City Council

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING MASSILLON CITY COUNCIL HELD MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 2025 COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Good evening. Welcome to the Massillon City Council meeting for Monday, August 18, 2025. We have in attendance the following City officials: Mayor, Jamie Slutz, Asst. Law Director, Edmond Mack, City Engineer, Alex Pitts and Parks and Rec. Director, Steve Pedro. Under #5 on the agenda is where the public can speak on any topic that appears on tonight’s agenda and under #17 is where the public can speak on any topic that does NOT appear on tonight’s agenda. I’d like to remind you that if you have a cell phone, please set it to mute, vibrate or turn it off. Thank you. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Roll call, please. 1. ROLL CALL Roll call for the evening found the following Council Members present: Holly Bryan-Huth, Jill Creamer, Sarita Cunningham, Mike Gregg, Julie Harwig Smith, Ed Lewis, Seth Marcum, John Paquelet and Eric Ray Roll call of 9 present COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Thank you, Madam Clerk. Before we do the invocation and the pledge of allegiance, I think it would be honorable to have a moment of silence for Massillon’s own Dan Fichter, one of our code enforcement officers who passed away. So please join me for a moment of silence followed up by Julie Harwig Smith, Councilwoman, with the pledge of allegiance and invocation. 2. INVOCATION COUNCILWOMAN JULIE HARWIG SMITH 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY COUNCILWOMAN HARWIG SMITH COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Thank you, Councilwoman Harwig Smith. 4. READING OF THE JOURNAL COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Madam Clerk, are the minutes of the previous meeting transcribed and open for public viewing? COUNCIL CLERK ROLLAND – Yes, they are. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Are there any additions or corrections to be made? COUNCIL CLERK ROLLAND – No, there are not. 1  COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – If not, then the minutes stand approved as written. Thank you, Madam Clerk. COUNCIL CLERK ROLLAND – You are welcome. 5. REMARKS OF DELEGATIONS AND CITIZENS TO MATTERS ON THE AGENDA 6. NEW AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS 7. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Ord. No 71 – 2025. ORDINANCE NO. 71 – 2025 BY: PARKS & RECREATION COMMITTEE AN ORDINANCE authorizing the Director of Public Service and Safety of the City of Massillon, Ohio, to advertise for and receive sealed bids and to enter into a contract with the lowest and best bidder, upon the approval of the Board of Control, for the Reservoir Park Streambank Restoration Project, and declaring an emergency. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilwoman Harwig Smith. COUNCILWOMAN HARWIG SMITH – Thank you, Council President. We discussed this last week at our Work Session with our City Engineer, Alex Pitts. He’s here today with a presentation and also the Parks and Rec. Director, Steve Pedro is here to answer any questions we have. Alex, you want to go first? ALEX PITTS – Good evening, Council. Yes, I just have a very brief presentation for you all. First, I would like to pass out, as promised, the plans for the Streambank Restoration for the Reservoir Park. Bear with me as those are being passed around, I will pull up the plans here (on the computer). Bear with me. While I’m trying to struggle through signing in, if everybody could turn to sheet C9. It should be the very last sheet on your plan set. That’s the landscaping plan. It shows the proposed plan as far as vegetation growth and everything goes. I have that sheet on my presentation, it’s actually right here, but I’m not able to log in for some reason. While I’m trying to get through this, if you have any questions, feel free to ask away. I can answer them right now, as well. I don’t know what’s going on there with my Microsoft account. COUNCILWOMAN HARWIG SMITH – Did anyone have any questions for Mr. Pitts? Councilwoman Cunningham. COUNCILWOMAN CUNNINGHAM – Thank you, Councilwoman Harwig Smith. Did you not or maybe I didn’t hear it properly; did you not say that the little wooded bridge was still going to be able to be there? ALEX PITTS – I did. That was a mistake. The pedestrian bridge is being removed. I do remember, originally, we had talked about potentially replacing that bridge. However, the cost to replace it just exceeded expectations and realistically. We talked about it and on that side of the park there’s truly no attraction to be over there. You’re right next to Hankins Rd. It can be dangerous. There was an internal discussion that we have had. 2 COUNCILWOMAN CUNNINGHAM – So there will not be a bridge at any time? ALEX PITTS – There will not be crossing on that side at this time. COUNCILWOMAN CUNNINGHAM – Thank you. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilman Gregg. COUNCILMAN GREGG – Thank you, President Slater. So, along those lines there’s playground equipment on that side isn’t there? Oh, it’s gone? ALEX PITTS – It’s gone. That was actually part of the reason why we had decided to remove it and not replace it because the playground was no longer there. So there’s no attraction to be over there. It’s adjacent to Hankins; we just thought of it being a safety issue and of course, cost as well to replace pedestrian bridges. COUNCILMAN GREGG – Okay. ALEX PITTS – And the track is being relocated, plus or minus twenty feet to the south. So, it’s being relocated south there as well. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilwoman Bryan-Huth. COUNCILWOMAN BRYAN-HUTH – Thank you. Will that change the destination or length of the track at all? ALEX PITTS – Yeah, go ahead, Steve. STEVE PEDRO – Thank you, Alex. It shouldn’t change it much because we’re going to replace the track. We have to move the track, is it about twenty feet, Alex? ALEX PITTS – Yes. STEVE PEDRO – So around twenty feet to the south of where it’s at now and we have to move four of the light poles. I wrote some notes down for you tonight and hopefully this helps explain a little better for you. Obviously, this is Phase I up there only, nothing more than that. We’re going to do about a thousand feet on each side of the creek, creek bed to re-establish that or the streambank, I’m sorry. The walk bridge will be removed. The playground equipment has been gone from up there. If you haven’t noticed, I understand, but we removed that a few years ago. Four lights will have to be moved and we’re working on that with Edison. Any of the spoils, I know one of the questions was, anything we can re-use there, we’re going to keep there. Up in the northeast corner where the slope is extreme, we’re going to, hopefully lessen that slope. We’re definitely going to lessen that slope up there for safety and maintenance for the main reason. We have other places in the City we can use dirt too, so, we’re hopefully going to save on some cost that way, if that should come about. Do you have any other questions that I can help you with, if there’s something else? COUNCILWOMAN BRYAN-HUTH – It’s being graded differently with the renovation? 3 STEVE PEDRO – On the northeast corner, on the northeast side up there between where Hankins and Phillips meet; a lot of that, the spoils will go there to lessen the degree of the slope there. COUNCILWOMAN BRYAN-HUTH – And then it will be dirt going into the creek? STEVE PEDRO – Well, there’ll be rock. So, rock channel protection that will keep it from eroding, but also water can go through when it does rise. COUNCILWOMAN BRYAN-HUTH – Thank you. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilwoman Creamer. COUNCILWOMAN CREAMER – Thank you. Last week I had questions regarding approval from the Park & Rec. Board, so I do see Ord. No. 53 – 2024, this has already been approved by the Park & Rec. Board. STEVE PEDRO – No, Wednesday. COUNCILWOMAN HARWIG SMITH – That’s from last year. COUNCILWOMAN CREAMER – Last year? STEVE PEDRO – That was to apply for the grant. COUNCILWOMAN CREAMER – Okay. So you guys are aware of the project, you’ve applied for the grant last year and now you’re being presented this week what we have in front of us? STEVE PEDRO – Yes. This will be presented to the Rec. Board on Wednesday. As you know, the estimate that we have, the estimated cost, if it should exceed the $300,000.00, we need more money, obviously. The City has put $300,000.00 towards this. So, I’m asking the Rec. Board Wednesday to approve the rest of that, if need be. If this goes out to bid tomorrow or next Monday, it might come back at a lower price. It might come back at a higher price. So, I think we need to do this tonight. We’re asking and I will present this to the Rec. Board on Wednesday. There’s no indication that they’re not in favor of this. COUNCILWOMAN CREAMER – Okay. Thank you. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilwoman Harwig Smith. COUNCILWOMAN HARWIG SMITH – Thank you. So Steve, so if the bid would happen to be under, we can still use the grant money towards like, Phase II, if we needed? STEVE PEDRO – I think we’d have to come back and do that all over. I think Phase II is a whole different project. COUNCILWOMAN HARWIG SMITH – So basically this grant is this project? STEVE PEDRO – Yes. This money is just for Phase I. So, I think we’d have to start over which we’re starting to move forward with trying to find funding for that as well. But what we’re 4 looking at right now is Phase I, Streambank Restoration from Phillips down to Beiner Place, approximately. In that area, it’s about a thousand feet of streambank on each side. COUNCILWOMAN HARWIG SMITH – Okay. Did anyone else have any questions regarding this? I would like to, if there are no further questions, I would like to make a motion that we waive the three readings, thank you, Mr. Pedro, thank you, Alex. I’d like to waive the rule requiring three readings and bring Ord. No. 71 – 2025 forward for a vote. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Seconded by Councilwoman Creamer. Roll call for suspension. 9 yes for suspension COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – And for passage. 9 yes for passage COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Thank you, Madam Clerk. Ord. No. 71 – 2025 has passed. Councilman Lewis. COUNCILMAN LEWIS – I just wanted to make a note about this ordinance. Obviously the Park Board will vote on it Wednesday. If for some reason that Park Board were to say “no”, then I would anticipate our Board of Control would pause and come back to us. So, there might be questions on how we were able to vote on this before the Parks; we’re fine, but just know the Board of Control, if there’s an issue will have to come back to us. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Thank you. Ord. No. 71 – 2025 has passed. Ord. No. 72 – 2025. ORDINANCE NO. 72 – 2025 BY: RULES, COURTS & CIVIL SERVICE COMMITTEE AN ORDINANCE to approve the 2025 Replacement Pages to the Codified Ordinances of the City of Massillon, Ohio, and declaring an emergency. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilman Gregg. COUNCILMAN GREGG – Thank you, President Slater. This is something that we do each year. We’re required to publish our codified ordinances and this is to approve the publishing of the ordinances, it’s something we do every year. Any questions or discussion? Seeing none, I make a motion that waive the rules requiring three readings and bring Ord. No. 72 – 2025 forward for a vote. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Seconded by Councilwoman Bryan-Huth. Roll call for suspension. 9 yes for suspension COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – And for passage. 9 yes for passage 5  COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Thank you, Madam Clerk. Ord. No. 72 – 2025 has passed. 8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 9. PETITIONS AND GENERAL COMMINCATIONS 10. BILLS, ACCOUNTS AND CLAIMS LocaliQ Gannett Ohio - $ 793.92 Publication of June Ordinances US bank Equip. Finance - $ 127.00 – June Invoice for copier submitted to the Auditor’s Office for payment May 28, 2025 US bank Equip. Finance - $ 127.00 – July Invoice for copier submitted to the Auditor’s Office for payment June 27, 2025 US bank Equip. Finance - $ 127.00 – August Invoice for copier submitted to the Auditor’s Office for payment August 11, 2025 COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilman Lewis. COUNCILMAN LEWIS – I make a motion to pay the bills. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Seconded by Councilman Gregg. Roll call. 9 yes to pay the bills COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Thank you, Madam Clerk. The Clerk will pay the bills and charge them to their proper accounts. 11. REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS Mayor’s Report - June 2025 Treasurer’s Report - July 2025 Auditor’s Report - July 2025 COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilman Lewis. COUNCILMAN LEWIS – I would like to make a motion to accept the Auditor’s Report. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Seconded by Councilman Gregg. Roll call. 9 yes to accept the Auditor’s Report COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Thank you, Madam Clerk. The Auditor’s Report has been accepted. 12. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES 6  COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Our next Work Session will be Monday, August 25, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. 13. RESOLUTIONS AND REQUESTS OF COUNCIL MEMBERS COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilwoman Cunningham. COUNCILWOMAN CUNNINGHAM – Thank you, Mr. President. What would be involved and how do we begin to go about not putting our ordinances in the newspaper and doing it online? COUNCILMAN MARCUM – I’ve got a resolution on Work Session next week for that. COUNCILWOMAN CUNNINGHAM – I’m sorry. COUNCILMAN MARCUM – We have a resolution coming next week for that. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Correct. COUNCILWOMAN CUNNINGHAM – Alright. Thank you. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilman Lewis. COUNCILMAN LEWIS – I just wanted to say it’s that time of year where we can celebrate and get excited because we start this Friday with our Massillon Tigers going against Glenville. I wanted to put out there “Go Tigers” and I beat both of you to it. COUNCILWOMAN CUNNINGHAM – And if anybody isn’t aware, Massillon hosted Moeller for our scrimmage and I was there in the heat and everything. Wow; did we look good against them and they’re supposed to be ranking No. 1 this year and supposed to have won the State Championship. So, we did well against them. “Go Tigers”. COUNCILWOMAN BRYAN-HUTH – If anyone is interested, the Community Pep Rally is Wednesday evening at 5:30 p.m. COUNCILWOMAN CUNNINGHAM – Did they find enough scoopers for the Tiger ice cream? COUNCILWOMAN BRYAN-HUTH – Absolutely. There will be Tiger striped ice cream after, sponsored by the museum. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Anyone else? 14. CALL OF THE CALENDAR 15. THIRD READING ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS 16. SECOND READING ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS 17. REMARKS OF DELEGATIONS AND CITIZENS TO MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA 18. ADJOURNMENT 7 COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilwoman Harwig Smith. I apologize, Councilman Gregg. COUNCILMAN GREGG – Thank you, President Slater. I just thought of something that I wanted to mention along the lines. I do have a portion of my ward in the Perry Local School District and Perry starts their football campaign this year as well. With their head coach being our previous defensive coordinator, Spencer Leno, I want to wish them good luck as well. Thank you. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilwoman Harwig Smith. COUNCILWOMAN HARWIG SMITH – I make a motion that we adjourn. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Seconded by Councilman Lewis. Roll call. 9 yes to adjourn COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Meeting adjourned. Go Tigers. ______________________________ ______________________________ DIANE ROLLAND, COUNCIL CLERK MIKE SLATER, PRESIDENT 8