projects come up in the Village Service Department often costing just over the $5,000. Increasing the spending amount would save him from having to call emergency meetings or to wait until the next regular meeting to keep a project moving forward.
The matter will be discussed again at the March 24 regular meeting.
Fire Department Report
In his report, Fire Chief Jason Buss announced he will be recommending the village hire four part-time firefighters/paramedics to replace those the department lost to attrition or to fulltime employment elsewhere. He told Council he soon would email everyone a brief biography of each new department member he wants to bring on board.
Additionally, he told Council his department, as of Feb. 10, responded to 166 incidents, which represents an 11 percent decrease from 2020 at this time.
Police Department Report
In his report, Police Chief John Zolgus told Council his officers are scheduled to make up classes they were unable to take in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also told Council some officers now are scheduling their COVID-19 vaccination shots.
Additionally, Zolgus said his department received 673 calls for service in February, which is “slightly down from the normal calls for service.”
New Business Opening in Village
At the meeting, Council President Jennifer Domzalski said she recently stopped into the new business coming to the village – Animal Jungle. She said the pet store “looks amazing” and she looks forward to “seeing them move in soon.”
Executive Session
At the close of the regular meeting an executive session was held, with no action taken following, to discuss a personnel matter, specifically a disciplinary issue.
Click here for the Revised Budget
