City Council

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING MASSILLON CITY COUNCIL HELD MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2025 COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Good evening. Welcome to the Massillon City Council meeting for Monday, November 17, 2025. We have in attendance the following City officials: Mayor, Jamie Slutz, Safety Service Director, Renee Baker, Chief Counsel, Earle Wise, City Engineer, Alex Pitts, Director of Development, Ted Herncane and Income Tax/Budget Director, Lori Kotagides-Boron. 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 2. INVOCATION COUNCILWOMAN SARITA CUNNINGHAM 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY COUNCILWOMAN CUNNINGHAM COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Thank you, Councilwoman Cunningham. 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. 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 1 CODA GALLAGHER – I live in Ward 5 and I’m here to talk about Ord. No. 98. I spoke two weeks ago about it. It’s the camping ban. My thoughts were kind of unorganized two weeks ago, so, hopefully this is more sensible. So let’s break down exactly how this piece of legislation could play out. So, say we have a homeless person who is simply down on their luck and struggling and take any help that they are offered. The only thing that this ordinance guarantees is that the City will notify local social services before forcing them to move within twenty-four hours without a guarantee that the individual will be offer any assistance. Now even if this individual takes help that they may be offered, homeless shelters are often full, dangerous and understaffed and when homeless people are already a vulnerable population, it’s very likely that they could end up back on the streets. I’ve seen both members of the Council and the Administration bring up homeless campers who do not accept help as if it’s a decision that any person wants to make. But a person who chooses to live on the streets does not do so because of laziness or lack of ambition but because their society has failed to show them that they can demand better. They’ve been through the system and they’ve seen how broken it is and if the system worked, we wouldn’t be having this conversation at all. And rather than attempt to fix that system, we’re here trying to tell people that they’re criminals for not participating in it. The Administration claims that this charge is only a minor misdemeanor and carries no jail time which is true. But what happens when you repeatedly move people who are camping and force them to do community service? How many time does that need to happen for an individual to start looking for private property to sleep on and what happens if they don’t show up for that community service? Both of those situations could lead to jail time. You can’t create conditions that push people to commit a crime and then call it justice when you charge them for those crimes. The Administration assures us that they doubt that any homeless person would be charged with the $50.00 fine. But then, why include the risk of the $50.00 fine in the first place when anyone charged with a crime likely cannot afford it? Mayor Slutz and members of the Council have promised that they do want to help homeless people and that this ordinance does not put homeless people at risk. And promises are great, but our judicial system functions using laws and not promises. Last week when I asked if anyone from the previous meeting had talked to Mayor Slutz afterwards, he said “No”. Which I think is very telling how disconnected this ordinance is from the needs of homeless people. I’d like to ask the Administration, “How many homeless people did you talk to about this ordinance before drafting it up?”. Last week, several members of the Council expressed their annoyance of the public response to this ordinance, but I’d have to say that the biggest effect that this ordinance has on you is that you have to read mean Facebook comments. Meanwhile, homeless people have repeatedly told you how it threatens their livelihoods and puts them at risk then you have no reason to complain about the backlash. I think that the solution is controversiously clear. Creating an actual comprehensive plan for addressing homelessness in the City and assign designated spots for people to camp. Provide restrooms, trashcans, running water and hygiene products. No one is here to say that the Council or the Administration wants to hurt homeless people and I sympathize with the desire to mitigate cases of public camping, but camping bans have only ever done harm to homeless people and we all have a responsibility to fairly judge these ordinances. Thank you. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Thank you. GAGE BARRETT – I live in Ward 1. I’ll be discussing the same ordinance as him when it comes to the prohibited camping ordinance. There seems to be a disconnect of the purpose of the ordinance concerning banning camping. The Council spoke last week and said that the purpose of this ordinance is to provide help for these homeless people. With the exact language of the ordinance, it suggests nothing of the sorts. You say you don’t want to criminalize homelessness, but I don’t see this going anywhere else. No homeless person can 2 afford a $50.00 fine, so what comes after? Well, last week community hours were suggested to try to connect them with the community. Marcum suggested two hundred to three hundred hours. I don’t see this working and it seems very excessive. Putting someone to work without pay won’t get them a stable environment nor would that help people who end up in such a situation get out of it. What happens to children of people who are homeless? And furthermore, what would happen if they don’t serve those community hours? Jail time? We’re speaking of people who are currently homeless. Who have likely found themselves in even worse situations. Like the individuals who have found themselves with addictions and mental health disorders. The City isn’t interested in people at such lows, but what does this do for people or families in the future who end up homeless simply because they can no longer afford the basic necessities. There are ways to aid people who are down on their luck and the people who can no longer afford the cost of living. Affordable housing, less big homes and more aggregation of affordable apartment complexes. More accountability for landlords and according to Coda, it was previously discussed that there is an issue with landlords who don’t even live in Massillon, let alone the state. We need social workers who aid homeless folks to get out of these situations. The ordinance briefly mentioned social services, but it’s ambiguous and vague. What happens if the services are unavailable? Some people may see these suggestions and say that the City can’t afford it. I think not. Ord. No. 73 – 2025 was an ordinance to pay for the replacement of a golf course’s equipment. If we can pay for meaningless things such as a golf course’s equipment, we can afford to provide people affordable housing and care that need for their basic necessities. Thank you. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Thank you. KRISTI GERBER – I live in Ward 2. I want to live in a City that is equitable, not just a City that look equitable. I listened to the recent working meeting on the proposed camping ban, which is what I’m talking about today. I heard repeatedly from the Mayor and several Council members that you want to help people and that you do not want to criminalize homelessness. I believe that intention is sincere. But intention alone isn’t enough especially when the policy language does the opposite of what we say that we value. Helping people has two parts; one, offering real solutions and lowering barriers and two; not adding to the harm people already face. This ordinance, in its actual language applies a misdemeanor to those who violate it. That is criminalization. Not an unintended consequence, but the literal design. Without this ordinance, the act of sleeping in a public for survival is not a crime. With it, it becomes one. We get to decide whether that should be true. If we truly want to help our unhoused neighbors, then we have to commit to solutions that are not only on a personal level, but like we’re talking about helping people on a personal level, but at a seismic level and seismically this ordinance creates harm. A misdemeanor makes housing, employment and services harder to access. It adds barriers of the very moment that we should be removing them. This ordinance could, instead, have been an opportunity. An opportunity to expand affordable housing to strengthen temporary shelter options, to approval access to care or to reduce the barriers that residents repeatedly described. It could have been aligned with established research approaches that actually help accept homelessness. At the last meeting, someone asked for the language of this ordinance came from. The fact that the source was unclear suggests that little research was done on whether camping bans are effective at helping people at all. That should concern us. So I have a couple of questions that I hope Council will seriously consider. What strategies have other cities used that are truly effective at reduce homelessness and two, what barriers exist in Massillon that keep people from accessing help? How can we remove those instead of adding fines and misdemeanors? If our goal is to help, then we must invest in the things that actually help and that means removing barriers to housing. Not creating new ones through criminal penalties. Thank you. 3  COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Thank you. Anyone else? 6. NEW AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Madam Clerk. COUNCIL CLERK ROLLAND – Yes. We received a Thank You note from a constituent in Massillon on November 10, 2025, that says, “Thanks a bunch. And she writes, “Massillon City Council Members. Many thanks to serving Massillon with your wisdom and time. I don’t know all you do, but observing how you handled the meeting on November 3 rd it really made me appreciate how you professionally protect our City and help it run smoothly. Thanks again, Pat Hake. P.S.: Many of us really enjoy the smooth Lincoln Way streets”. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Thank you, Madam Clerk. COUNCIL CLERK ROLLAND – You are welcome. 7. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Ord. No. 102 – 2025. ORDINANCE NO. 102 – 2025 BY: HEALTH, WELFARE & BLDG. REGS. COMMITTEE AN ORDINANCE authorizing the Clerk of Council of the City of Massillon, Ohio, to certify the list of unpaid and delinquent nuisance abatement services to the Stark County Auditor to be entered upon the tax duplicate to be a lien upon such land from the date of entry to be collected as other taxes and assessments and to delete any property owner’s names or adjust dollar amounts owed, if applicable, prior to certification to the Stark County Auditor provided that the Director of Development provides documentation to do so, and declaring an emergency. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilwoman Cunningham. COUNCILWOMAN CUNNINGHAM – Thank you, Mr. President. We worked on this last week and I don’t believe we had any more questions on it, unless you have a question tonight? What we worked on is that this happens every year and people that don’t mow their grass or have other reasons that the City has charged, then they go on their taxes and then they have to be paid. Does anybody have any additional questions tonight? If not, I’d like to waive the rules requiring three readings and have Ord. No. 102 – 2025 passed. Thank you. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Seconded by Councilman Ray. 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. 102 – 2025 has passed. Ord. No. 103 – 2025. 4 ORDINANCE NO. 103 – 2025 BY: POLICE & FIRE COMMITTEECOMMITTEE AN ORDINANCE authorizing the Director of Public Service and Safety of the City of Massillon, Ohio, to accept a donation from Tractor Supply Company Foundation, on behalf of the Massillon Police Department, and declaring an emergency. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilman Marcum. COUNCILMAN MARCUM – This is that ordinance to accept $250.00 from Tractor Supply Company for the Police Department and following ordinance after this one, assuming we pass this one, will be to appropriate that $250.00. So I’m hoping we pass this one tonight, otherwise, the next one will be pretty awkward. Is there any comment? So, I will make a motion to suspend the rules and then bring Ord. No. 103 – 2025 forward for passage. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Seconded by Councilman Lewis. 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. 103 – 2025 has passed. Ord. No. 104 – 2025. ORDINANCE NO. 104 – 2025 BY: FINANCE COMMITTEE AN ORDINANCE making certain appropriations from the unappropriated balance of the 1100 General Fund, for the purpose of the Massillon Police Department, for the year ending December 31, 2025, and declaring an emergency. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilman Lewis. COUNCILMAN LEWIS – Yes. This is an appropriation that just follows up with the last legislation was passed. Are there any questions or discussion this evening? Seeing none, I make a motion that we suspend the rules requiring three readings, bringing Ord. No. 104 – 2025 forward for a vote. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Seconded by Councilman Gregg. 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. 104 – 2025 has passed. Ord. No. 105 – 2025. 5 ORDINANCE NO. 105 – 2025 BY: FINANCE COMMITTEE AN ORDINANCE making certain appropriations from the unappropriated balance of the 1100 General Fund, for the purpose of the Reservoir Park Streambank Restoration Project, for the year ending December 31, 2025, and declaring an emergency. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilman Lewis. COUNCILMAN LEWIS – Yes. This ordinance is the $258,348.85. Like we’ve said, it’s reimbursable. We do have some grant dollars that will be coming in there to take care of that, but we do need to get moving forward on this. Are there any questions or discussion this evening? Seeing none, I make a motion that we suspend the rules requiring three readings, bringing Ord. No. 105 – 2025 forward for a vote. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Seconded by Councilman Marcum. 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. 105 – 2025 has passed. Ord. No. 106 – 2025. ORDINANCE NO. 106 – 2025 BY: FINANCE COMMITTEE AN ORDINANCE making certain appropriations from the unappropriated balance of the 1100 General Fund, for the purpose of paying the School District Revenue Sharing, for the year ending December 31, 2025, and declaring an emergency. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilman Lewis. COUNCILMAN LEWIS – As it says, we do have to share the revenue with the school district based off of collections. Are there any questions or discussion this evening? Seeing none, I make a motion that we suspend the rules requiring three readings, bringing Ord. No. 106 – 2025 forward for a vote. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Seconded by Councilman Gregg. 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. 106 – 2025 has passed. Ord. No. 107 – 2025. 6 ORDINANCE NO. 107 – 2025 BY: FINANCE COMMITTEE AN ORDINANCE reducing the appropriations in the 1440 Dairy Queen TIF Fund, the 1441 Aldi’s TIF Fund, the 1442 7 Brew TIF Fund, the 1443 Starbucks TIF Fund and the 1444 Panda Express TIF Fund, for the year ending December 31, 2025, and declaring an emergency. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilman Lewis. COUNCILMAN LEWIS – Yes. I’m sorry, I just have one question. Diane, you might be able to answer it. That first one with the Dairy Queen where we’re removing $15,000.00 from a Stark County Port Authority and then $2,000.00 from the County collection fees? COUNCIL CLERK ROLLAND – Yes. The Stark County Port Authority is regarding when we collectively went in with the consortium. COUNCILMAN LEWIS – Oh yeah; I gotcha. And that was our shared TIF that we did with the JEDD. Alright, thank you. Are there any other questions or discussion this evening? Seeing none, I make a motion that we suspend the rules requiring three readings, bringing Ord. No. 107 – 2025 forward for a vote. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Seconded by Councilman Gregg. 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. 107 – 2025 has passed. Ord. No. 108 – 2025. ORDINANCE NO. 108 – 2025 BY: FINANCE COMMITTEE AN ORDINANCE reducing the appropriations in the 1235 Community Health Services Fund, for the year ending December 31, 2025, and declaring an emergency. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilman Lewis. COUNCILMAN LEWIS – Yes. This is just another reduction. Expenses that were not occurred in this year. Are there any questions or discussion? Seeing none, I make a motion that we suspend the rules requiring three readings, bringing Ord. No. 108 – 2025 forward for a vote. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Seconded by Councilman Marcum. Roll call for suspension. 9 yes for suspension COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – And for passage. 9 yes for passage 7 COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Thank you, Madam Clerk. Ord. No. 108 – 2025 has passed. Ord. No. 109 – 2025. ORDINANCE NO. 109 – 2025 BY: FINANCE COMMITTEE AN ORDINANCE making certain transfers in the 2025 appropriations from within the 1100 General Fund, for the year ending December 31, 2025, and declaring an emergency. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilman Lewis. COUNCILMAN LEWIS – Yes. This is the $21,700.00 similar to a transfer, but because they’re in slightly different accounts, it has to come through as a legislation. We discussed last week. Are there any questions or discussion this evening? Seeing none, I make a motion that we suspend the rules requiring three readings, bringing Ord. No. 109 – 2025 forward for a vote. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Seconded by Councilman Marcum. 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. 109 – 2025 has passed. Ord. No. 110 – 2025. ORDINANCE NO. 110 – 2025 BY: FINANCE COMMITTEE AN ORDINANCE amending the salary and wage schedules for SUPERVISORY (CLASSIFIED OR UNCLASSIFIED) EMPLOYEES, CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES, and UNCLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES in the City of Massillon, Ohio, also amending the MISCELLANEOUS SCHEDULE for part-time employees in the City of Massillon, Ohio, and declaring an emergency. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilman Lewis. COUNCILMAN LEWIS – This is essentially us agreeing to the 3% wage increase for our non- represented employees. Are there any questions or discussion this evening? Seeing none, I make a motion that we suspend the rules requiring three readings, bringing Ord. No. 110 – 2025 forward for a vote. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Seconded by Councilman Gregg. Roll call for suspension. 9 yes for suspension COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – And for passage. 9 yes for passage 8 COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Thank you, Madam Clerk. Ord. No. 110 – 2025 has passed. Ord. No. 111 – 2025. ORDINANCE NO. 111 – 2025 BY: FINANCE COMMITTEE AN ORDINANCE amending SECTION 181.01 “PURPOSE AND AUTHORITY TO LEVY TAX; RATE” of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Massillon, Ohio, and authorizing the continuation of an existing two-tenths of one percent (0.2%) levy on income, to be effective January 1, 2027, for five (5) years, for the purpose of City Street Maintenance and Repair and the City Street Department, subject to the approval of the electors of the City of Massillon, Ohio, at an election to be conducted at the Primary Election on May 5, 2026. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilman Lewis. COUNCILMAN LEWIS – First reading. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Ord. No. 111 – 2025 has received first reading. Res. No. 11 – 2025. RESOLUTION NO. 11 – 2025 BY: FINANCE COMMITTEE A RESOLUTION requesting the Stark County Auditor and Stark County Treasurer to make an advance payment to the City of Massillon, Ohio, of real estate taxes collected by Stark County on behalf of the City during 2026 fiscal year, and declaring an emergency. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilman Lewis. COUNCILMAN LEWIS – Yes. This is just us making a request to the County level that we can receive payments for the taxes that will be collected in the 2026 year. Are there any questions or discussion? Seeing none, I make a motion that we suspend the rules requiring three readings, bringing Res. No. 11 – 2025 forward for a vote. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Seconded by Councilman Marcum. 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. Res. No. 11 – 2025 has passed. Res. No. 12 – 2025. RESOLUTION NO. 12 – 2025 BY: FINANCE COMMITTEE A RESOLUTION accepting the amounts and rates as determined by the Budget Commission authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the County Auditor as listed on the attached Exhibit “A”, and declaring an emergency. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilman Lewis. 9  COUNCILMAN LEWIS – Yes. This is just what the title says that we are going out there saying that levies that are out there are necessary in order for operations as they are stated. Are there any questions or discussion this evening? Seeing none, I make a motion that we suspend the rules requiring three readings, bringing Res. No. 12 – 2025 forward for a vote. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Seconded by Councilman Gregg. 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. Res. No. 12 – 2025 has passed. 8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 9. PETITIONS AND GENERAL COMMINCATIONS COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilman Gregg. COUNCILMAN GREGG – Thank you, President Slater. Under General Communications I’d like to shout out to the Massillon Tigers Football Program football team for a big win Friday night against Columbus DeSales in Columbus. Friday night we have an even bigger game coming up against Big Walnut at the Zanesville stadium. This is the team that knocked us out of the playoffs last year. So we have a little bit of revenge factor Friday. So, go Tigers. Thank you. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Go Tigers. Councilwoman Cunningham. COUNCILWOMAN CUNNINGHAM – I need to add to that; Saturday night, if anybody watched the Ohio State game. They mentioned and showed a clip of the Massillon Tigers game against Columbus DeSales and my favorite North Canton alum, Todd Blackledge, who is not in favor of the Massillon Tigers, was embarrassed enough that they asked him “Oh, so we understand your alum also lost to the Tigers, by how much?”. And he said “Over fifty points”. So, I loved that too, that was outstanding. But we were nationally recognized. So, go Tigers. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilman Paquelet. COUNCILMAN PAQUELET – Thank you, Mr. Slater. So, to add onto Councilman Gregg with regards to the game in Zanesville on Friday night. The Obie statue was sculpted by a gentleman from Zanesville. So if you happen to get there early, he does have a studio just south of downtown where he has other sculptures and there are a few in the stadium. So, they were made by the same individual. So, when you’re there you can tie a little bit together. Thank you. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Yes sir. Go Tigers. 10. BILLS, ACCOUNTS AND CLAIMS 10  LocaliQ Ohio Gannett - $ 1,045.16 – Publication of Aug. & Sept. Ordinances Notice of Public Hrg. for 11/17/2025 COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilman Lewis. COUNCILMAN LEWIS – I make a motion to pay the bills. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Seconded by Councilman Ray. 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 Auditor’s Report - October 2025 COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilman Lewis. COUNCILMAN LEWIS – I make a motion we 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. 12. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Thank you. Our next Work Session will be Monday, November 24, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. 13. RESOLUTIONS AND REQUESTS OF COUNCIL MEMBERS 14. CALL OF THE CALENDAR COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Ord. No. 86 – 2025. ORDINANCE NO. 86 – 2025 BY: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AN ORDINANCE amending the Zoning Map of the City of Massillon, Ohio, by rezoning a certain property from B-2 Central Business District to B-1 Local Business District. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilwoman Creamer. COUNCILWOMAN CREAMER – Thank you, Mr. President. This ordinance is a rezoning request of a 1.14-acre parcel #616481 at 242 Lincoln Way W. The zone change from B-2 to B-1. The applicant is Sheetz Inc. The proposed use is a new Sheetz gas station and convenience store. This evening we did have a public hearing. There were no individuals present speaking for or against this ordinance. So unless there are any questions from 11 Council, we do have the representative here from Sheetz to answer any additional questions if any Council Member may have one? Seeing none, I’d like to make a motion to bring forward Ord. No. 86 – 2025 forward for a vote. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Seconded by Councilman Gregg. Roll call for passage 9 yes for passage COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Thank you, Madam Clerk. Ord. No. 86 – 2025 has passed. Welcome to Massillon. Ord. No. 87 – 2025. ORDINANCE NO. 87 – 2025 BY: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AN ORDINANCE amending the Zoning Map of the City of Massillon, Ohio, by rezoning a certain property from B-1 Local Business District to RM-1 Multiple Family Residential District. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilwoman Creamer. COUNCILWOMAN CREAMER – Thank you, Mr. President. This ordinance also is a rezoning request of a 0.40-acre parcel #10016112 located at 21 South Ave. S.E. It’s going from a B-1 Local Business District to an RM-1 Multiple Family Residential District. The applicant is Mr. Joe Logan from Connect USA and the proposed use to convert the former commercial property to a two-dwelling rental unit. This was also on the agenda for the public hearing this evening and there were no individuals present to speak for or against this ordinance. Are there any additional questions from Council this evening? Seeing none, I would like to bring forward Ord. No. 87 – 2025 forward for a vote. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Seconded by Councilman Gregg. Roll call for passage. 8 yes; 1 no for passage COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Thank you, Madam Clerk. Ord. No. 87 – 2025 has passed. Ord. No. 88 – 2025. ORDINANCE NO. 88 – 2025 BY: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AN ORDINANCE authorizing the Director of Public Service and Safety of the City of Massillon, Ohio, to transfer Parcel #10003714, a 0.98-acre, vacant commercial property currently owned by the City of Massillon to the Community Improvement Corporation of Massillon (CIC) for the purpose of economic development. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilwoman Creamer. COUNCILWOMAN CREAMER – Thank you, Mr. President. We’ve had multiple discussions regarding this ordinance. The purpose of this ordinance for this parcel, Mr. Ben Gulley and Mr. Dallas Young has communicated to Council on multiple occasions to construct an indoor sensory park for children with special needs. After further discussion, I would like to amend this ordinance to include under Section 2, “The instrument transferring the property from the City to the CIC shall contain a restrictive covenant restricting the use of said property to non- profit uses. Said restrictive covenant shall contain a reversionary interest held by the City of Massillon in the event the property is used for any purpose other than a non-profit purpose. 12  The City’s reversionary interest and this restrictive covenant may be bought out for the parcel’s value as assessed by the Stark County Auditor for the years of 2021, 2022 and 2023 ($24,100.00).” So I’d like to bring this amendment of Ord. No. 88 – 2025 up for a vote. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Seconded by Councilman Marcum to amend. Roll call. 8 yes; 1 abstention COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilwoman Creamer. COUNCILWOMAN CREAMER – Any Council Members have any additional questions regarding this? Seeing none, I would like to waive the rules requiring three readings and bring Ord. No. 88 – 2026 forward for a vote. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Seconded by Councilman Gregg. Roll call for suspension. 8 yes; 1 abstention for suspension COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – And for passage. 8 yes; 1 abstention COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Thank you, Madam Clerk. Ord. No. 88 – 2025 has passed. 15. THIRD READING ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS 16. SECOND READING ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Ord. No. 97 – 2025. ORDINANCE NO. 97 – 2025 BY: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AN ORDINANCE to accept the dedication of a small area of land, known as an easement for traffic signal poles and adjoining equipment, located on the south side of Lincoln Way E. between 24th and 25th St. S.E., Out Lot #1249 – Starbucks property, to the City of Massillon, Ohio. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilwoman Creamer. COUNCILWOMAN CREAMER – Thank you, Mr. President. Are there any additional questions from Council? This ordinance is to provide access for the installation and maintenance of traffic signals and equipment. Any questions from anyone? Seeing none, I’d like to waive the rules requiring three readings and bring Ord. No. 97 – 2025 forward for a vote. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Seconded by Councilman Gregg. Roll call for suspension. 9 yes for suspension COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – And for passage. 13  9 yes for passage COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Thank you, Madam Clerk. Ord. No. 97 – 2025 has passed. Ord. No. 98 – 2025. ORDINANCE NO. 98 – 2025 BY: HEALTH, WELFARE & BLDG. REGS. COMMITTEE AN ORDINANCE enacting CHAPTER 542 “PROHIBITED CAMPING” under PART FIVE – GENERAL OFFENSES CODE of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Massillon, Ohio. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilwoman Cunningham. COUNCILWOMAN CUNNINGHAM – Thank you, Mr. President. We have discussed this on numerous occasions with the public’s input as well as Council and as well as Administration. Are there any other questions from Council this evening? At this point, I would like to make a motion that we waive the rules regarding three readings and bring Ord. No. 98 – 2025 forward for a vote. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Seconded by Councilwoman Harwig Smith. Roll call for suspension. 9 yes for suspension COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – And for passage. 4 yes; 5 no for passage COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Thank you, Madam Clerk. Ord. No. 98 – 2025 did not passed. Ord. No. 100 – 2025. ORDINANCE NO. 100 – 2025 BY: FINANCE COMMITTEE AN ORDINANCE to adopt appropriations for the operating and capital expenditures of the City of Massillon, Ohio, for the fiscal year 2026, and declaring an emergency. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilman Lewis. COUNCILMAN LEWIS – Second reading. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Ord. No. 100 – 2025 has received second reading. 17. REMARKS OF DELEGATIONS AND CITIZENS TO MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA 18. ADJOURNMENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Councilwoman Cunningham COUNCILWOMAN CUNNINGHAM – I move that we adjourn. COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Seconded by Councilman Ray. Roll call. 14 9 yes to adjourn COUNCIL PRESIDENT SLATER – Meeting adjourned. ______________________________ ______________________________ DIANE ROLLAND, COUNCIL CLERK MIKE SLATER, PRESIDENT 15