POLAND — Village Council at its meeting Tuesday, heard comments on e-bikes and last week’s decision to move the Poland branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County.

Members of the Save Our Library Committee thanked village council for their efforts leading up to last week’s library meeting. However, committee member DeeDee Graff said the issue is not over.

“We are going to try every angle,” she said.

Discussions took place on seeking a team of lawyers and looking into past fines. Resident Kathy Miller questioned zoning violations the library committed. One from November 2023 reported a $100 fine. A second notice of a property maintenance violation and a $500 fine were issued in June 2024.

“Assuming 548 days as of May 5 at $100 per day, the balance due Poland Village is $54,800 for just one violation,” Miller said.

Mayor Tim Sicafuse said the fines were likely dropped to encourage the repairs. He said any attempt to collect the fines now could be considered retaliation.

Councilwoman Laurie LaPlante agreed that the battle concerning the library move is far from over, and the Save Our Library Committee will be looking at its next steps.

“I don’t think they (the library board) realize what they have unleashed,” she said.

E-BIKE DISCUSSION

On the e-bike issue, Poland police Chief Don Lambert said his department is seeing more of them.

“Our officers are seeing a lot more kids riding e-bikes,” he said. “We try to stop them when we safely can so we can inform them of the rules.”

Councilman Chris Graff asked if e-bikes are allowed on public sidewalks.

Village attorney Jay Macejko said e-bikes and e-scooters can go on sidewalks. “You cannot ride a motorcycle on a sidewalk, but e-bikes are not classified as a motorcycle.”

He told council e-bikes are placed into three classes, with the youngest riders using the first classification, which are the slower ones. The faster ones are the challenge. Macejko said those units put police in a tough position of whether to pursue a youth on the streets.

Macejko did offer some promising news. “It does seem that more and more kids are wearing helmets,” he said. “Not all, but more than was seen in the past.”

Council passed legislation in October requiring helmets to be worn by riders under age 18.

Resident Rob Dunham said he checked the Ohio Department of Transportation’s website and found regulations indicating that e-bikes are prohibited on sidewalks. Macejko said he has not seen anything on a ban. He said if e-bikes were completely banned from sidewalks, it would be sending kids into the streets.

Resident and former educator Elinor Zedaker offered an idea to consider.

“There is something called common courtesy,” she said. “I suggest the schools could assist in providing education (on e-bikes) to the kids.”

In other business, council:

•Approved $1,475 to RRS Power LLC for tree removal related to work approved at the February meeting. The amount was in addition to the $575 approved then. A second amount ($1,700) for a large walnut tree removal was tabled until the property owner could be contacted.

•Approved an additional $200 to the $2,300 recently approved for the outfitting of a police cruiser.

•Approved a $500 donation to the Sons of the American Legion Memorial Day event.

•Approved repairs to a police department Chevy Tahoe in an amount not to exceed $1,600.