City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening everyone. Welcome to Ayria City Council meeting for Tuesday, February 17, 2026. I would ask that you please turn your cell phones to silent or turn them off out of respect for the council chambers. We'll observe a moment of silence followed by the pledge of allegiance.

Mrs. Rothgary, would you lead us in the pledge? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Mr. Clerk, may we have roll call, please? Yes, madam president. [snorts] Mr. Sarah here. Mr. Van Warmer here. Mr. Armstrong here. Miss Rothgary here. Miss Davis here. Mr. Tolette. Mr. Lipian here. Mr. Oswald here. Mr. Dhoni here. Mr. Schneider here. Miss Mitchell here. We have one missing. Mr. Mr. Tolet has an excused absence. Can I get a motion to excuse Mr. Tolette, please?

It's been moved and properly second. All those in favor say I. I. Oppose. Motion carried. Mr. Clerk, are there any public hearings? There are none. Can I get a motion for approval of the minutes, please? Second. It's been moved and properly second. All those in favor say I. I. Opposed. Motion carried. We'll have marks and reports from city officials. Mayor Brewbaker.

Yes. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. Uh just a quick update. The Chronicle will be writing an article tomorrow. They contacted me today in regards to not the NOPEC grant that you're going to hopefully approve tonight, but the program that we've created off of that. Uh we're using $100,000 of the NOC funds to create a grant program for emergency HVAC and hot water tank repairs. Um, so that'll be in the paper tomorrow, but it is on the referral list to be discussed uh and approved by this body hopefully uh next Monday. But other than that, that's all I have for this evening. Thank you, mayor. Are there any questions for the mayor? Thank you. Safety Service Director Pineowski.

Thank you through you. Uh, just one update for you. On February 7th, we utilized um a number of employees from Sanitation. That was a Saturday. We brought them in after the street lights came on and put them in twoman crews to drive and identify uh street lights that were out using the sanitation routes so that we were certain that all the streets would be covered. We identified about 500 lights and created the report necessary to submit them to First Energy. We've been in contact with the new First Energy rep. Um we've been told that that some of the lights are going to be replaced with LED. Um the projected time frame in order to get the lights repaired um is about three months. So that's kind of what we're working with, but we identified a significant number of them across the city and we now have a working master list.

Thank you. Any questions for for the safety service director? Thank you, Finance Director Pleski. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, we've been working on the 20 uh 26 permanent appropriation. So, we should have that in your boxes tomorrow for discussion at the next finance committee meeting. So, if you get a chance to go through it, if you have any questions, certainly give me a call. Um, I can tell you the general fund is uh does not look real well with this budget, but we can discuss that uh next Monday.

Thank you. Any questions for finance chief? Thank you, Police Chief Welsh. Good evening, Madam President. I'll keep this short. I'm requesting approval from council to send my newly appointed Kalia accreditation manager, Sergeant Adam Garvin, to a conference in Arizona March 10th through March 14th. Uh, this conference will provide Sergeant Garvin with essential training, networking opportunities, and direct guidance from Kala representatives to properly prepare for managing the Ayer Police Department's next Kala accreditation cycle, which has already begun.

I'd be I'd be more than happy to answer any questions about Kala or anything else that you have. And thank you for the consideration. Are there any questions for the police chief? You all know what Kalia is and we've been accreditated how many years now? This is our third we we achieved our third accreditation in August of 2025 and this will mark our fourth accreditation period. Very good. So you need a motion for Captain Garvin to go uh through through you um madam president. Yes. Thank you. Can I get a motion please? So moved. Second.

Been moved and properly second. All those in favor say I. I. Opposed. Motion carried. Thank you. Thank you, Chief Walsh. Law Director Deary, I'm so sorry I skipped over you.

That's perfectly fine. Thank you, Madam President. Um on in a similar vein uh I'm requesting uh permission uh to uh send um two personnel well I should say one personnel including and myself uh to uh the Axon conference in uh Nashville the first uh week in first full week in April. Um as you know we have a um decadel long contract uh with Axon. Uh they Axon vendor is constantly rolling out new information. Um Rachel Brandom uh as well as myself uh are going. Um Rachel has gone previously. Uh I have never gone. Um, Miss Brandham um is one of two point people in my office um handling um all records requests uh etc. uh with respect to the body cam um footage etc. uh as well as subpoenas for that same footage uh which is hosted by Axon. So all the hardware and software associated with that.

Mr. Lian, I was just going to make the motion. Are there any questions before we make the motion? Seeing none, I'll entertain a motion. I'll make the motion. Second. It's been properly moved and second. All those in favor say I. I. Oppose. Motion carried. Uh other than that, I have uh no report. Mr. Oswald

through you, Madam President. Um, so I was hoping to get an update from uh your department as far as the DBR development agreement, if it's been signed or not, where we stand on that. Um, the the pending lawsuit that we've got going, where we're at with the TIFF money that they're trying to acquire. Um, has there been any uh drawings, dimensions, surveys done for the properties that they want to accomplish over there? And is there been deadlines set for all this work to be completed because it seems like we're at a standstill right now. So, I was just wondering where we stand with all that, please. Thank you. through you uh madam president. Um I I'll take uh questions one at a time and and please stop me if I I miss because there were quite a few there. Uh one to the best of my knowledge uh no development agreement has been signed uh by the developer. the city um as I've pre indicated previously uh signed back uh in September of 2025 um upon the legislation authorizing um us entering the agreement uh becoming effective. Um, as far as TIFF monies, um, the, uh, essentially no TIFF monies are going to be generated until the project is, um, commenced and and ultimately completed. That is not happened. Therefore, there is no revenue to to be produced. Uh and

also um there is documentation that has to be submitted to the state to um facilitate that. Uh and so therefore that has not yet happened. Um my understanding is that there's still conversations between going on between the developer and Lauren County Port Authority as far as the issuance of the bonds. Um but I can't speak to that. um status because again I'm neither the port authority nor the developer. Uh as far as the uh litigation uh I this is all public record. Uh the proceedings have uh are continued to be stayed. Uh as I indicated previously uh we had a status conference uh with the court. I was president for that as well as with our legal council. uh the developers legal council. Uh that was in December. the court um at the request of the developer's attorney um extended the stay and uh set another status for uh the end of March, March 26th um and let it be known uh I should say the court let it be known that that uh they are not interested and and do not intend to um indefinitely uh prolong uh the case. Um our attorneys did make it known that uh the city has uh held up everything done everything on our end uh that needs to be done. Um as far as uh deadlines being set. No. Um um there were no deadlines as far as any sort of you know drop dead date. if you

don't sign by this date um then you know all bets are off. I I don't know that it would be conducive to just set arbitrary deadlines. However, um the further we get from the date that the city has signed the development agreement, it there may need to be some revisions to the agreement. That's not necessarily um I don't know the best way to put this. That's not necessarily um insurmountable in any ways. It's just that um for instance, if those of you who are on council before may recall um October 1st was a big date as far as as bonds being issued. Well, clearly that's not really I mean we're well past that date. So obviously new new dates may need to be discussed and that if if if and when this um this uh a agreement is executed um the developer may need to go back and talk to the schools etc etc. So um again the further away from that timing we get um there may need to be some some tweaks done. So again no no deadlines have been exhausted or anything like that. It's just the reality of the situation. Um, through you, Madame President. I don't know if there were further questions I missed there. I I tried to cover everything that I could recall.

Mr. Oswwell, did that cover everything? Through you, Madam President. So, you did a really good job. Thank you. Um, in this one, the answer may be able to come from engineering, but my thought was here we go again. were kind of like working backwards because I thought we had to have a set of drawings, um, dimensions, layouts, just like we do when we start any kind of development. And I was hoping to get that answer from the guy that's walking up here right now

through through you, Madame President. the the drawings that were submitted and and approved by planning commission and uh attached to the the legislation that was approved and authorized by council back in August. I mean, those are the as far as what council authorized um that it was willing to accept for um the tax increment financing schematics, etc. I mean, that is what it is. I mean, um, obviously I see engineer Schneider's come up to the podium, but, um, to the best of my knowledge, nothing new has been submitted, but I will gladly defer to engineering on that.

That's exactly what I was going to say. Uh, essentially, uh, since planning commission approved the preliminary plan, uh, we have not seen anything new since then. Thank you, law director. as you're up there. M Snyder, any you have any report? I have no report today, Madam Chair. Mr. Oswald,

thank you, Madam President. So, I was just curious where we stand um as far as the Burn Burns Road sidewalk project with if we've got the grant or we're in process of bidding it out. And if we are, is there a possibility when we're doing it depending on money while we're cleaning up sidewalks and stuff going down through the the hills and things, is there a possibility to put extra drainage so we can cover it up? And if we're going to do this sidewalk, can we make it really nice while we're doing it? Thank you.

I'll try to answer that the best I can. Um, so as of right now, we are uh putting together the SOQs for hiring the consultants. Uh looking at the actual roadway, especially on Burns Road, we do believe we're going to have to do some storm water work. I don't know how much yet. Uh I will say that any cost in regards to storm water will be 100% city cost. So that will add 100% cost on the city. So uh not that that's a bad thing. It looks like it does need some storm water improvements over there, but uh so that is part of the plan was to do some work on the storms. Mr. Schneider

through you, Madam President. Engineer Schneider, I see they started the um LOL Street Sewer Extension. What is the Just curious, what's the completion on that project? Do you recall? Uh well, they uh they there's been some problems out there. The soils out there have been difficult for the contract to dig in. So, uh it's taken a little bit longer than we expected. Uh they're probably threequarters of the way done right now. So, I would venture to say month and a half, two months, they should be essentially done with the sewer portion. Uh, obviously, they'll still have to come back through restoration when the asphalt plants open as well as uh to get the the grass and the tree lawns to grow. Thank you for the update. Any other questions for the engineer? Thank you, Mr. Snder.

Thank you, Chief Pineski. You're way in the back. We'll make this short, but I just wanted to say goodbye and thank you. Uh, it's been I'm leaving.

I It's going to cost a lot of money for me to stay. Um, no, it's it's been an honor and a pleasure in all seriousness to be your chief. I'm honored. I um I ask that you um continue in your leadership and and to be the servant leaders that I know you are and to give my my replacement. He's he's going to be the best chief that you'll see that this department has had. He's a lot uh it may not be as good-looking, but he is he is uh heart and soul. Um but with that, you know, I just wanted to say thank you for the support. Um, this administration has been the best that um that I've ever worked for and you know that says something coming from me. Um, but their support for safety forces. Um, but I'm going to miss being up here a little bit, but um, I just wanted to say goodbye and thank you. All right. [applause]

[applause] [laughter]

Chief Pineski, I have enjoyed working with you and I've learned a lot from you and I wish you all the best. Um, I don't think I've missed anyone. So president's referrals and remantises number one to community development number two to finance number three to finance number four to finance number five to community development finance number six to community development finance. Item seven, place on file in the clerk's office. Mr. Clerk, petitions and rematases from the lobby.

Yes, we have one, Mr. Leon Robinson III, in regards to the Lorraine Nexus Hub. Mr. Robinson, welcome. Please give your name and address for the record. Um, Leon Robinson, 404 Furnace Street, Liry, Ohio 44035. Go right ahead.

Okay. Um, good evening, council. Um, and mayor. My name is Leon Robinson. I'm a resident and business owner here in the 440 operating Fresh Money Enterprises LLC and Aure Twin LLC, a infrastructure intelligence company. I'm not just here as a constituting. I'm here as a partner. My goal is to discuss how we can align the city's strategic goals with the infrastructure of the future. Specifically, through the Lraine Nexus Hub, the world is moving toward a digital first energy efficient economy. Cities that don't build the connective tissue for this transition get left behind. Through a twin global headquarters and the nexus hub, we are creating a local side

[clears throat]

a local a localized ecosystem for innovation, tech equity, and sustainable growth. We aren't just looking to occupy space. We're looking to provide the technological backbone that attracts highpaying jobs and keep our local talent right here in the county. I'm offering my services. Excuse me. I'm offering my services and the resources of my enterprises to help the city navigate these complex tech landscapes. I have a brief overview of our current projects and how we integrate with the city's master plan. I'd like to request a formal followup with the economic development committee to show exactly how the Lraine Nexus Hub can serve as a catalystic for our downtown revitalization. Thank you for your time.

Thank you, Mr. Robinson. Thank you. All right. Petitions and remotes from council members. Reports of standing and special committees. There are none. Resolution's first reading. Sponsored by finance. A resolution approving a list of submitted by the safety service director for the collection of delinquent inactivity utility counts and directing the the clerk council to certify set accounts to Lorraine County auditor. Mrs. Davis. Madame President, I ask that this resolution be passed on its first reading under suspension of rules.

It's [clears throat] been moved and second. Any other discussion? Question. All those in favor of the suspension say I. I. Opposed. The passage. All in favor say I. I. Opposed. Motion carried. Resolution 2026-6. [snorts] That's all. Resolutions. First reading. Resolution. Second reading. There are none. Resolutions. Third reading. There are none. Ordinances. First reading.

Sponsored by finance. in or approving the application of Hubert Oliver for the improvements at 603 605 and 607 Cleveland Street. I guess that's my time. Um Cleveland Street pursuant to the downtown facade improvement program created by the ordinance 2019-9. Mrs. Davis. Madame President, I ask that this ordinance be passed on its first reading under suspension of rule. Second. Second. It's been moved and properly second. Any further discussion? Question. On the suspension, all in favor say I.

I. Opposed. On the passage, all in favor say I. I. Opposed. Motion carried. Ordinance 2026-24. Sorry. Ordinance sponsored by utilities. Uh, an ordinance. No, sir. Fin. It should be finance number three.

My apologies. This one got out of out of sponsored by uh finance. It's an ordinance off ratifying the mayor's application for and if offer the acceptance of the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council NOEC 2026 Energize Community Grant funds and declaring an emergency. Mrs. Davis. Madame President, I ask that this ordinance be passed on its first reading under suspension approved and declaring an emergency. Second. It's been moved and properly second. Any further discussion on the suspension? All in favor say I. I. Opposed. On the emergency. All in favor say I. I. Opposed. On the passage. All in favor say I.

I. Opposed. Motion carried. Ordinance 2026-25. Sponsor by utilities. in ordinance establishing the city of Valyria EMS feasibility study advisory committee and declaring an emergency. Mrs. Davis. Madame President, I ask that this ordinance be passed on the first reading of the suspension of rules and declaring an emergency. Second. Moved and properly second. Any further discussion? Question. On I'm sorry. Oh, okay. On the suspension, all in favor say I.

I. Opposed on the emergency, all in favor say I. I. Opposed. On the passage. All in favor say I. I.

Opposed. Motion carried. Ordinance 2026-26 sponsored by strategic planning. This is an ordinance amending the certain provisions of the LRI codified ordinance part 11 planning and zoning code to be effective May 1st 2026. There will be a public hearing scheduled March 16th 2026. I have to I declare that this ordinance has had its first reading public hearing to be held March 20 March 16th 2026.

That's all of ordinances first reading. Ordinances second reading. There are none. Ordinances third reading. There are none.

Committee calls. Command that community development is scheduled for a meeting on Monday, February 23rd, 2026. Committee members and the mayor, law director, finance director, safest service director, and the engineer. Finance committee is scheduled immediately following community development for on 22326. Those are council members, a mayor, law director, finance director, safety service director, and engineer. Joint CD and finance is immediately following um the finance meeting scheduled for Monday, February 23rd, 26. Those committee members, chair Schneider, Tlette, the mayor, law director, finance director, and safety service director, and the engineer. Strategic planning is scheduled for March 2nd, 2026 immediate filing council meeting. Thank you. Miscellaneous and unfinished business. None. Sorry,

Madame President. Seeing none, if there is no other business before this council, I make motion that we dismiss. Second. Been moved and properly second. All those in favor say I. I. Oppose. Motion carried. Good night everyone. Thank you for coming.

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