GIRARD — Mayor Mark Zuppo has appointed Girard police Capt. John Freeman as interim police chief to replace John Norman, who served 41 years with the city police department. Norman’s retirement took effect Monday.

Zuppo said at Monday’s city council meeting Freeman has become familiar with the chief’s responsibilities with Norman going over the duties in the past two weeks. He said several officers have taken the police chief’s exam, and he expects the new chief to be named in six weeks.

He said Norman left quietly on Monday.

“He left his last day without a peep. I am honoring his wishes. We all know what a great job he has done as chief and for the police department,” Zuppo said, noting he had invited Norman to the council meeting.

Officials said they will have “big shoes to fill” replacing Norman.

In 2023, Freeman was working toward becoming the city’s first digital investigator. He had won a scholarship from Canada-based Magnet Forensics and went through 12 months of fully-funded unlimited training and a year’s license for the company’s AXIOM software.

Through the training. Freeman learned how to process, analyze and store digital evidence that assists officers in processing digital evidence better and leads to their ability to more efficiently clear their cases.

NEW WATER FEE

In another matter, Safety-Service Director Mark Ragozine said a new replacement infrastructure fee of $10 was placed on water customers’ bills as of last month.

“This was not a decision that we took lightly and not one anyone wanted to make. We have talked about this since earlier in the year. The cost of purchasing water has gone up across the board and there are more expenses in the water fund, with many more waterline breaks this winter, spring and even a few in the summer. We could not find alternatives to avoid this,” he said.

Ragozine said the increase helps cover infrastructure costs for major water projects that are necessary for maintaining the system and making it more efficient.

“That fee was an unfortunate necessity. This will help stabilize our water fund,” he said.

Girard residents are billed bimonthly for water and received a letter attached to the August bill explaining the new $10 fee will help update the city’s aging water system.

Ragozine said the cost of water has gone up recently from their suppliers and when they looked at their books, expenditures were outpacing revenue. He said the $10 fee will bring in an additional $360,000 for waterline break repairs and replacing the lead lines in the city

Water fees and rates in Girard are decided by the service director and mayor.

HOMECOMING FESTIVAL

Resident Chuck Doran said he wants to get the city’s homecoming festival restarted, noting the last festival was 20 years ago.

Doran said he would like to have the homecoming festival and parade return next summer.

“The festival does take a long time to plan. We could have the festival in August 2026 before school starts. It would be similar to the festival held in the summer in McDonald,” Doran said.

Doran, who served as the former festival’s president, said he wants to get younger people and Girard schools involved in running the festival or it won’t be successful.

He said the former homecoming festival raised more than $100,000 in more than 40 years. Doran said there is $5,000 remaining in the bank account, and no decision has been made on where that money will go.

Doran said the festival could take place Wednesday to Saturday in the downtown area near city hall with rides, entertainment and vendors. He said the festival could be tied into the farmers market.

Doran will meet with Councilman Keith Schubert, D-1st Ward, who is chairman of council’s parks / recreation committee.

WELLMAN THEATER

Also, Ragozine reported that preliminary project designs have been reviewed by officials for the Wellman Theater on West Liberty Street.

He said when the theater project is completed, “it could really turn the downtown around.”

Councilwoman Lily Martuccio, D-at Large, said a final design for the theater by MS Consultants should be completed in the spring. She said the theater committee met with Joe Asente of the Millennial Theater Company about it using the theater for its home base.

Legislation was requested for the Sept. 22 meeting for transferring the north part of the Ohio Leatherworks property off Route 422 to the Western Reserve Port Authority for a possible interested buyer. Zuppo said the section north of the creek was appraised at $50,000 and the southern section at $250,000.