Planning and Zoning - Regular Meeting

I actually I will call this special council meeting of May 6, 2026 to order. Please rise if you are able for the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Welcome everybody. Anna, will you please call the role? Here you can hear me. Foster here. Perland here. Ner here. Vincent

here. Perry. Uh Lisa Perry is with her family tonight. Her father-in-law is very ill. And we wish Lisa and Jeff and their extended family love and peace through this time. Um I will Should we skip number four till the may the mayor? Great timing. Well, I can make that motion anyway. Well, we didn't know if we wanted to wait till he got here so we could move forward on that. Okay. Well, we'll move forward then. Um, we have a motion to confirm the appointment of Brandon Hughes as interim building commissioner of Orange Village effective May 1st, 2026. You want to make that motion? That motion,

Mrs. I will second that. Would you like to I'd be happy to talk about Mr. Hughes? Okay. Go go go slow to give you time to get to the mic. You want to say just kidding. Turn the mic on the bottom. Sorry. I don't leave it on cuz battery dies.

Thank you. This is a great opportunity to um introduce you to Brandon Hughes. Brandon has served um Orange Village for several years now as the assistant building commissioner to Bob McGlaclin under whose toutelage he's learned a great deal about the Orange building code, the the quality that we expect from our uh employees and and staff and has contributed greatly to the processes of designing, building, and constructing homes and projects here in Orange Village. I'm very pleased to um u introduce him to you uh as our successor to Bob McLaclin as our next chief building official. Uh Brandon brings a world of experience having come to us originally from Uklid uh where we pirated him away and brought him into our organization and he served our community extremely well and now leads the uh the commission. He will serve as an interim building official uh as he's still completing some certifications that are necessary for him to be u the full commissioner. But um he understands all of that and and understands the requirements that are necessary and is working very closely with Bob McGlolin who is continuing to tutor him and guide him through the process of becoming a full commission. So with that I offer him to you for your consideration and approval.

Thank you mayor. I would like to thank Bob for all of his years of service and it was an honor to work with Brandon when he first came on and I was honored to serve on planning and zoning at the time and he came in absolutely seamlessly and it was such a delight to work with you and um just you you answered questions readily and you were there with all the answers and you were always calm and eventempered and just a delight to work with. So, thank you. Um other comments? Yeah, I would say as somebody who's work who's on the planning and zoning commission now, it's a joy to work with you. You're very professional. You always know what's going on and uh very even keeled, which is also nice. Um so, um it's it's you know, you always have everything well organized and uh you got my book of ordinances waiting for me every time, which I truly appreciate.

So, uh Brandon, you are a joy to work with and really an asset to our community. Any other discussion? Please call the role. Yes. Bilski. Yes. Foster. Yes. Kurland. Enthusiastic. Yes. Ner. Yes. Vincent. Yes. Would you like to come up and I will administer the oath of office and you can tell us who you've brought with you today.

To my right. Told him to stand over there so he's on camera. Mayor. Oh. Um, church. This is my family. My wife Marca, my son Eli, and my daughter Lily. Okay. Now, go back over here. Okay. Repeat after me. Raise your right hand. I state your name. I, Brandon Hughes. Do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States. swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States. Constitution of the state of Ohio constitution of the state of Ohio,

the rules, regulations, and charter of Orange Village. rules, regulations, and I will faithfully, honestly, and impartially faithfully, honestly, and discharge my duties as interim building commissioner discharge my duties as interim building commissioner effective May 1, 2026. Effective May, Orange Village, state of Ohio State. during my continuence in said office. during my continuence in said office.

Congratulations. Those you keep one and give the other one to Anna and you're official. Mommy has to stay for the whole meeting. How are you? Good luck. Thank you.

Um aboard again. Uh, next up we have item seven uh, item item five, a motion to approve the council meeting minutes of April 8th, 2026. I'll make that motion. Is there a second? Second. Thank you, Mr. Bole and Anna. Call the role, please. Oh, any changes to them? Any discussion? Good. Sorry. Bole, yes. Bilski, yes. Foster, yes. Kurland, yes. Alner, yes. Vincent, yes.

Item six, a motion to declare a 2017 Dodge Charger VIN number 2 C3 CDX KT9H599509 as surplus to be disposed of at the mayor's discretion. Somebody like to make that motion? I'll make that motion.

Thank you. Thank you. Is there any discussion? Would you like to talk about that? Well, hopefully we can cover the next three items and I'll only talk once. Um, we're going to we've had three vehicles on here surplus. Um, we received two new police cars. So, we have two old units that are going to be uh actually right now one of them's out of service. The other one will be coming out shortly. Um the service department as you approved earlier in the year we received our replacement vehicle and the Durango is actually going down to the building department where the 2017 unit which is in poor shape is going out. You know all the one at the building department actually was a repurposed police car. So we're getting something a little uh more economical in the building department. So we're looking to all three of those items surplus. Um, as usual, typically we go to gov deals unless there's another um opportunity to sell them, which always will fall under the mayor's discretion.

Do you think any of them have any value? We have values. We always base it on low um like KBB, Kelly Blue Book or something like that. Um, but obviously uh you know, they're only worth what we're going to get for them. So if it goes on an auction sites, you know, we determine whether we set a minimum residual value on it or not. Great. Any other questions, comments, discussion? Other rule. Boil. Yes. Bilski. Auster. Yes. Kurland. Yes. Yes. Vincent.

Yes. Item seven, a motion to declare a 2018 Dodge Charger VIN number 2C3 CDX KTXJH301099 as surplus to be disposed of at the mayor's discretion. I'll make that motion. Is there a second? Thank you, Miss Mrs. Kurland. Any discussion? Any further questions on that? Please call the role. Boil, yes. Bilski, yes. Foster, yes. Kurland, yes. Alner, yes. Vincent,

yes. Item eight, a motion to declare a 2020 Dodge Charger VIN number 2C3 CDX A G5L 111279 is surplus to be disposed of at the mayor's discretion. I'll make that motion again. Is there a second? Second, you Mrs. Kurland. Any further discussion on that? That one's that was only six years old. 2020. Is that the one that's out of service? I mean, I 2020.

You might say it's only six years old, but they're police cars. They have a lot of wear on them. How much typical mileage are on these cars before they croak? How much typical mileage are on the cars before they're not really good for the department anymore? Around 70ish thousand, maybe a little more. It's really the idle time that's kind of gets these things bad. And usually a five to six year. Six year is considered a little above average for the length of a police car. Interesting. One of these one of these vehicles actually has a replacement motor in it already, which is having issues. No

comments or discussion. Okay, Anna, please call the role. Boil, yes. Bilski, yes. Foster, yes. Purland, yes. Alner, yes. Vincent,

yes. We move on to item nine, audience comments relating to agenda items only. Do we have anybody who wishes to speak? Seeing none, we'll move on to old business of pending legislation and motions. Uh, first up is uh, ordinance 2026-9 as amended. An ordinance authorizing the mayor to implement the terms and conditions of the tenative agreement reached with the Fraternal Order of Police, Ohio Labor Council, Inc., second reading. Uh, do we is there anything we want to say on this? This will move on to next week. Now, this this will go on to the next uh reading.

We'll move on to ordinance 2026-10, an ordinance enacting a new section 351.17, no parking on either side of residential streets in a culde-sac turnaround of the codified ordinances of Orange Village. This is on for second reading. We do have uh the administration requesting a suspension of the rules. Uh, do we want to have this motion to or do you want to talk about why first?

Um, I think we should talk about why and and it's it's a timing issue. This is the season where we have the the reason that this particular ordinance is being brought forward is that we have challenges on our culde-sacs when um landscape vehicles in particular are parked on the culde-sacs and school buses and emergency vehicles need to get around and they are um they interfered by these these vehicles and and uh we need to be able to move them quickly out of the away and keep them from there. And if we wait um for standard, uh we we're delaying the process and this is the season when we're seeing them out and the police really need to be able to to act on it.

How are we getting the word out that this is the new law since I can tell you on my street it's a culde-sac signs are all ready to go up, aren't they?

Yeah, we're we're going to have signs put at the uh entrance to every culde-sac. We're going to have a period of time where we're kind, friendly police department that we always are and let people know. We're not just going to go right to enforcement, but we'll have the ability to if we get push back, which we often do, uh, which is kind of strange, but people like to park in the culde-sac. Usually contractors, things like that from out of out of the area, and I understand the pain if they're actually putting in a driveway. There's no way to park in a driveway. So, we just have to find a way to work together and this will help us do that.

We also um I think um Miss you last time asked about what the um penalties would be. Um and I asked about that. It's a there's no specified um penalty in the code. Uh there's a default provision in our code that's $100 fine if there's no specified penalty. So, it would be a $100 fine up to a $100 fine if convicted. Uh, so let's um do the motion to suspend first. Um, I'll make a motion to suspend the rules. Is there a second? Um, any discussion about suspension? And please call the role on suspension. Boil, yes. Bilski, yes. Foster, yes.

Kurland, yes. Nner, yes. Vincent, yes. Uh, and now the motion on ordinance 2026-10, which I already read. Uh, would somebody like to make that motion to pass? I'll make the motion. Thank you, Mrs. Krillin. Is there a second? Second. Thank you, Mr. Foster. Any further discussion? Other boil? Yes. Bilski? Yes. Foster? Yes. Kurland? Yes. Ner, yes.

Thank you. Moving on to C. Ordinance 2026-12, an ordinance amending section 1162.08, 08 improvement of parking areas of chapter 1162 off- streetet parking and loading of the codified ordinances of Orange Village. This is on for second reading. Any discuss did you want to

set a public hearing um more than 20 days out? So, one of the June meetings would be the earliest that you do. So, I would like to recommend based on ordinance 2026-4 and approval of the planning and zoning commission, we set the public hearing for our first meeting in June, which is June 3rd, uh, followed by a reading that evening. Does that work? June 3rd. Okay. Um, so that's that. Okay. Moving on to new business and consideration of

uh item A, ordinance 2026-14, an ordinance engaging Bricker Graden Wyatt LLP to provide special counsel to Orange Village in matters related to the financing of capital projects and declaring an emergency. This is on for first reading. Um would somebody mayor, would you like to talk about that? Sure. Thank you.

Because I've asked for it to be on. Um this is to engage bond council so that um when we begin the process of developing the uh bonding for the call and fire department projects that we have council that can help us put together the the language, the necessary language and um put together bonding um information that needs to go out with it associated with it. Um Bricker and Graden have been very helpful with um with our work on tax incremental finance projects. They are very very thorough in this particular area and they've been helpful and supportive in uh advising us along the way. So I'd like to officially engage them so that when we are ready to go forward in developing the bonds uh for this they can put that together.

Do we have uh have we used anyone else over the years or how how do we know what gives us the comfort that we need with them? Well, we've uh fortunately we've never had a bond before, but we've had other um public finance issues where we have engaged with them. Uh in particular on the the Pinerest Project, on the uh Omni project, we've worked with them as well. Okay. Haven't had a voted. We haven't had a voted I should say up vote. Yeah, that's a Okay. something like that. It's a not to ex It's a not it's got a not to exceed in it. Um for their fee it's $85,000.

Is that flat fee or hourly? It's a flat fee. Flat fee. Is that pretty standard? I don't know. Very high to kind of for these types of engagements. They'll have to they'll have to do the preparatory work. Yes, it's fairly standard. It's a expensive process. So, it's really high.

Well, it's a not to exceed and I assume they'll submit billing and and and I've dealt with Bricker and I assume it's Katherine Schwarz is who we'd be using. I assume I mean she does most of the bond work here and I certainly have no issues with her credibility. She's great. But um I guess my bigger question is or or you know this body hasn't agreed to put anything on the ballot yet. And I what I don't want to do is put the legal cart in front of the obligation for this body to have a conversation about if and when a a matter for a bond issuance is going to take place because that's one of the issues that is permeating through the community. And I have no problem having a first reading on it. But I anticipate and hope that my colleagues would join in having substantive conversations about not just whether or not we're going to have counsel, which if there's a decision to move forward, but if we are going to move forward, what that's going to look like and the timing of it, because I don't want to spend money on on any lawyers and then find out that that there is no critical mass of of of agreement by this body to put anything on the ballot. And so I think it's an important piece to have that conversation because I I I I don't know that that's a a foregone conclusion. and it certainly isn't with me.

What I'm looking to do have that in place so that contract with them and No. And and mayor, with all due respect, I I have no issues with that because there's there's multiple pieces of legislation will necessarily have to flow and the timing of it, you know, the the resolution assess all the math that goes into it does matter. But um I I don't want it to be lost that the that from a conversational standpoint, this body has not agreed to put anything on on the on the ballot yet. And I I certainly don't want to spend $1 in legal fees um until that decision is made.

Are there any upfront expenditures come up before that discussion happens? I don't think so. No, that when when when there's consultation, there's one presentation to the public. Correct. Is that it though? Recurring fees. I give a crap. I wish we weren't even given a chance to participate

of uh the legislation to do an election for bond issuance. Uh bond council will be involved with that and that it absolutely is significant to make the determination to go forward with that. um council will be providing preliminary information to council in terms of process and that sort of thing.

I think also there's only been to my recollection there's only been one uh there's only been one public hearing or presentation where the public could be involved at all in the architectural review. Um, in fact, there were members of this council who, including myself, who expressed a desire to be involved in the feedback given to the architects prior to their making of their their drawings and were denied that opportunity. And you know I have some concerns that you know while I understand the need for great facilities for our employees and uh for you know the services that are provided and speedy services especially for emergency services to be provided to our residents. Uh I do want to make sure as Mr. Bole indicated that we are giving this due consideration. I think at the very least there needs to be at least one or two more public uh opportunities for there was one it was rushed through my recollection it was around spring break time that's why I wasn't there I was out of town and you know there need to be more opportunities at different different nights of the week different you know different timing that people can attend these things and see what's going on and more than just when you're trying to sell it to them to vote for it. So before we move forward in in actually approving it, I want to give people an opportunity to see what it is and then they can give some feedback or not. I mean, you know, but at least that that opportunity is given.

What is the status of uh when do we expect another meeting or another hearing or another opportunity? There we go. Are you waiting for your comments to get talk about that? When is it? This Wednesday. Next

the next council meeting. Well, again, here we are with one week's notice. It's and and then by the way, I would also say this is, you know, we're here we are. It's May. We have people traveling for summer. Travel is already started and with very little notice. So, that's not going to be enough for me and I would like more than that one. And I would like more notice than one week. And frankly, at the very least, I think council should have been afforded more than one week notice. this council meeting. You may recall that I announced that a presentation in May of the for the building and we're we're now doing that. U and so not that there hasn't been some notice with some time in it for people. Um, if you want more time, we can we can make more time for it and have another public mo public meeting. Uh, but we have to have, you know, we what I'll be presenting next week, I'll talk about it in my comments. Um, we have uh we've been working with the architects to develop the budget for the design that they have proposed and we'll be presenting that. We have a meeting with the architectural team and our team tomorrow to review the the budget that they have proposed for the project and then we'll be presenting that along with the design to council next week. We want to have additional meetings. We may have additional meetings.

Yeah, I would recommend at least one one more additional meeting be on first reading not the to do this right away. there's a lot of um turf to cover before we can roll this out.

So if if you I understand there's a time frame that's necessary in order to make it onto the ballot. So it's not my intention to stand in front in in the way of that should council decide to go forward. So my suggestion would be that we go ahead and set one or two additional dates. If you want them to be in May prior to the June meeting, that's fine. But it maybe the following week and maybe a different day of the week and then the week after that, maybe another different day of the week just to give people an opportunity given their schedules that people can can attend. You know, I'm ass I'm for in my mind these are all the same presentation or the same information given, but to give people an opportunity to attend at different times or days that work for their schedules. We also make sure people are aware that if they want to come in next Wednesday to hear that the first presentation, maybe a reverse 911 or a

code red calls just to let people know about it. Okay. And then we can determine uh meeting dates maybe next week. Uh additional meetings for that. We just do it right now.

Well, I think I I think you're you're right. We want to do one during maybe during the day when somebody can people can get away during the day, one a different night than other than a Wednesday. Um I don't I don't know what their schedules are availability to present. That's why I was going to give it another week just to try and see get a handle on when they might be available different times. And we when we meet tomorrow with the architects regarding the budget, we can talk with them about setting another um meeting out in in the month of May for a public present another public presentation.

Me either. I I think if you can aim for something maybe one maybe the the the week of the 24th the 25th is the 25th I'm sorry the 25th is uh Memorial Day Memorial Day well maybe maybe towards the latter part of that week or something. Um right after Memorial Day.

I understand the need that you want it before the June 3rd meeting. I'm just trying to you want it in May and I'm trying to accommodate that. But, you know, I would have said maybe one the week of the 17, you know, one one the week of the 18th and one the week of the 24th. Um, you know, so that we have two more options at different days, different times to give people an opportunity to come. I think it's less an a thought in my mind that daytime because many people do work during the day, more uh there's a lot of nighttime obligations. I'll work with that. And

I know this doesn't affect everything, but do keep in mind that last week uh Memorial Day leading into that weekend is graduation and all of the senior events that go on that week. Difficult week for a lot of will not be available. I'm not suggesting that we all attend every meeting again 25th through May 31st that last week of May senior so so we will continue this discussion um and uh the discussion about dates as well um moving on to uh item B resolution 2026-1

actually before you do that perhaps the mayor could um float the dates that he's suggesting

via email with all of council first and then uh you know sometime you know after his meeting tomorrow and then we can come to some agreement on dates prior to next week's meeting from council at each of the different meetings too. So okay uh ready to move on. Okay. Resolution 2026-1. Um, I'll make a motion for a resolution of Orange Village, Ohio, supporting the Ohio Commission for the United States Semiquesentennial, America 250- Ohio. Um, do we need to read this resolution or we could just Okay. Uh, so I made the motion. This is to support it. Uh, is there a second?

Thank you, Mr. Foster. Um, mayor, would you like to talk about what this resolution says in general? Anna, do you have the that particular resolution? Oh, the actual resolution. I have a different one updated from the kindness. Oh, no, that's a different thing.

This is something that that there are projects going on in all 88 counties. This says Orange Village is also interested in getting the information regarding the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the country that the state is running. So this this American 250 Ohio is what the legislature and governor put in place to um distribute information and and celebrate the 250th anniversary. And by sending it into the commission, you'll get the information from them. Right. It's an awareness campaign more than anything else. Yeah. Exactly.

So it for the veterans commission and then we present it. We have a motion in a second. Um is there any further discussion? Adam, please call the role. Boil. Yes. Yes. Foster. Yes. Yes. Yes. Vincent. Yes.

Moving on. an Ohio Division of Liquor Control for New Social Cleveland LLC, formerly Pinstripes Pinerest, for D-5J. An Ohio D-5J liquor permit is a quotaexempt license for businesses located within a designated community entertainment district known as a CED, allowing the sale of beer, wine, and spirituous liquor from 5:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. I have to admit, I questioned that 5:30 a.m. and said, "Is that really a thing?" And I was told yes it is. So Chief, would you like to talk about that?

Yeah, we we have uh no issue at the police department with this. Um this body council has already approved a a a D5 permit for this uh business. This one allows them to participate in the DORA as well. We have no objection. Were they not in the DORA to begin with? Well, they they are a new entity. Pine Crab or Pinstripes out. Oh, so it's just a new iteration of this.

Just a new iteration of the new ownership doing the same passed a rule a couple years ago when Pinerest was coming in to allow liquor permits to go to Pinerest as part of the the development. This we're now outside the period of time where that was applicable. So council has the opportunity to file an objection to the issuance of liquor permits. um that we would do so if council wanted to and if we had evidence um and we don't have any evidence that this operator would not be cooper cooperative with the police department.

The code's pretty clear that I have to have a reason and state the reason publicly why I would not want this to happen and I don't have any of that. We don't need a vote on this. We just need to say merits in the minutes that council has been made aware of the liquor permit. May I ask to object to the to the chief and and the law director. Don't ask why, but I was looking at the online Dora that were located in in the area. Is there any what is there a process to expand the door? I know that the what's the old restaurant that was back there that just is being torn down or whatever. Um breeze

breeze not in the door and I assume someone will go in. I don't know what's going to go in there and restaurant they got they have Is there any desire or I mean I don't know what the process would be. You mean RH mansion? That's it. Right or I mean um what's the uh restoration hardware? But they're not in they're not in the Dora. They're they're like next to it, right? But they're not it's it's not like the same mall. It's not the same walking area. It's really not the same thing.

I took my drink from there off the it's off the record and I did the the request for the Dora came from the Pinerest folks, right? And and they we did it at as sort of at their request as part of their um programming that they wanted to do. And if they if they wanted to modify it, you could consider it. But um I think it's established. I think it's worked out all right. The police isn't right. Excessive also related to

No, it's worked out really well actually. As a matter of fact, I don't even know that it's all that used. Pinerest seems to be more of a, you know, destination place. People go do what they're going to do and then they they leave. I don't see a whole lot of the cups and things like that. So, can't say I ever recall seeing somebody walk around there with a anything other than a coffee cup. Yeah. Can you explain more? It's the entire area of Pinerest is an outdoor area where you can walk with a cup of alcohol. Designated outdoor refreshment area. What's that? Designated outdoor refreshment area. Yeah. Allows you

and and you know Eaton got one and I think Aken Van Aken district has one wanted one and then the use of it just really depends upon the community within the limits of that but this this request is not related to the door street it uh um we have been made aware and you can share that. Thank you. Uh, moving on to item 12, audience comments relating to matters which advance the good of the village. Do we have anyone who would like to speak? Thank you. As always, uh, please sign in. You know the drill. State your name, where you live, and

I'll sign in a second. Keep it to five minutes if you can.

Uh, good evening. I'm John Loftess, 4231 Lander Road. Um, council members and residents of Orange Village probably received two communications over the past month or so. Uh, one was probably from your power provider uh, discussing rate increases. Um, not necessarily huge, but uh, what we all have expected. um the media has made quite a bit of uh given quite a bit of attention to the um likelihood of rate increases going into the future. The second item you may have received hopefully was the letter from uh Kyoga County and Solar uh United Neighbors. Uh this letter um which uh talks about the cooperative effort of bringing people together so you can go out as a group and bid for uh solar installation. Um this was uh uh you know something that the village promoted a few years ago and it's why my wife and I took full advantage of it. Uh it's a very good program. Um uh estimated savings for a project is about $8,400. Unfortunately can't take advantage of a federal tax credit any longer. Uh but uh be that as it may, there are still significant savings that could be achieved. Um the village really needs to take advantage of this. That's why it's frustrating that we we did not send out a notice uh that we did several years ago about this program. I mean that the fact that the village had sent it out was the reason my wife and I joined in. Um but the other thing that's kind of a hindrance is the zoning language in our um in our zoning codes. uh we debated that or council debated that the end of

last year and when I became the uh chairman of the uh sustainability committee I submitted um modified language to that was in January. We're in May. I haven't heard anything about that. And that language is a hindrance to putting solar panels on people's homes. two contractors uh mine and another resident both looked at it and said you can't put solar panels on the front of your house. So, you know, which for any southfacing house, that's a problem. We need to be able to move forward with that. and you know just modifying the language. I'm not saying it was perfect, uh, but, you know, let's move forward with language that's going to, you know, help people get this these types of cost-saving infrastructure improvements in. And unfortunately, um, you have to sign up for this by May 20th. So, you got two weeks. So, I mean, that doesn't mean the language has to be changed right now, but, uh, if people do sign up, it would be nice to know that Orange Village is encouraging it. And the uh other issue I just want to bring up and I believe it was uh Council President Perry had asked a few months ago about zoning language regarding um wind power and to the best of my knowledge we haven't heard anything. Um, I did make contact with NOEC. Within an hour, I was provided a good deal of information, including the fact that Cleveland has language that does establish kind of the zoning rules for wind energy projects, residential, not commercial, residential. So, there's things that we need to do. Um, as I've talked in the past, even when we talk about, you know, upgrades to this facility, we need to be looking at

solar. If you are talking about a new fire station, you should be talking about solar and and possibly wind energy programs. These we know these costs are going to go up. It's going to be an operating cost going forward. Let's at least investigate it. Let's make it easier for the residents to take advantage of these programs as well. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Loftess. Anybody else would like to speak? Okay. Uh, please state your name, where you're from, and you'll sign the board afterward.

My name is Tim Koharsski. I'm from Solen, Ohio. Uh, I came today to introduce myself. I am I think legally I'm permitted to say I'm strongly considering running for Bedford Municipal Judge in 2027. So, I wanted to come out, introduce myself to everybody, uh, tell you a little bit about myself. I've been an attorney for 33 years. I've been married for 30. I have three children that are all grown. Uh I have a handsome dog. Um what kind practiced in federal court, state court, municipal court, juvenile court, and I've either practiced or had a trial in 33 of Ohio's 88 counties. And one of the reasons why I and I think it was just it was enjoyable to watch the discussion of council today about the bond issue because that's what I'm interested in bringing to the court that you can have some disagreement but it is civil disagreement and I think that's what's needed in our courts to hear the prosecution side hear the defense side and listen to what each person has to say. And I think for doing this for 33 years, I have an ability to listen to what my clients are saying, listen to what the prosecutor is saying, and listen to the judge, what he's saying or she's saying, and actually navigate so something can be beneficial. I think too often as judges, what we want to do is just punish. And I think that that we as a society are better than that. It's easy just to warehouse people. It's easy just to punish people. But if we don't want the people to come back in front of us again and again, then in fact we have to figure out how to interact the community as to how to help them. And whether it's with substance abuse counseling, whether

it's domestic violence treatment, whether it's whatever it's going to be, driver's license, that's what a court needs to do and that's what I'm interested in doing. Now, I'm not saying that there are individuals that don't deserve to go to jail or prison. They do. But it that is should be determined on a case-bycase basis. And so just as all of you did today, you had a little bit of discussion on the bond issue. That would be the trial. And then you go beyond that. And then at the sentencing, if the person's convicted, then we listen more to the victim and the defendant himself because we have to remember the defendant has a fifth amendment right not to testify. So, it's important to listen to everybody to figure out what the right sentence should be for that individual. And I think that from my perspective of doing federal court, state court, it's I'm able to see the forest from the trees, I have a little bit different perspective from being a little bit higher up and taking a look at everything to make the right decision to make the best decision for not only the defendant, the victim, but more importantly the community at large. And that's why I want to be the next judge in Bedford Municipal Court. Now, I will also say I'm not running against Judge Papa. Judge Papa's there. He has a He's in the term. What I would be running for is Judge Paris's open seat. She is aged out at that at for the next election. The election would be in 2027, not this cup November. And one year from now, there should be a primary. And so, that's where I'd be running for. I want just wanted to introduce myself to all the council members, the mayor, the uh safety services. Um so thank you.

Thank you. You um would you like to speak as well? Again, please state your name, where you're from, and please limit your comment to five minutes. Thank you. Good evening, everyone. My name is Randolph Howard. I live in Solen. lived in Solen for 22 years. Raised my family there. Two children, went to college. Excuse me. Could you lift the microphone up a little? So you Two children that went to college. Okay.

Graduated from Solen High School. I'm currently magistrate and acting judge in Bedford Court. I've been there since 2018. um have been doing the job of uh acting judge and magistrate handling cases in Bedford Court, small claims, um traffic docket, a criminal docket. Um I have a diverse background. I've been an attorney for more than 30 years. Been a prosecutor three different times. I was a city of Cleveland prosecutor, was a county prosecutor, was hired by Stephanie Tubs Jones back in uh late 90s. I was a prosecutor for the city of Maple Heights. Between being prosecutors, I've been a defense attorney. Um before that, I was a first job out of college was a social worker. Social worker for eight years dealing with families and children. Um, I still say to this day that's the hardest job I ever had. I have great respect for social workers. It is the most difficult job that I can imagine. You know, having to investigate child abuse and neglect. Actually, um, have the police come and escort me to remove kids from their home because it's in their best interest and their safety was the hardest thing I ever had to do. And boy did I grow up fast from college from that job. Stay to me to this day. Um I believe that I have a very diverse background. I went to Kent State. I uh graduated from Marshall College of Law

because I've been doing this job for the last eight years. And as you heard from attorneys, Judge Paris is retiring and uh I am I can't announce that I'm going to run for that uh position. We can state that we are strongly considering at this point. That's based on rules from the board of elections and uh I hope to get uh support of the community because I believe that I can do a very good job and continue the work I've already started in Bedford Court. you. Thank you. You guys are like a traveling show.

Anybody else? Any other comments? Okay. Thank you. Uh we'll move on to comments by the mayor.

Thank you, Madam President. Um, this past Monday was National Firefighters Day and we took the time to I took the time in particular to acknowledge and thank our Orange Fire Department for the hard work that they do for our community. Uh, we brought them some treats and to celebrate with them the fine work that they do. Uh, I want to thank the Orange Cares Committee and and my wife Cheryl for enlisting Lieutenant Atwells and Detective Woodri of the Orange Police Department for providing a very informative internet safety and scam workshop for senior citizens on April 23rd. It was really a great program. I'm I wish there were more people that attended. Um, I want to thank also the Orange Cares uh committee and in particular Roger and Terry Karp for the delivery this past weekend of the um free bicycle tuneup program. It went really well. We serviced 20 bicycles uh in spite of the weather. Uh, also the Orange Artisan and Farmers Market was held on Saturday indoors. Um, I attended it was it was great as usual and uh my wife had to pull me out of there because I kept buying stuff. Um, we have plenty of leaf humus available and delivery will begin the week of May 18th. So, please place your orders today uh with the village. Uh there is a college age female self-defense workshop sponsored by the Orange Village Police Department that will take place on Thursday, June 4th at Orange Village Hall beginning at 6 PM. I think this is very worthwhile for young women to attend.

Actually, that's being sponsored as well by uh Council man Councilman Foster and myself as well. being sponsored by Councilman Councilman Foster and Councilwoman Ner at and thank them for putting that together. Um, where was I here? Uh, I want to thank the members of the Charter Review Commission for their hard work. Their final meeting will take place on Monday, May 11th. Uh, this meeting is open to all. Uh, their recommendations will then be presented to council prior to going on the ballot in November. council will determine what and how uh the items that they have determined to um include in the charter amendments will go onto the ballot and then we'll make uh produce a ballot initiative and ballot issue for that election. Um I'm pleased to announce that Solen has advertised for the bids for the Miles Road water main project. They will be opened on May 22nd and we'll be able to move forward after that. Uh happy Mother's Day to all who nurture, guide and support others and and love with love and concern. Mothers and mother figures, caregivers, cho chosen family and every individual make meaningful impact on our lives.

Too much running. I have asked both our police and fire chiefs to create a citizen citizens academy to enable our council people and interested community members to gain insight into the work and services these departments provide on behalf of the village. Once they have created an agenda, we will schedule the program uh and enable our um en and enlist all of those who might want to attend. I think it's very worthwhile. Several years ago, we did a program called Feel the Burn with the fire department prior to the construction of of Pinerest. And I think it was a really wonderful experience for all the members of council and planning commission and design review board who attended and participated to really see what happens when a fire um is fought. Um, at the next council meeting, I plan to um have in place the budget for the new fire station and village hall renovation so that we can establish this and discuss the community costs and funding strategies. Uh, I will also, as discussed earlier, set up meetings for additional public hearings so that people have an opportunity to further weigh in on the design and uh, proposed development. Uh the Western Reserve Land Conservancy has informed me that they will be tenatively closing on the acquisition of the land for Orange Headarters Preserve at the end of June. Uh that means that we will be well on our way to creating this future land preserve for the village. And along with that, I've met with the residents on Brainard Road and uh representatives of the Western Reserve Land Conservancy to develop a plan to capture their backlands and expand the conservation area. The WLRLC is being very helpful in assisting us with the strategy. Uh I plan to report

back in the next several uh weeks as to what where we're at with that effort and u there's very positive reception on the part of the residents to to participate. Um I've also met with the property owners uh recently of the parcels of land at the intersections of Brainard and Miles to redevelop those properties and create a gateway development for the community. Our team is working on a proforma to establish the potential project value and then to create a working collaborative agreement for the owners to work together to advance the project. You may have noticed the dog forest is nearing completion and I want to thank Bob Zugan and his team for the extensive work that they've provided to produce this enhanced facility. I also want to recognize the Tri-C Landscape Program um for their work in designing and building the as I call it the Piaza Deani uh the the dog plaza. Um that will be an a dog bone um dog bone uh embedded in the um through pavers embedded in the concrete uh as at the entrance. and we are looking at potentially having an opening event um on or around June 13.

Yeah, I'll talk about it next week. Yeah. Um, in celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation, I have joined the United States of Kindness, a nationwide campaign to elevate our communities through our collective performance of 250 acts of kindness that will be shared through the values in action, a Cleveland-based nonprofit work to promote kindness and civic connection. Uh there was an article in last this past week's e-news where I described what we're doing and and what this is. Um and I would hope that you take a look at it and think about acts of kindness you can do. I've already got the jump on mine today. I attended and am participating in the development of what's called Eager House in in Lakewood. It's a veterans home uh that will provide housing for uh 13 units uh for 11 units for for veterans and the been cutting was today I've been working on it with I work with Purple Heart Homes. I was going to put my so I have Thank you very much. Um I want to thank all who came out to support the market this past weekend. and I was in Indiana at my son's graduation and unable to be at the market, but I've heard rave reviews across the board. Uh, and want to thank everyone who was involved. I also want to thank Jeff Foster and the veterans committee for being a part of it. They had a beautiful booth set up. I got to see the pictures of it. So, thank you.

There you go. Uh, the next market is June 13th and the theme is sustainability. So, that would be a great market for our sustainability committee if they're interested. Uh that market will go from 9 to 1 in front of the building department. I hope you'll mark your calendars. You've also been given a magnet. Thank you, Mr. Van Vulenberg, for providing these. Of all of the markets, please take extras, share them, and get the word out. Um May marks graduations for many of our Orange Village College students. I just want to take a moment to congratulate them all, including my son. Wish them all well in their future endeavors and welcome them home if they hopefully choose to return to our wonderful village. Um, a quick thank you once again to the Charter Review Commission. I have been able to attend most of their meetings and was there last week and they just do they're they do such amazing diligent work. Uh, really focusing on each and every item. They take the time. They have great discussions. I want to thank them for their work as they go into the wrapping up period. Um, the schoolboard audit and finance committee met yesterday and discussed among other items the future operating levy and a Pinerest TIFF payment review that I thought you would be interested in. Uh, the levy discussion resolution is expected to be on the agenda at next Monday's board meeting and is anticipated to be a 5 mil levy placed on the November ballot. Uh, you'll hear more about that next week and in the weeks to come. Uh last, I also want to wish a very happy Mother's Day to all the people who have stepped in as mom, been a mom, loved a mom, or just held the hand of someone who needed a surrogate mom. Thank you for beautifying our lives. I love you, Mom. Happy Mother's Day, everybody. So, we will move on to uh Councilman Bole first.

Thank you. Um I would like to join you in your comments relative to the charter review commission. I've had the uh pleasure to attend most but not all of the meetings as well and and it's been methodical um a little acrimonious at times but but I think a very good and thorough process and one thing that that came out of there that I'd like to speak about and I did have a brief opportunity to speak to council president Perry about it was I think there was a clear need for this council to have some level of operating instructions to have councilmatic rules and it it sprung up in some aspects of special meetings versus meetings and what do they look like and why do we have them and blah blah blah. Um, and I spoke to uh to Council President Perry this morning and asked if I could if she was okay with me taking a shot at drafting council rules for the body. and I would not do it without the support and obviously input from my colleagues. But um the uh how Jim Bole spent his summer vacation will likely be uh dealing with that and I honestly I think it's something that will be helpful to us as we kind of navigate the moving f moving forward piece and that did spring from a very early meeting at the charter review commission and I know we've discussed it here on on the floor. So, um, if and when I get my email up and running, um, I will be in touch with you to to kind of give some basic thoughts and get some feedback. So, thank you.

Uh, Councilman Bilski.

Um, excuse me. I was just going to uh Mayor Klein mentioned the uh conversations that have been had regarding the Brainard and Miles uh redevelopment or properties and working with those property owners to see what can be done there. I think those are conductive or uh productive conversations so far. uh also was able to make a connection with the gentleman who uh I think he's the head pastor for the church on Emory Road trying to figure out if there's an opportunity whether it's an economic development perspective or some sort of community uh uh more activity or recreational area that can be created in conjunction or in connection with the church over on Emory Road. Um, so had that first conversation with him this week. Um, I'm excited to kind of see where we can go with that. But I think a lot of a lot of parents throughout Orange, not just Orange Village, but uh, just the Orange School District would greatly appreciate some additional facilities. U, so I'm excited to see they were they were really happy we reached out and excited to continue the dialogue. So that's it.

Thank you, Councilman Foster. First, thank you for allowing us to participate for the market. It was nice to see. Thank you for allowing us to participate. Ned and Barb Long, we came out there and we met a lot of people. Had a good time. We had the opportunity to actually meet two veterans from uh Orange Village. One was a Navy person and then one was an Army guy that was a Purple Heart uh recipient. So hopefully we'll be able to get some information then give you like a little EN story. So, thank you for allowing us to come. Yeah.

Also, um May is military appreciation month, but it's also mental health awareness month. So, for me, both these two kind of intersect at the same thing because there are a lot of military members that have mental health issues that don't always um want to talk about it. So uh especially during time of uh this increased operational tempo that we have across the world that you know you may see a military member just be aware that it's mental health mental health awareness month and military appreciation month. Thank you Councilwoman Kurland.

Um one thing note uh earlier today Rabbi uh Rosette Haim better known as Rabbi Rosie passed away. She um she lost her battle with breast cancer. She was 64 years old. She was one of the longest running rabbis in uh congregational rabbis in all of greater Cleveland. And um just a really warm, wonderful person that I was um blessed to to know and have be part of my life. um she wrote a letter to her congregants just this past Friday and um she ended it with may you continue to be a source of light to one another and may you go from strength to strength from blessing to blessing and I hope that we can all live that way being sources of light to one another and blessings to one another in our lives because life can be short and on that note as long as I'm being a downer um it is Mother's Day coming up and my mother passed away um in June it'll be two So, you know, hug your mother, whoever your mother figure is, tight and uh be thankful. Thank you. That's all.

Thank you, Councilwoman Ner. It's very hard to follow this. So, May is uh in addition to mental health and veterans, which I appreciate that you covered. Um I will also say that uh for the first time in I don't know how long uh or in quite a while. Anyway, Orange High School does have uh a senior who is joining the military uh the Navy, which is amazing. And I think that it would be lovely to recognize that senior uh because and welcome him. Talking about whenever whenever a high school student goes in that we would recognize them.

No, we I think we should because I I think it's a phenomenal thing when someone chooses to serve uh to protect all of us and to serve our country. I think it's an amazing uh thing and and that uh student should be um honored. Um

can I add something to that and Bob will appreciate this. Whenever a high school especially a high school student goes in during a high operational tempo or things that are going on in the world to me it's a little bit more special because you know sometimes people go into the military for a job or for school with no real um thought about being deployed or sent into a foreign land. When people go in now, it's real because they want to or there's a family history. You know what I mean? Because they're being dedicated. It's not just because I'm gonna go get some college credits. That's my Sorry, I didn't mean to jump across your No, it's it's I I reflection. That's what I feel.

No, I I appreciate that. Um in addition to all of those things, it's also celiac disease awareness month and Jewish American Heritage Month. And as we all are all aware, um anti-semitism and acts of anti-semitism and uh terror against Jews is up all around the world. So take a moment to um be an upstander and speak against uh things when you hear them. And if you are not Jewish, that's okay. Help uh stand up for those who are that it's not okay to uh to to have these acts of um of terror going on uh against Jews. Um Mr. Loft has mentioned uh two things, wind power and solar power. Um while I fundamentally disagree with his comments with respect to the fact that the current uh legislation is you know makes it impossible to put on panels or next to impossible in my opinion as an attorney and as someone on the zoning planning and zoning commission. I don't find that to be the case at all. However, he has brought it to us and I would suggest that perhaps um the mayor look into wind and solar and uh in particular see what you think uh we need to do if anything with the current ordinance uh with respect to solar. I think we had discussed that but I I personally don't believe that it it's very difficult. In fact uh the discussion that we had on planning and zoning was that it was almost impossible to not have them put up. So the fact that two manufacturers who are not attorneys gave their legal opinions about the ordinance is not so meaningful to me. However, we do have a citizen who is concerned about it. So it would be um appropriate to take a look at the at the um solar ordinance. I'm not aware that we have anything for wind, but maybe you can check into it and see u what you think and find out some additional

information. um and then um you know we can have a discussion that's a little more educated about it um for the future and obviously not tonight and I wouldn't expect you to have that back by uh next week's meeting either but uh I just think for you know to put it on the on the list

both of those to both those points um I have a meeting uh tomorrow and one on the 17th with NOPEC um and to talk about renewables And um and tomorrow I have a meeting with it our solar cohort that I'm part of and uh to talk about we'll talk a little bit about that uh what we've what has been presented previously as to how we might move forward with um with that legislation. So I'll have an answer to some of it next week but in a couple weeks more of it. So

that's fine. As I said, I wouldn't have expected something um quite so fast and obviously this is already on your agenda given that you already have the meetings scheduled. Um so there's that. So happy Mother's Day to all and um you know it's my greatest honor is to be a mom and obviously my I honor my mother. She's an amazing woman. So um it's a wonderful thing that we should honor the matriarchs in our lives. Um, and on that note, I will uh I will wish everybody a happy weekend. No planning commission report.

Commission report. Uh, I apologize. We we have had a number of uh py homes coming in uh for canyons. We've also had a few different residential um builds coming in for not for variances which would come before council, but just for planning and zoning approval. um those have all been met just fine. There was one snafu with respect to one of the buildings put up by PY which did not meet the requirements that were um set by planning and zoning. And so uh PY has to come back to us uh with uh showing us what they were supposed to do versus what they did so that the planning and zoning commission can um reconsider it. The other thing that planning and zoning did was take a look at the land banking which we had discussed previously here and then was referred to planning and zoning which I'm guessing is going to make it onto the agenda a week next week's agenda for council. Uh but basically um the ordinance is

public hearing is that correct? That's the public hearing that

that's the right that's the public hearing that's being set and then it'll be on the agenda on June 3rd uh for council to vote on. Um the the verbiage is there and basically that's allowing um as everybody knows when uh when commercial buildings are built there's a certain number of parking spaces that must be provided and sometimes there are frankly too many uh parking spaces that would be required. So it allows for a certain amount of land to be banked um and reserve for future parking as it becomes necessary. But until that happens, that land can be green space. Um, it cannot be built upon. It can't be used for any other p purpose. It is just banked for future parking. But in the end, it's it's a it's a way to be more green and to not have so much asphalt and paving going on if if the parking isn't needed at that point in time. And planning and zoning has the ability then given the legislation should it pass uh to allow for land banking with uh future development or redevelopment of uh commercial space within the village. So does anyone have questions about and as I said there will be a public hearing which has now been set. So those are the major things that have been discussed by planning and zoning uh over the last couple meetings. Hey, that's all. Thank you everyone for your important and very poignant comments, too. We appreciate it. Um, with that, uh, item 16, a motion to enter into executive session to discuss the appointment and compensation of village employees, the discussion of the status of union negotiations, and discussion of pending or imminent litigation. I will make that motion. Is there a second?

Second. Thank you, Mr. Foster. Uh we would also like to invite law director Steve Byron, Mayor Jud Klene, and police chief Mike Roberts into that meeting as well. Uh is there any discussion or can we call the role? Will be action taken. Right. There there may be action taken afterward. So we will reconvene afterward. Uh Anna, please call the role. Boil, yes. Bilski, yes. Foster, yes. Kurland, yes. Alner, yes. Vincent, yes. Thank you, everybody. Do we enter?