CANFIELD TOWNSHIP — Trustees learned about regulations surrounding backyard burials in the township after receiving an opinion from the Ohio Attorney General’s office, which Zoning Inspector Traci DeCapua presented during Tuesday’s meeting.

The issue of burying a family member on private property arose after DeCapua was approached by township residents from Tippecanoe Road who wanted to do so, but were questioning regulations on the matter. DeCapua received the answer from the state after submitting inquiries.

“Anyone in a township in the state of Ohio can bury their family member in their backyard,” she said. “They have that right. The only requirement is the grave must be 100 yards from any residence.”

DeCapua said the townships have no right to prevent or control such a burial. In fact, DeCapua discovered the local Board of Health cannot prevent such a burial either.

She also questioned green burials, which are burials with no embalming and using a wooden casket void of metals that would biodegrade over time.

Zoning Board of Appeals member Dave Knarr said he has handled green burials in licensed cemeteries.

“The people wanting green burials do not want the body encased in a cement vault, but want the body next to the ground,” he said. “To meet public cemetery requirements and have a green burial, we would put the wooden casket in the grave first, then turn the vault upside down and place it over the casket. It satisfied the family and the cemetery.”

DeCapua said cities can regulate such “family cemeteries” within their borders and can prohibit them, but those family cemeteries cannot be regulated by the township or the Board of Health, she said.

The information received by DeCapua stated the Board of Health could step in if it were a case of having bodies in ditches or storm water basins that may constitute a health problem.

While the zoning issues were at the forefront of the meeting, Knarr addressed trustees and said he was stepping down from the Canfield Zoning Board of Appeals after 22 years of service.

“I want to say one thing on record before stepping down,” he said. “Since Traci has stepped into the role of zoning inspector, she has raised the bar. I am impressed with her professionalism.”

Finishing out the zoning segment of the meeting, trustees unanimously approved a zoning refund policy requiring a person to submit a request for a refund within six months of when the zoning permit was issued. The request must also be for permits valued at a minimum of $200.

In other business:

• Township Administrator Keith Rogers said Ohio Edison will need access to three transformers for the Legacy and Westbury Street Lighting District. The three transformers have decorative plantings around them to hide them, but the work crews are going to need a 3-foot area around the units in which to work.

• Trustees approved motions to request assistance from the ABC Water and Stormwater District for reimbursement of the 2025 Fawn Drive Project in the amount of $15,273.11 and the 2025 Maplevale Basin Repair Project in the amount of $4,958.75.

• Approval was given for a Memorandum of Understanding with the Mahoning County Engineer’s Office for the 2025 Ohio Public Works Commission street paving and improvement program, with engineering services to be completed by Thomas Fok and Associates.

• The following properties were declared nuisances for high grass by trustees and will be submitted to the county auditor so liens can be placed on the properties: 4055 Fairway Drive, 8051 Herbert Road and 4032 Alvacardo St.

• Chairman Brian Governor noted Lighting of the Green will take place Nov. 22 on the Village Green. “And Santa will be right here in this building,” he said, referring to the township hall.