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On the record

Girard

WHAT: City council meeting Monday

PRESENT: Reynald Paolone, Thomas Grumley, Jeff Kay, Mark Standohar, Keith Schubert, Lily Martuccio, John Moliterno, Sam Zirafi and Mayor Mark Zuppo

Council:

• Recognized resident Kenneth David, a Vietnam veteran who recently received the Congressional Medal of Honor from former president Joseph Biden. Zuppo said Pittsburgh Avenue wil have a sign posted “Kenneth J. David Medal of Honor Boulevard.”

• Heard from Zuppo, who met with mayors from Cortland, Hubbard and Niles over the $650,000 in CHIP grant funds for low- and moderate-income households to make improvements to their homes. Those interested can contact the mayor’s office.

• Approved submitting an application to participate in the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Clean Ohio Trail fund program for recreational trail improvements at Tod Park.

• Approved increasing the pay of the full-time parks and recreation director from $35,000 to $40,000.

• Approved advertising for bids for resurfacing of Park Avenue from Tod Avenue to Ward Avenue.

• Approved establishing a temporary part-time position of assistant director of public safety-service effective Feb. 1 to April 30 to work with the new safety-service director and help with the transition. Former safety service director Sal Ponzio will assist new safety service director Mark Ragozine on various city projects and departmental oversight. Ponzio will be paid $30 per hour and work no more than 20 hours per week.

• Heard from Auditor Julie Coggins the speed camera revenue for January was $65,702 which is close to what came in January 2024. Martuccio said there will be an extra police officer out on the streets with a speed camera.

• Bob Coupland

Hubbard

WHAT: Board of Education meeting Tuesday.

PRESENT: Anna Martin, William Cummings, Josh Barr, Donald Newell and Amanda O’Neill.

The board:

• Accepted the following anonymous donations: $156 to the Hubbard Community Pool and $200 to the Hubbard Food Pantry.

• Accepted bus driver Charles Polish Jr.’s resignation.

• Accepted cleaner Joseph Petten’s retirement.

• Approved an unpaid leave of absence for bus driver Brian Florentino Sr.

• Approved K-8 Assistant Principal Danielle Leigh to coordinate the middle school’s after-school intervention program for the 2024-25 school year at a stipend of $700.

• Approved Elementary Principal Shawn Marcello to coordinate the elementary school’s after-school intervention program for the 2024-25 school year at a stipend of $700.

• Approved the following coaches for the 2024-25 athletic season: Seth Jones as 7th and 8th assistant track coach; Brayden Murray as volunteer high school and middle school track coach; Joseph Zagorec as volunteer softball coach; and Ian Wukelich as volunteer baseball coach.

• Approved Josh MacMillan as head girls soccer coach and Marissa Grande as JV girls soccer coach for the 2025-26 athletic season.

• Approved a five-year internet service contract between the district and Northeast Ohio Management Information Network (NEOMIN) effective July 1.

• Appointed Albert Alexander to the Hubbard Public Library Board of Trustees to fill the remainder of a vacant term from March 1, 2025 to March 31, 2027.

• Brandon Cantwell

On the record

McDonald

WHAT: Village council meeting Thursday.

PRESENT: Sean Schmidt, John Metzinger, Kyle Joynes, Chad Jones, Don Smith and Mayor Ray Lewis.

ABSENT: Kerry Reckard.

Council:

•Announced the State of the Village forum will be 7 p.m. Wednesday at McDonald High School.

•Approved entering into an agreement with Sourcewell, a national joint cooperative purchasing consortium, to seek a street sweeper. Sourcewell was previously known as the National Joint Powers Alliance.

•Heard from Lewis there are no solicitor’s permits approved by the village so residents are advised if someone solicits at their residence.

•Heard from Lewis the village is cracking down on delinquent taxpayers, which stands at 600 residences, which will be brought to mayor’s court.

•Heard from Fire Chief Ed Marcum the department already has responded to 86 calls as of Feb. 20 this year, compared to 42 in 2024. He said calls have been medical emergencies, fires and mutual aid.

•Heard from Village Administrator Tom Domitrovich a new recycling container for cardboard has been added to the recycling site for residents and businesses.

•Announced that NOPEC electric rates are at 6.5 cents per kwh through May with a new rate of 7.5 cents per kwh for 12 months or 8 cents per kwh for 24 months, both effective in June. Officials indicated all electric rates, regardless of supplier, are expected to increase in June.

•Approved updates to the police and fire prevention codes such as police eliminating items on jail since the village does not have a jail. Schmidt said the updates are to bring the two departments’ codes up to 2025 standards.

•Received a $4,228 NOPEC grant that can be used for anything electric-related such as lights and signs.

•Approved rezoning property at 305 W. Marshall Road from residential to commercial.

• Bob Coupland

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