Village of Northfield Council Appoints New Leadership, Addresses Community Concerns

The Village of Northfield Council held its first regular meeting of 2025 on January 8. The meeting included several key appointments, legislative actions, and significant public commentary on both union negotiations and snow emergency procedures.

Key Appointments and Legislative Actions

After initial deliberations, the Council successfully appointed Alan Hipps as Council President Pro-Tem for 2025. The Council also confirmed Hipps as the Council Planning Commission Representative and reappointed Renell Noack to the Village Cemetery Board.

In legislative matters, the Council addressed two significant items:

• Ordinance No. 2024-37 received its second reading. This emergency ordinance amends Section 660.18 of the Village General Offenses Code, dealing with the removal of grass clippings, weeds, and yard debris from sidewalks and road right-of-ways. The ordinance also prohibits depositing such materials on neighboring properties.
• Resolution No. 2025-01, an emergency resolution, confirmed the Mayor/Director of Public Safety’s appointment of Alec Barker as a full-time patrol officer. Barker, who graduated from the Cleveland Heights Police Academy and passed the Ohio Peace Officer Certification Examination, will serve a one-year probationary period.

Public Comments

During the public comment period, two significant concerns were brought to the Council’s attention:

Service Department Union Relations

A 27-year veteran of the service department addressed the Council regarding ongoing union negotiations. The speaker highlighted the historically positive 23-year relationship between the union and the village, noting only two grievances filed during this period with zero arbitrations. Concerns were raised about the current negotiation process, particularly regarding the involvement of an outside attorney and allegations of failed information requests. The speaker emphasized the union’s desire to maintain the positive working relationship with the village while addressing concerns about contract negotiations.

Snow Emergency Procedures

A 26-year resident raised concerns about recent enforcement of snow emergency parking regulations. The resident described receiving a parking ticket during a recent snowfall, despite having parked on village streets without incident for over two decades. The discussion led to suggestions for improving communication about snow emergencies, including better utilization of the village’s NIXLE alert system to notify residents about parking restrictions during snow events. If you would like to sign up for the NIXLE alerts, text “NORTHFIELD” to Phone Number 888777.

Committee Updates

The Public Works Committee scheduled a meeting for February 12 at 7:00 PM, prior to the regular council meeting. Other committees provided routine updates, with several noting upcoming meetings in February.

The next regular council meeting is scheduled for February 12, 2025.