City Council

COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 113 JOURNAL PAGE 29 MINUTES OF THE MEETING JANUARY 27, 2025 PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Canton City Council. If everyone would please turn your cell phones to vibrate, we would appreciate it. With a quorum being present, the Chair calls this meeting of Canton City Council to order. Oh… CLERK WOOD: You have to come out of Executive Session. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Sorry, you’re right; we have to do that before I call into order. Okay. President Bates Aylward calls Council out of Executive Session. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: So, uh…now I will call us to order and good evening again. And we will call this meeting of Canton City Council to order. Roll call, please. ROLL CALL TAKEN BY CLERK WOOD: 11 COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: (JOHN MARIOL, JAMES BABCOCK, LOUIS GIAVASIS, CRYSTAL SMITH, BRENDA KIMBROUGH, JASON SCAGLIONE, CHRIS SMITH, ROBERT FISHER, JONATHAN COOKS, RICHARD SACCO & FRANK MORRIS) ELEVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT (MEMBERS HAWK ABSENT) CLERK WOOD: That’s eleven present, one absent, Madam President. EXCUSING MEMBERS PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you very much, Leader Mariol. MEMBER MARIOL: Madam President, I move we excuse Member Hawk from tonight’s meeting. MEMBER BABCOCK: Second. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: It’s moved and seconded to excuse Member Hawk from this evenings meeting. Are there any remarks?…Hearing none, roll call vote, please. NO REMARKS ROLL CALL 11 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK WOOD: Eleven yeas, Madam President. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. The motion carries and Members Hawk is excused from this evening’s meeting. Tonight’s invocation will be given by Ward 6 Council Member, Jonathan Cooks. If you’ll please stand and remain standing for our Pledge of Allegiance. The regular meeting of Canton City Council was held on January 27, 2025 at 7:00 P.M. in the Canton City Council Chamber. The roll call was taken (see above) by Clerk of Council, Jill M. Wood. The invocation was given by Ward 6 Council Member, Jonathan Cooks. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by President Bates Aylward. AGENDA CORRECTIONS AND CHANGES PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: And thank you, Member Cooks. We are now under Agenda Corrections and Changes. Leader Mariol. COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 113 JOURNAL PAGE 30 MINUTES OF THE MEETING JANUARY 27, 2025 MEMBER MARIOL: Madam President, I move we suspend rule 22A to add Second readings Ordinances #20 through #22 to this evening’s agenda. MEMBER BABCOCK: Second. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. It’s been moved and seconded to suspend Rule 22A to add Second Readings to Ordinances 20 through 22 to this evening’s agenda. Are there any remarks?...Hearing none, roll call vote, please. NO REMARKS ROLL CALL 11 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK WOOD: Eleven yeas, Madam President. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. The motion carries and Ordinances #20 through 22 are a legal part of your agenda. PUBLIC HEARINGS PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: We are now under Public Hearings and we have none for this evening. OLD BUSINESS PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: We are now under Old Business. Uh…I don’t believe we have any for this evening. PUBLIC SPEAKS PRESIDENT BATES ALYWARD: Pursuant to Rule 12(b), we will move Public Speaks to right before Miscellaneous Business. Uh…however, I will have more to say about a change that will be coming to that starting in February, in Miscellaneous Business. INFORMAL RESOLUTIONS PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: We are now under Informal Resolutions and we have none for this evening. COMMUNICATIONS PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: We are now under Communications. Let the journal know show that all Communications are received as read. NOTE: ALL COMMUNICATIONS, WHICH FOLLOW, LISTED BY AGENDA TITLE, ARE ON FILE IN THEIR ENTIRETY, IN THE COUNCIL OFFICE WITH THE AGENDA ITEMS FILE DATED JANUARY 27, 2025. 1. STATEMENT OF CASH POSITION DATED 12/31/24. – AUDITOR MALLONN 2. REQ AUTH TO PREPARE ORDINANCE TO SETTLE LAWSUIT PENDING IN COMMON PLEAS COURT REGARDING SEWER BACK UP @ 2118 6TH STREET SW IN 4/2023. – LAW DIRECTOR REESE 3. REQ NEW C1, C2 LIQUOR PERMIT FOR ARB CANTON INC. DBA B&B DRIVE THRU 2 @ 636 CHERRY AVE NE (WARD 2). – LIQUOR CONTROL DIVISION COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 113 JOURNAL PAGE 31 MINUTES OF THE MEETING JANUARY 27, 2025 4. REQ NEW D5J LIQUOR PERMIT FOR FINNEYS ARCADE LLC @ 417 MARKET AVE (WARD 2). – LIQUOR CONTROL DIVISION 5. REQ TRFO D5J LIQUOR PERMIT FOR K&M ROBINSON MANAGEMENT LLC DBA DISTRICT ONE ELEVEN @ 111 CLEVELAND AVE SW 1ST FL (WARD 4). – LIQUOR CONTROL DIVISION 6. REQ LEG FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAM REAUTHORIATION AND EXPANSION. – MAYOR SHERER, COUNCIL MEMBERS MARIOL, BABCOCK, GIAVASIS, CRYSTAL SMITH, KIMBROUGH, SCAGLIONE, CHRIS SMITH, FISHER, AND COOKS. 7. REQ REPLAT PART OF OUTLOTS 212, 213 & PART OF LOT 9669 (ANTONIO WILSON @ 1533 MAPLE AVE NE, WARD 9. – PLANNING SECRETARY BAILEY 8. REQ REPLAT OF PARTS OF LOTS 8954 & 8955 (THOMAS BOWLING @ 1460 – 1464 SHRIVER AVE NE, WARD 2). – PLANNING SECRETARY BAILEY 9. REQ LEG TO ADOPTING CONNECTING CANTON – TOGETHER, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT. – PLANNING SECRETARY BAILEY 10. PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT (PLA) WAIVER @ 10TH NW SIDEWALK REPLACEMENT PROJ – GP 1454 (CDBG FUNDS). – SERVICE DIRECTOR HIGHMAN 11. REQ LEG FOR REQUIRED CHANGE TO CANTON CODIFIED ORDINANCE 961.18 (AUTHORIZED NON-STORM WATER DISCHARGES INTO STORM SEWER). – SERVICE DIRECTOR HIGHMAN 12. REQ LEG FOR DESIGN SERVICES – CSD 2024-38, 12-INCH MARYLAND AVE SW (SAN-07692) REHABILITATION; EMERGENCY. – SERVICE DIRECTOR HIGHMAN 13. REQ LEG FOR ENGINEERING PROJ. FUND AND ORGANIZATION CODE ESTABLISHMENT AND APPROPRIATIONS; EMERGENCY (VARIOUS SUPP APPROPS AND TRANSFERS). – SERVICE DIRECTOR HIGHMAN 14. REQ LEG FOR SANITATION DEPARTMENT CAPITAL PURCHASES; EMERGENCY (SUPP APPROP FR UNAPPROP BAL OF THE 5601 REFUSE ADMINISTRATION FUND TO 5601 205001 ADMINISTRATION – OTHER). – SERVICE DIRECTOR HIGHMAN ORDINANCES AND FORMAL RESOLUTIONS FOR FIRST READING PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: We are now under Ordinances and Formal Resolutions for their First Reading. Madam Clerk, would you please begin with Ordinance #15. NOTE: PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD CALLED UPON CLERK WOOD TO READ ORDINANCES #15 THROUGH #19 FOR THEIR FIRST READING BY TITLE AS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW, AS FOLLOWS (O#17 THROUGH O#19 ADOPTED): COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 113 JOURNAL PAGE 32 MINUTES OF THE MEETING JANUARY 27, 2025 O#15. (1ST RDG) AN ORDINANCE RE-ESTABLISHING THE STOREFRONT REINVESTMENT PROGRAM (“SRP”); AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND/OR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO ENTER INTO SRP GRANT AGREEMENTS IN A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $150,000 OF ISSUE 13 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FUNDS; AND DECLARING THE SAME TO BE AN EMERGENCY Referred to Community & Economic Development Committee O#16. (1ST RDG) AN ORDINANCE RE-ESTABLISHING THE PUBLIC REALM REINVESTMENT PROGRAM (“PRRP”); AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND/OR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH APPROVED PUBLIC REALM BUSINESSES IN A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $75,000 OF ISSUE 13 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FUNDS; AND DECLARING THE SAME TO BE AN EMERGENCY Referred to Community & Economic Development Committee O#17. (1ST RDG) ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 7/2025 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CLERK OF COUNCIL TO CERTIFY TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR UNPAID AND DELINQUENT CHARGES FOR SERVICES PERFORMED BY AND/OR ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF CANTON BUILDING AND CODE DEPARTMENT FOR BOARD UP/CLEAN UP/DEMOLITION CHARGES; AND DECLARING THE SAME TO BE AN EMERGENCY Referred to Finance Committee O#18. (1ST RDG) ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 8/2025 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH A AND J URBAN DEVELOPMENT LLC FOR THE FIRST FLOOR OF 309 COURT AVE. NW; AMENDING APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE NO. 247/2024; AND DECLARING THE SAME TO BE AN EMERGENCY ($50,000.00 SUPP APPROP FR UNAPPROP BAL OF 1001 GENERAL OPERATING FUND TO 1001 102001 POLICE ADMIN – OTHER) Referred to Finance Committee O#19. (1ST RDG) ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 9/2025 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SETTLEMENT OF STATE EX REL. LARRY R. PARSON, JR., ET AL. V. CITY OF CANTON; AND DECLARING THE SAME TO BE AN EMERGENCY Referred to Finance Committee PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. At this time the Chair would declare an in-house recess for the Finance Committee to meet in regard to Ordinances #17, #18, and #19 on your agenda. You are now in recess. (COUNCIL RECESSED AT 7:11 PM FOR THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO MEET IN REGARDS TO O#17 THROUGH O#19; RECONVENED AT 7:19 PM) PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Council is reconvening after the recess, Leader. COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 113 JOURNAL PAGE 33 MINUTES OF THE MEETING JANUARY 27, 2025 MEMBER MARIOL: Madam President, I move…we suspend the Statutory Rules on Ordinances #17, #18, and #19… MEMBER BABCOCK: Second. MEMBER MARIOL: back on this evening’s agenda. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD; I think we have to do 22A first. Or does…is that just wrong on my… MEMBER MARIOL: …Oh I’m sorry. I move we uh… suspend Rules 22A to place #17, #18, and #19 back to this evening’s agenda. MEMBER BABCOCK: Second. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: It’s been moved and seconded to suspend…I’m sorry. To suspend Rule 22A to place Ordinance #17 through #19 back on this evening’s agenda. Are there any remarks? …Madam Clerk. NO REMARKS ROLL CALL 11 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK WOOD: Eleven yeas, Madam President. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. The motion carries and Ordinances #17 through #19 are a legal part of your agenda. Leader. MEMBER MARIOL: Madam President, I move we suspend the Statutory Rules on Ordinances #17 through #19. MEMBER BABCOCK: Second. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: It’s moved and seconded to suspend the Statutory Rules on Ordinances #17 through #19. Are there any remarks? …Hearing none, roll call vote, please. NO REMARKS ROLL CALL 11 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK WOOD: Eleven yeas, Madam President. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. The motion carries. You’ve heard the three readings. Leader. MEMBER MARIOL: Madam President, I move we adopt Ordinance #17. MEMBER BABCOCK: Second. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: It’s been moved and seconded that you adopt Ordinance #17. Are there any remarks under this Ordinance? …Hearing none, roll call vote, please. COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 113 JOURNAL PAGE 34 MINUTES OF THE MEETING JANUARY 27, 2025 NO REMARKS ROLL CALL 11 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK WOOD: Eleven yeas, Madam President. #17 ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 7/2025 PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. The motion carries and Ordinance #17 has been adopted. Leader. MEMBER MARIOL: Madam President, I move we adopt Ordinance #18. MEMBER BABCOCK: Second. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: It’s been moved and seconded that you adopt Ordinance #18. Are there any remarks under this Ordinance? …Hearing none, roll call vote, please. NO REMARKS ROLL CALL 9 YEAS, 2 NAYS (MEMBER CHRIS SMITH AND MEMBER MORRIS VOTED NAY) CLERK WOOD: Nine yeas, two nays, Madam President. #18 ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 8/2025 PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. The motion carries and Ordinance #18 has been adopted. Leader. MEMBER MARIOL: Madam President, I move we adopt Ordinance #19. MEMBER BABCOCK: Second. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: It’s been moved and seconded that you adopt Ordinance #19. Are there any remarks under this Ordinance? …Hearing none, roll call vote, please. NO REMARKS ROLL CALL 11 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK WOOD: Eleven yeas, Madam President. #17 ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 7/2025 PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. The motion carries and Ordinance #19 has been adopted. ORDINANCES & FORMAL RESOLUTIONS FOR SECOND READING PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: We are now under Ordinances and Formal Resolutions for their Second Reading. Madam Clerk, would you please begin with Ordinance #20. NOTE: PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD CALLED UPON CLERK WOOD TO READ ORDINANCES #20 THROUGH #22 FOR THEIR SECOND READING BY TITLE AS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW, AS FOLLOWS: COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 113 JOURNAL PAGE 35 MINUTES OF THE MEETING JANUARY 27, 2025 O#20. (2ND RDG) AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO ADVERTISE, RECEIVE BIDS, AWARD, AND EXECUTE A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT AND EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OVERSIGHT SERVICES FOR THE HARTER HEIGHTS AREA WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT AND ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT - PHASE I; AUTHORIZING THE AUDITOR TO PAY ALL MORAL OBLIGATIONS FOR CONTRACT CHANGE ORDERS THAT ARE OTHERWISE APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF CONTROL PURSUANT TO CANTON CODIFIED ORDINANCE 105.14; AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO RECEIVE GRANT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $750,000 AND A ZERO PERCENT INTEREST LOAN IN THE AMOUNT OF $750,000 FOR THE PROJECT; AUTHORIZING THE AUDITOR TO ESTABLISH THE 5254 HARTER HTS AREA WATER MAIN REPLCMT & RDWY IMPRV - PHASE I FUND; AMENDING APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE NO. 247/2024; AND DECLARING THE SAME TO BE AN EMERGENCY($1,500,000.00 FR UNAPPROP BAL OF 5254 HARTER HTS. AREA WATER MAIN REPLCMT & RDWAY IMPRV - PHASE 1 FUND TO 5254 207083 HARTER HTS. AREA WATER MAIN RPLCMT & RDWY IMPROV - PH PERRY HTS. WTR. PH 2 WATER MAIN RPLCMT & RDWY IMPRV - PHASE 1 - OTHER; $2,035,000.00 FROM UNAPPROP BAL OF 5201 WATER FUND TO 5201 207083 HARTER HTS. WTR. MAIN RPLCMT & RDWY IMPRV - PHASE 1 - OTHER). O#21. (2ND RDG) AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO: ENTER INTO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACTS FOR DESIGN AND OVERSIGHT OF THE PROJECTS IDENTIFIED ON EXHIBIT A; ADVERTISE, RECEIVE BIDS, AWARD, AND ENTER INTO CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS FOR SAID PROJECTS; AND ENTER INTO ONE OR MORE CONTRACTS UTILIZING ANY PROCUREMENT PROCESS AUTHORIZED BY LAW; WAIVES THE INFORMAL RESOLUTION REQUIREMENTS OF CANTON CODIFIED ORDINANCE 105.09 FOR PURCHASES AND CONTRACTS RELATED TO THESE PROJECTS; AUTHORIZING THE AUDITOR TO PAY ALL MORAL OBLIGATIONS FOR RELATED CONTRACT CHANGE ORDERS THAT ARE OTHERWISE APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF CONTROL PURSUANT TO CANTON CODIFIED ORDINANCE 105.14; AMENDING APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE NO. 247/2024; AND DECLARING THE SAME TO BE AN EMERGENCY ($650,000.00 APPROPRIATION TRANSFER FR 5413 202010 ENGINEER - DAILY OPERATIONS TO 5413 202089 ORCHARD VIEW AVE SE SANITARY SEWER EXTENSION GP 1467 - OTHER). O#22. (2ND RDG) AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE AUDITOR TO PAY TWO MORAL OBLIGATIONS IN THE AMOUNTS OF $10,645.00 TO UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY FOR THE 2024 & 2025 MONITORING PERIOD FOR THE MIDDLE BRANCH OF THE NIMISHILLEN CREEK STREAMGAGE; AND DECLARING THE SAME TO BE AN EMERGENCY CLERK WOOD: Madam President. COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 113 JOURNAL PAGE 36 MINUTES OF THE MEETING JANUARY 27, 2025 ORDINANCES & FORMAL RESOLUTIONS FOR THIRD AND FINAL READING PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. We are now under Ordinances and Formal Resolutions for their Third, Final Reading and Vote. Madam Clerk, would you please begin with Ordinance #23. O#23. (3RD RDG) ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 10/2025 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ACCEPTING THE REPLAT OF LOTS 6107 AND 6108; AND DECLARING THE SAME TO BE AN EMERGENCY (CANTON FOR ALL PEOPLE @ 301 – 305 BROWN AVE. NW, WARD 1) PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you, Leader Mariol. MEMBER MARIOL: Madam President, I move we adopt Ordinance #23. MEMBER BABCOCK: Second. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: It’s moved and seconded that you adopt Ordinance #23. Are there any remarks? …Hearing none, roll call vote, please. NO REMARKS ROLL CALL 11 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK WOOD: Eleven yeas, Madam President. #23 ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 10/2025 PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. The motion carries and Ordinance #23 is adopted. Ordinance #24, please. O#24. (3RD RDG) ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 11/2025 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ACCEPTING THE REPLAT OF PART OF LOTS 1600, 1601 AND PART OF VACATED ROAD; AND DECLARING THE SAME TO BE AN EMERGENCY (CANTON FOR ALL PEOPLE @ 1002 3RD ST NW, WARD 1) PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. Leader Mariol. MEMBER MARIOL: Madam President, I move we adopt Ordinance #24. MEMBER MARIOL: Second. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: It’s moved and seconded to adopt Ordinance #24. Are there any remarks?...Hearing none, roll call vote, please. NO REMARKS ROLL CALL 11 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK WOOD: Eleven yeas, Madam President. #24 ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 11/2025 COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 113 JOURNAL PAGE 37 MINUTES OF THE MEETING JANUARY 27, 2025 PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. The motion carries and Ordinance #24 is adopted. Ordinance #25, please. O#25. (3RD RDG) ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 12/2025 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ACCEPTING THE REPLAT OF LOTS 4498, 4499 AND 4500; AND DECLARING THE SAME TO BE AN EMERGENCY (CANTON FOR ALL PEOPLE @ 400 BLOCK OF NEWTON AVE NW, WARD 1) PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. Leader Mariol. MEMBER MARIOL: Madam President, I move we adopt Ordinance #25. MEMBER BABCOCK: Second. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: It’s moved and seconded to adopt Ordinance #25. Are there any remarks?...Hearing none, roll call vote, please. NO REMARKS ROLL CALL 11 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK WOOD: Eleven yeas, Madam President. #25 ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 12/2025 PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. The motion carries and Ordinance #25 is adopted. Ordinance #26, please. O#26. (3RD RDG) ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 13/2025 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ACCEPTING THE REPLATS OF LOTS 1587 AND 1588; AND DECLARING THE SAME TO BE AN EMERGENCY (CANTON FOR ALL PEOPLE @ 219 NEWTON AVE NW, WARD 1) PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. Leader Mariol. MEMBER MARIOL: Madam President, I move we adopt Ordinance #26. MEMBER BABCOCK: Second. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: It’s moved and seconded to adopt Ordinance #26. Are there any remarks?...Hearing non, roll call vote, please. NO REMARKS ROLL CALL 11 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK WOOD: Eleven yeas, Madam President. #26 ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 13/2025 COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 113 JOURNAL PAGE 38 MINUTES OF THE MEETING JANUARY 27, 2025 PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. The motion carries and Ordinance #26 is adopted. Ordinance #27, please. O#27. (3RD RDG) ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 14/2025 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ACCEPTING THE REPLAT OF OUTLOT 796 AND PART OF OUTLOT 795; AND DECLARING THE SAME TO BE AN EMERGENCY (TRISHA FERRUCCIO @ 3000 ATLANTIC BLVD NE, WARD 6) PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. Leader Mariol. MEMBER MARIOL: Madam President, I move we adopt Ordinance #27. MEMBER BABCOCK: Second. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: It’s moved and seconded to adopt Ordinance #27. Are there any remarks? …Hearing none, roll call vote, please. NO REMARKS ROLL CALL 11 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK WOOD: Eleven yeas, Madam President. #27 ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 14/2025 PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. The motion carries and Ordinance #27 is adopted. Ordinance #28, please. O#28. (3RD RDG) ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 15/2025 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ACCEPTING THE REPLAT OF LOTS 29497 AND 29498; AND DECLARING THE SAME TO BE AN EMERGENCY (JOHN & REBEKAH EISENBARTH @ 702 22ND ST NE, WARD 9) PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. Leader Mariol. MEMBER MARIOL: Madam President, I move we adop Ordinance #28. MEMBER BABCOCK: Second PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: It’s moved and seconded that you adopt Ordinance #28. Are there any remarks?... Hearing none, roll call vote, please. NO REMARKS ROLL CALL 11 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK WOOD: Eleven yeas, Madam President. #28 ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 15/2025 COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 113 JOURNAL PAGE 39 MINUTES OF THE MEETING JANUARY 27, 2025 PRESDIENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. The motion carries and Ordinances #28 is adopted. Ordinance #29, please. O#29. (3RD RDG) ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 16/2025 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ACCEPTING THE REPLAT OF LOTS 1898 AND 1899; AND DECLARING THE SAME TO BE AN EMERGENCY (HABITAT FOR HUMANITY @ 607 14TH ST SE, WARD 4) PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. Leader Mariol. MEMBER MARIOL: Madam President, I move we adopt Ordinance #29. MEMBER BABCOCK: Second. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: It’s moved and seconded to adopt Ordinance #29. Are there any remarks?...Hearing none, roll call vote, please. NO REMARKS ROLL CALL 11 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK WOOD: Eleven yeas, Madam President #29 ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 16/2025 PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: The motion carries and Ordinance #29 is adopted. Ordinance #30, please. O#30. (3RD RDG) ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 17/2025 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO: ENTER INTO AGREEMENT FOR AND ACCEPT $96,455 IN JOINT GRANT FUNDS WITH THE STARK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE FROM THE OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAM, BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE; AND ENTER INTO CONTRACT FOR THE PURCHASE OF 15 TG3 KEYBOARDS, 5 HAVIS DOCKS, WATCHGUARD BATTERIES, 2 POLICE BICYCLES 2/ACCESSORIES, 2 FTC PRO DOUBLE LAUNCHER BUNDLES, 1 BALLISTIC SHIELD AND 1 BOMB DETECTION K9 FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PURSUANT TO ANY PROCUREMENT PROCESS AUTHORIZED BY LAW; AUTHORIZING THE AUDITOR TO RENAME FUND 2769 BYRNE MEM JUSTICE ASSIST GRANT 2015 FUND TO 2769 FY24 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL GRANT FUND; AMENDING APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE NO. 247/2024; AND DECLARING THE SAME TO BE AN EMERGENCY ($48,227.50 SUPP APPROP FR UNAPPROP BAL OF 2769 FY 24 EDWARD BYRNE MEM GRANT FUND TO 2769 102001 POLICE ADMIN – OTHER) PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. Leader Mariol. MEMBER MARIOL: Madam President, I move we adopt Ordinance #30. COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 113 JOURNAL PAGE 40 MINUTES OF THE MEETING JANUARY 27, 2025 MEMBER BABCOCK: Second. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: It’s moved and seconded that you adopt Ordinance #30. Are there any remarks?... Hearing none, roll call vote, please. NO REMARKS ROLL CALL 11 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK WOOD: Eleven yeas, Madam President. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. The motion carries and Ordinance #30 is adopted. Ordinance #31, please. O#31. (3RD RDG) ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 18/2025 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO ENTER INTO CHANGE ORDER NO. 5 WITH S.E.T., INC IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $219,184.62 FOR THE 11TH ST SE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT, PID 90465, GP 1144; AUTHORIZING THE AUDITOR TO PAY ALL MORAL OBLIGATIONS RELATED TO SAID CHANGE ORDER; AND DECLARING THE SAME TO BE AN EMERGENCY. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. Leader Mariol. MEMBER MARIOL: Madam President, I move we adopt Ordinance #31. MEMBER BABCOCK: Second. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: It’s moved and seconded to adopt Ordinance #31. Are there any remarks?... Hearing none, roll call vote, please. NO REMARKS ROLL CALL 11 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK WOOD: Eleven yeas, Madam President #31 ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 18/2025 PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. The motion carries and Ordinance #31 is adopted. Ordinance #32, please. O#32. (3RD RDG) ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 19/2025 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE, OR THEIR DESIGNEE TO NEGOTIATE WITH PROPERTY OWNERS AND ACQUIRE THE NECESSARY EASEMENT PARCELS BY DONATIONS IN EXHIBIT A; ESTABLISHES 28TH ST. NW AS A PUBLIC STREET, CONTINGENT UPON THE CITY ACQUIRING ALL PARCELS LYING UNDER THE EXISTING ROADWAY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT A; AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE OR THEIR DESIGNEE TO MAKE MINISTERIAL CHANGES TO CORRECT PROPERTY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 113 JOURNAL PAGE 41 MINUTES OF THE MEETING JANUARY 27, 2025 OWNERS NAMES, PARCEL NUMBERS, AND OTHER NUMERICAL DESCRIPTIVE OR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS; AND DECLARING THE SAME TO BE AN EMERGENCY PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. Leader Mariol. MEMBER MARIOL: Madam President, I move we adopt Ordinance #32. MEMBER BABCOCK: Second. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: It’s moved and seconded to adopt Ordinance #32. Are there any remarks?...Hearing none, roll call vote, please. NO REMARKS ROLL CALL 11 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK WOOD: Eleven yeas, Madam President. #32 ADOPTED AS ORDINANCE NO. 19/2025 PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. The motion carries and Ordinance #32 is adopted. ANNOUNCEMENT OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: We are now under Announcement of Committee Meetings. Our next meeting date is February 3, 2025 and Committee Meetings will start at 6:45 P.M. Uh…Community & Economic Development Committee. MEMBER COOKS: Community & Economic Development will meet at 6:45 pm on that date. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you very much. Okay. PUBLIC SPEAKS PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: We are now under Public Speaks, and we have ten speakers this evening. Uh…many of you have been with us before, but if you will approach…uh…the microphone, I will call your name, give us your name and your home address. And…uh…our first speaker…get my paper…is Mr. Roger Gates. Mr. Gates. ROGER GATES: My name is Roger Gates, I live at 611 Smith Ave. NW. I guess every time I come in here and speak; I’m going to break this down to what my education tells me to break it down to. Economically, in this city, there is not the jobs that can sustain the rent increases and things like that. Working at Family Dollar, working Dollar Tree is fine and dandy, but many single women that have children are working these jobs and they have to work two jobs and they’re outside of the household. And that is particularly what’s effecting some of our youth in this city. They’re doing what they have to do to be able to survive. Social economics states that our…we already know our…population in Canton, Ohio is declining. Okay, as my stepdad used to say, “You trying to live on a champagne budget but…you have a beer budget.” How can we even continue whenever we’re having all these problems and we are just kind of sweeping them underneath the table? Here, we’ll just do some cosmetic things to make the city look great, but without the social economics and to support the people that are here already. Let’s be for real. I cannot just pick up and move tomorrow. I’m here…I’m stuck here. COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 113 JOURNAL PAGE 42 MINUTES OF THE MEETING JANUARY 27, 2025 I’ve lived here all my life so I ain’t going nowhere. These are the people that you want to keep, but these people are leaving. If you haven’t drove through the neighborhood, look at how many houses are up for sale. How many of them are actually leaving the city? How many of them are planning on going to Jackson Township or someplace else that offers them a better paying job other than Dollar Tree or McDonald’s or Burger King or wherever. Not that I can judge, as you can see, I got a Swenson’s hat. At…when my grandmother died, I went to work at Swenson’s because I helped take care of my mother and my grandmother. And then when my grandmother died, Probate Court stepped in and took my mother and took everything. I’m fighting for the last piece of it right now and I’ll be damned if they’re going to take that. Now, when I hear “We” from Ms...Mr. Mariol said it in open Council when he says, “We”. Okay, that’s you guys’ right? Does that “We” include us, all of us staying on this side of the wall? Or, are we just coming in here and act like everybody…tells us you’re…you’re talking on deaf ears. They don’t hear what you have to say. Then we get treated like we’re a joke. We get disrespected. And I’ve done nothing but treat you all with respect. Nothing! Even the ones I’ve known a lifetime in here, that would not admit to knowing me, I still treat you all with respect, because we are all men and women of this community. And without that, we are not going to go nowhere. If you keep up the “We” on this side and keep up your champagne budget, with a beer budget to support it, we’re not going nowhere. You can build all the new houses you want…without the jobs to support the people to be able to afford that, I can’t afford an apartment in the…Old Hercules Complex. I can’t afford a house in the Onesto. And I know you’re going to put a Sub Station there to serve all these places downtown. What about my neighborhood where there’s gun shots on a regular basis? We the people, thank you. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you, Mr. Gates. Our next speaker is Ms. Skylark Bruce. Ms. Bruce. SKYLARK BRUCE: My name is Skylark Bruce and I live at 2216 Bollinger Ave. NE. When I was a teenager, my father’s favorite line was, “Failure to plan on your part does not create an automatic emergency on mine.” I don’t know when or where this new police substation has been planned, but only talking publicly about it in the twenty-four hours before voting on it as an emergency measure smells like no transparency. It wreaks of avoiding public comment. You could have held Public Speaks before the vote, but you are irrationally scared of something. Failing to plan a police substation on your part, does not create an automatic emergency on ours. The reasons Chief Gabbard gave the Repository that it’s supposedly necessary, are laughable. More security for events that colonizer…I mean Centennial Plaza. It’s not remotely clear how anything done from a substation is an improvement over what’s done now from the police headquarters. Most events at the plaza are in warm weather. Please explain to me a lease that starts March 1st instead of February 1st is unacceptable. How a substation that is four blocks away from headquarters improves access to neighborhoods is also puzzling. Rather than going to a substation to fill out a police report, a lot of people would like to be able to do that online. We can sign mortgage paperwork, and buy a car fully online, but we can’t make a report to our local police. Make it make sense. Will the homeless liaison officer actually help our neighbors get housing? Most of my homeless friends tell me they’ve never had a police officer care about them as a human being. Police are far more likely to steal their stuff, burn their stuff, beat them, arrest and jail them, and make life even more miserable for them. If the comfort and peace Gabbard spoke of are only for housed people, then we have failed. How many other city departments asked for a $151,000.00 to do their jobs better and were told no? Why is the police off…police department the exception? How many potholes does $151,000.00 fill? How many road resurfacings and swing sets, and trees planted in parks could this pay for? Number four, the perception problem. More police doesn’t translate to everyone feeling or being safer. In addition, to all the people of color, queer people, disabled people, and homeless people who know they’re not safer around the police; these proposals could validate the concerns of white middle class people with money to spend. They may look around and say, “See, I told you downtown is dangerous, look at all the police here.” It’s Security Theater, very little of which does anything to improve safety. Justice for Frank Tyson and Zachary Fornash. COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 113 JOURNAL PAGE 43 MINUTES OF THE MEETING JANUARY 27, 2025 PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you, Ms. Bruce. (Applause). Our next speaker is Ms. Kim Bell. Ms. Bell. KIM BELL: Kim Bell, 1733 Morris Ave. I’m not going to talk about…my job issue. I’ll let you guys look over that, but I…I’m he…I’ll…I’ll be at City Council now. I don’t have to rush back to work. I was a loyal employee to them, but I…I…I don’t…they…they’re just as dirty as…the floor we walk on. But I…I want…I do want to address the substation. The uh…right over there. I live by Crenshaw Middle School. I grew up over there; I grew up on Indiana Way. I was raised on Indiana Way. And when they had the Southeast Community Center built, and it was…we used to couldn’t wait ‘til summer to go…to the swim…go swimming there. Well, over the years it’s been occupied off and on by this place, by that place, by this person. So it sits right there, just unoccupied and…and just growing weeds and everything around it. Crenshaw Middle School is building extra wings to the school. For I haven’t doc…I have went over there to find out what…what…what are they adding to those uh…wings. So, but I felt after I look at the…the bigger picture here, I said, “Why is the city and…and the Board of Education being so wasteful? Why didn’t they buy…purchase that community center? It was already a structure built and just extend it from the football field…to that building to add…instead of adding another building in that area?” it was…it…people are not sitting down and brainstorming and thinking about how we can use structures that’s already here.We are so wasteful. America is so wasteful. The new…this…this food out that they’re building out there. They just building a Meijer’s and a Buehler’s, what do we need another food store for? It’s just waste…we are just wasteful people. This…that…that wing to that school was unnecessary. All you had to do…uh…was sit down with the Board of uh…the Board of Education and think it through and say, “Let’s just extend it to…the school to the Northeast Community Center.” Okay, well, it’s done. It’s already built…the place is already built. So Richard, remember when you said something about…sending kids to trade school? Well let’s use that Community Center as a child…as uh…as uh…beginners…level of tra…learning a trade. Use that building for something. It’s been sitting there. We got barbershop…we got barbers that can go in there…electricians, plumbers. The robots are…Elon Musk can’t fix it…make a…a…a robot to fix some plumbing. I don’t think, but uh…I’m sure uh…Jason we’ll be talking about my job. PRESDIENT BATES AYLWARD: That you very much, Ms. Bell. Our next speaker is Mr. Justice Nicely. Mr. Nicely. JUSTIN NICELY: Good evening. My name is Justin Nicely of the Canton Hall of Shame. Single father, community advocate, former resident of the Jackson Sherrick Community. I reside now in Massillon, Now, first and foremost, we’re saying it’s a hell no on this substation three blocks away from your actual police station. Honestly, that’s just another building for you guys to beat the hell out of us and then we not get any accountability when we get kicked out of there. Now, that document and record request that I gave you is your nail in the coffin as far as all the lies and gas lighting. Now, also, I gave a copy to you…the same thing from…what…what I gave to CPS. And trust and believe I also gave one to Stark Metro as well. Now, as you all know, by law with that request being served to you formally in writing, it also has to be answered in such and I expect it to be done post haste so I can go on record in the Court of Common Pleas. And so, you guys aren’t chasing your tails and wasting your time, I’m going to let you know you’re not going to find a grievance, a complaint, not even a scribble in regards to what it is I’m asking for in that document. There never was one because right after you guys take my kids back in October 17, 2019, to try and hide everything that you guys did, Covid hit, locking everything down and preventing me from being able to go through any form of grievance procedures and policies with any agencies entitled to me under law. Everything stayed locked down until mandates were lifted by our Governor, June 17, 2021. And unfortunately, because the City of Canton and Stark County, they play by their own rules, you kept all of our public offices closed to us, documented bailiffs enforced until September of 2022. Until a certain person raised enough of a stink about it to get you to take COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 113 JOURNAL PAGE 44 MINUTES OF THE MEETING JANUARY 27, 2025 down your signs and open back up again. And I warned all of y’all that 2025 is the year of reckoning. That we are going to come from transparency and accountability. And it’s to the levels of the likes you ain’t never seen before. Now, this special interest and its being the foundation based of every single decision that you guys are making, it’s over. We’re here for our freedoms back. And like the old sitcom says, “Lucy, you got some explaining to do!” Okay, like uh…you’re going to explain why Canton City Police Department came to my home with no warrants, nothing signed by a judge, kidnapped my children on just allegations alone. You’re going to explain why to obtain records information, the process to do such while y’all will put somebody through so much hell. Jason Reese, you’re going to answer and explain for all the record requests that I asked for in writing in a timely manner that wasn’t fulfilled. And I have time stamped date video recorded by your office. We want answers to why we cannot go to our police department and file a complaint with our Gestapo police department. As we are supposed to talk to Chief Gabbard, and I, in shackles, and they set up up to to be attacked in the process as well. And I want to know why our Safety Director, Andrea Perry, ma’am, when we tried to come talk to you with two counselors to set appointments to discuss everything that’s taking place. Andrea Perry, I’m talking to you. It’s right here. Seven police officers on us, claim my name is Kevin Mullaly, and have us thrown out of the building with video evidence that states otherwise as far as us causing a disturbance. Mr. Mayor, you say you haven’t personally done anything to me, but my phone’s not ringing and I haven’t heard anything as far as my email pinging. And I’m still waiting for all of you to bring these cowards to the table to discuss why they did to me what they did. Don’t be mad at me for my contention for it. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Than you, Mr. Nicely. (Applause). Our next speaker is Mr. Jason Cousins. Mr. Cousins. JASON COUSINS: 2307 10th St. SW. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Can you speak a little bit more in the mic so we can hear you? JASON COUSINS: 2307 SW PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. JASON COUSINS: Uh… PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you. JASON COUSINS: I’m here…my cousin was executed by Robert Huber, January 1st, 2021, while shooting celebratory gunfire in his backyard. The Police Officer, Robert Huber, ran up to the gate, shot eight times…said, “Police, drop your weapon”, after he fired eight times and executed my cousin, who made it into his house and died in front of his wife and kids. Y’all…some of y’all have…have addressed our family at least. I’ll say two or three of you…at least. But, let’s move over to Summit County real quick. Jalen Walker. His family has already (Inaudible) and taken care of. Marquetta Williams and her five daughters still struggling. Y’all didn’t help them move out of the house, because I did. I had to move them out of the city because the way y’all harassed and did things. I get arrested while protesting at the Hall of Fame, where a white woman wasn’t arrested for the same thing I was accused of. Y’all not justifiable right to be in the positions that some of y’all are in. And if y’all thought about the way that people that really love people feel, when you allow police to execute us, what would you feel if it was your child? Y’all got to start…y’all sit up here and do Pledge of Allegiance and praise all these…about God, but ain’t none of you showing no Godly ways. Y’all sit up and tell us all these right and wrong things, but y’all sit up and condone the wrong in your own things by qualifying immunity? I can kill a man and I don’t got to admit to it because, shit, ain’t none of y’all going to do anything COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 113 JOURNAL PAGE 45 MINUTES OF THE MEETING JANUARY 27, 2025 about it. But when it becomes us becomes the hunters, I guarantee, y’all gone wish that you would’ve picked better sides because the day is gone come where hunting gone be different. It ain’t gone be us that y’all say is the minority, it’s going to be running in a minute. I’m asking for justice for my family. It’s been time…been passed time. Do what’s right for Marquetta Williams and James Williams’ kids. Justice for James. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you, Mr. Cousins. (Applause). Our next speaker is Ms. Shelia Billman. Ms. Billman. SHELIA BILLMAN: Hi ladies and gentleman. So, this is very exciting and scary. So, this is my first time, so…actually, my second time ever attending Council…like this…in your office. And it’s a little intimidating, but I can tell you it might look like I’m crawling now because I’m just learning, but when I’m done, we’ll all be colleagues. Because I’m getting my Juris Doctors. So you guys will see me around. For those who don’t know that, that’s a lawyer’s degree. I’ve also had to be my own…uh…detective in the last four years. I’ve asked for Canton City’s help and called police because I was sex trafficked on the internet and “gang stalked”. Get to…get to know that word, gang stalking. I know there’s a team there. Has to be to keep up with me. I’ve been doing this for a while so let’s get to it. Four years ago I dated somebody from New York who has family that are police officers. And didn’t work out between us and I thought we’d just go our separate ways and bygones be bygones, but that wasn’t the way of it. He said, “Shelia, don’t think I can’t get to you because I’m here and you’re there.” He says, “I’ll ask my police to as your police for a favor and that’s what they’ll do because thath’s what police do.” And that’s what they’ve been doing to me for the last four years. I’ve asked police to come into my home and help me when I found de..devices that record you without your knowledge. You ever seen a charging block that you charge your phones with? Everybody has one, everybody charges their phones with it. Do you now if you have a special one, it can record you? Looks like this one, plugs in like one, records you, unlike any other. Imagine calling the police and telling them you need help because this has happened to you. There’s a pen in your house, but it’s not really a pen. It’s a device that records you, against your will and consent. The third time I asked the police to come help me, they tried to kidnap me and drug me and take me away and tell me I was having a psychotic break. And why wouldn’t I? Because I can’t get help from my Canton City. My police officers corrupt. Turn their blind eye to what I’m seeing. And that’s why I’m here and I’m not going nowhere soon. We’re all going to be bestest of friends. Imagine calling the police and tell them that someone broke in your house, and replaced your electrical outlet with a new one. That last one was recording you for the last year. Oh…but while I’m downstairs showing the other officer where the footprint is on my wall, where they broke in, the other officer’s asking my best friend that I’ve known since I was twelve, if I have a past history of mental illness. Imagine just a little blush brush, it records too. I mean you wouldn’t know these things, would you, because maybe you’re not a sadistic pedophile, but when I call my Canton Police Officers over and over again to help me, and they try and take me away and drug me. That’s unacceptable and there’s a level of corruptness and it’s over. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you Ms. Billman. Our next speaker is Mr. Eric Resnick. Mr. Resnick. ERIC RESNICK: Good evening. My address is 1828 Grace Ave. NE and Happy New Year to all of you. This is my first time here in 2025. So I wanted to come here and talk about this Police Substation. Having learned about it with Kelli’s report just this morning…like everybody else. But now it’s past tense. So, what I was going to say is no longer relevant, except I’m going to say some of it anyway. And you know I’m really disappointed that it has to be past tense because it’s almost like you’re not even pretending that you want to hear from the public about these things. When you put Public Speaks last and something comes up today that just appears on the agenda and you know, it’s the first time you hear from anybody…after it’s done. So, Member Morris actually covered most of the ground that I was hoping to cover with this. You know, according to Google Maps, COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 113 JOURNAL PAGE 46 MINUTES OF THE MEETING JANUARY 27, 2025 it’s actually 1,050 ft. I mean, really? I…I…I…I’m just…I…I…I’m stunned…and…I…I…I’m…I’m…troubled because the reasons that were given are not really reasons. You know, what…what is the public, the tax paying public getting from this that we can’t get from something 1,050 feet away, in this building, where the police station is? I mean that question still has not been answered. I…I am not persuaded by the homeless argument here. You know for the kind of money that you’re spending, you could actually house a few people and actually do something. Homelessness is an issue that this city has neglected for a very long time. And you know, Gabbard’s statement about having this so that you can take tours of it, okay so we’re opening a police substation for the purpose of giving the public tours? Really? I mean it, this is, this is not funny. I mean it is funny, but isn’t not funny. You know, we still have a police force in this community that’s our killing too many black men. We still have a Police Chief whose priorities are really misguided in this community. And that’s been apparent every time that he’s made public appearances. And I don’t see where you all are actually doing anything about that. And I’m very troubled. So, anyway, that’s the modified version of what I wanted to talk about tonight, so, thank you very much. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD:. Thank you, Mr. Resnick. Excuse me. Our next speaker is Mr. Daniel Gates. Mr. Gates. DANIEL GATES: My name is Daniel Gates and I live in the US Constitutional Republic. Alright, I come to you guys today to speak about the police, you guys cameras, the roads. You just..mismanagement, completely bad investments. This is a bad investment for you guys to create that substation down there because, for one, like everyone is saying, the police station is right here. If you cannot respond 1,000 ft., how can you respond to the other side of town? You telling me out of all the officers that are deployed during the Hall of Fame and all of your guys parties that you have down here, you guys are unwilling to except new things? According to Mariol, “We are going to keep doing the things that we are doing, the way we’re doing them.” That’s unacceptable. That shows a closed mind and it shows no innovation to move forward. And that’s the biggest problem that all of you have. You will not let your egos go for your constituents and for the betterment of the people that you serve. You guys have a vision of the Canton Hall of Fame that is very shameful and it does nothing but suck us dry. It’s…empty investments all over this town. You guys got a camera that is obstructing the roadway. It does not give 10 ft. as the law of Ohio states. It’s very…there on Third St. You guys got it blocked right there and it needs to be moved. I know I understand that you guys get certain privileges to block certain things in certain events, but that’s for emergency. Your surveilling the neighborhood is not an emergency because you guys aren’t responding to the things that are out there because they’re not out there by the time you put the camera there; because the criminals are completely…not there mentally, you know. They…they do think a little bit. So, they see a camera, they’re not going to come around until you move that camera. You move the camera, they come back ten times worse. It’s party central. I saw a truck today doing asphalt. That’s the most asinine thing that I ever seen. You trying to fill the holes in the winter time. That is a waste of money. Another bad investment. You guys just keep spending the money (Inaudible) never see any re…results until you, ten, fifteen years down the road when everyone is like, “Oh, (Laughs).” That was a bad investment. It’s time for the city to stop making bad investments and start thinking things through and not just pushing everything through as an emergency. You guys are unwilling to even debate each other because you’re complacent with each other cause you already know what each other wants. That’s the problem here. There’s no division amongst here which shows you guys are all like a hive mind and there’s no personality, no character. And you’ve lost the flavor of the salt within yourselves by doing that. (Inaudible). Thank you for your time. And I’ve been walking around my neighborhood and I’ve been speaking to people. And you know what, they tell me that the cops tell them repeatedly of crimes that they’ve…that they say that they know of. They can’t do anything about (Inaudible). God Bless. COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 113 JOURNAL PAGE 47 MINUTES OF THE MEETING JANUARY 27, 2025 PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you, Mr. Gates. (Applause). Our next speaker, and I hope I’m reading this right, Keith Do…Douthett. Am I saying…Douthett? Mr. Douthett. KEITH DOUTHETT: Yes, name is Keith Douthett. I currently reside at uh…2215 Tuscarawas… PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Can you speak a little bit more into the mic, just so we can hear you. Thank you. KEITH DOUTHETT: Oh, I apologize. I’m…not really used to this kind of stuff. Anyway…uh…I’m not from here. I’m from Pittsburgh. I’ve basically been all over the country doing what I do. Canton, Ohio to me is a goldmine. That was made or deed to be truthful, but hey, delusion. To make a long story short, the bottom line is, I…I…I see all these uh…vacant properties sitting around. That’s what I do. And so I thought, “Hey, let’s uh…let’s get some of these properties and uh… you know rehab them, and turn it into somebody’s home.” And uh, same way we’ve done, several other states and places. And uh…got to…went to the Building code people, whoever it was down on Market, the little building down there and requested the red tag list. Do y’all know what the red tag list is? Some people refer to it as the demolition list. It’s a list of properties that have been deemed ready to be torn down. They told me there was no list. I thought, “wait a minute, that don’t make no sense to…I mean how you…you just ride around tearing down houses? So I said, “Well, what do you mean there’s not list?” I thought maybe they called it something else, maybe there was another, you know. And they said, “No.” And the lady that I spoke to, she came out with a mask. I guess she didn’t want me to see her. This was all recent so it’s not about catching (Inaudible) Covid or anything like that. And she stuck her face to the glass, she said, “There is no list and (Inaudible).” I’m thinking , oh my goodness what did I do? All I did was ask for the list. And why wouldn’t want to give it to me? Well, I reached out to a few other folks to see if I could uh…maybe (Inaudible) find another way around it or whatever, because these properties are just sitting there in problems. They’re…they’re brown havens, they’re…they’re eye sores, they’re….they’re just a problem. You know they ain’t getting no tax dollars out of them. The families that’s lived in them are probably either deceased, kids don’t want them, gone, you know…can’t get in touch with anybody. So, I’ve, over the years, developed a way of…actually getting those properties and retrieving those properties and uh…actually getting people in them. They said, “There ain’t no list.” They won’t give me the list. I said, “Well, why not?” Why wouldn’t you want to give me the demolition list. Man, I tried everything. I mean, reaching out to folks, talking to people. Why wouldn’t you want to give me the list. And they…I still haven’t gotten that list. I know there’s a list. I know they have to have some kind of record as to why or where and when they’re going to be tearing those houses down… PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Okay, uh…your time is up; however, if you would reach out to either our Safety Director or our Law Director, they’d be able to explain that procedure. They’re online. KEITH DOUTHETT: Yes, Under…uh…okay, who? Who would that be? PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Jason Reese and/or Andrea Perry, our Safety Director. KEITH DOUTHETT: Okay. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: You can email them. Thank you…thank you. And our last speaker is Ms. Jolanda Jackson. Ms. Jackson. She left? Okay…uh…okay then, that will conclude Public Speaks. I know uh…Leader Mariol, you wanted to recognize a guest that we have tonight? COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 113 JOURNAL PAGE 48 MINUTES OF THE MEETING JANUARY 27, 2025 LEADER MARIOL: Yes, I just wanted to take a moment to recognize that Stark County Commissioner, Bill Smith, is here. So, we thank you for coming down to our meeting. Thank you. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Okay, thank you very much. Nice to see you, Mr. Smith. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Uh…before I allow other Members to talk about Miscellaneous Business, I do want to uh…address Public Speaks. And I wanted to let you guys know something. Uh…I know a lot of people have been very dissatisfied that we moved it to the end. There were reasons that we did it. We were trying to get done, but we feel now that we want to move it back to the beginning. And so, starting in February, in our meeting, it will go back to the beginning of the meeting. But I do want to say because we have a lot of things on the Agenda, we’re going to once again pass out the Council rules. And everybody is going to be expected to…you know…maintain the rules. And as long as that happens and…and it goes smoothly, uh…then we’re going to leave it at the beginning. Uh…but I just want to let everybody know that the rules are going to be available when you sign up in case somebody is not familiar with them. And you’ll have a chance to look at them. And I would warn anyone, if I feel like they’re violating rules, I’ll let them know, “hey you’re violating the rules.” You know so there’s fair warning and…if you…continue to violate, we will cut your time. Uh…I…I don’t think we’re going to have that problem. And I…I don’t see that happening because I think everyone now knows how things work. And I…we want to hear you. I know you don’t believe that, but we do. And the only way to do that is if…you know…you…you speak and get the chance to speak. Uh…so…so that’s what we’re going to be doing. Uh…the other little piece…when you guys sign up for Public Speaks, please sign up in order. If you want to go later, just let other people sign up before you, but don’t be skipping. I almost missed somebody the other day because they signed up at thirty, you know, and I didn’t even look. And so, I don’t want to miss anybody. Please just…if you want to be later, that’s fine, just wait and let other people sign up first, but please sign up in order so that we make sure that we get to all of our speakers and that we understand what we have ongoing. So that’s all I have for Miscellaneous Business…other than…I would, before I open this up, ask just for a moment of silence for our friend, Tom Harmon, who passed away over the weekend. He, of course, many of you knew him as the Clerk…and as…just so many things, just to so many of us. And I know, Lou, you were good friends with him. And uh…so, if we could just have a moment of silence for Tom and for his family who uh…this was an unexpected thing. (Moment of Silence). Thank you. Now, is there any other Miscellaneous Business that anybody would like to bring before the body? Yes, Ms. Smith. MEMBER CHRIS SMITH: Yes, I would just like to uh…speak on the fact as to why I voted no. I feel that I should let you know why I voted no. I know we had talked about, Mayor, doing things in the neighborhood. I just feel like those substations should be geared to the neighborhoods first because I go to a lot of events downtown, and every policeman, probably in this city, be there. And I’m just like this, they just right here. Why put a substation there to take care of downtown? We need to focus on substations being in the neighborhoods. You know I don’t have no problem with uh…being…protecting this and protecting that, but I just feel like our neighborhoods are just as important as downtown. And when you putting a substation so many feet from…the police station, I just feel like that’s ludicrous…to me. You know that we would even consider putting a substation downtown at this point. I just think that so much be happening in the neighborhoods and we get the complaints that the police don’t come when we call them as it is already. And I just feel like…my vote of no is for the fact that, let’s protect the neighborhoods first, before gearing it to downtown, because downtown will be protected because they have the police down there. Especially when we have events. So, that’s my opinion as to why I voted no. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you, Member Smith. Is there anybody else who has any Miscellaneous Business that they would like to bring before the body? …Hearing none, Leader Mariol. COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS JOURNAL 113 JOURNAL PAGE 49 MINUTES OF THE MEETING JANUARY 27, 2025 MEMBER MARIOL: Madam President, I move we adjourn. MEMBER BABCOCK: Second. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: It’s been moved and seconded to adjourn. Madam Clerk, roll call vote, please. NO REMARKS ROLL CALL 11 YEAS, 0 NAYS CLERK WOOD: Eleven yeas, Madam President. PRESIDENT BATES AYLWARD: Thank you, we are adjourned. (Gavel falls). ADJOURNMENT TIME: 8:12 PM ATTEST: APPROVED: JILL M. WOOD KRISTEN BATES ALYWARD CLERK OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT