Совет директоров тауншипа Копли утвердил программу зимней уборки снега для пенсионеров и одобрил изменение зонирования

COPLEY — The Copley Township Board of Trustees Aug. 24 gave the green light to the township’s 2026-27 winter season Senior Snowplow Program. Service Director Michael Stillman said the same two snow plowing services have committed to providing service this season, with an anticipated 200 participants again this year. Trustee Jim Schulte noted the township increased its age requirement to 75 years old last year, adding he does not see an issue with providing the service if the participation numbers do not increase. In his report to the board, Stillman also noted that two alternate roads, Devonshire Drive and Hawksfield Circle, were able to be paved as part of the 2026 resurfacing program. Also at the meeting, trustees held a public hearing regarding a zoning map amendment request for 790 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road, a 4.17-acre parcel with a single residential dwelling. The applicant proposed, and trustees approved, the zoning change from residential medium density to residential single-muti-family. Planning and Zoning Inspector Shawna Gfroerer said this is in line with the township’s master land use plan calling for two to six single-family units per acre. She added the zoning change has been approved by both the township Zoning Commission and Summit County Planning Commission, and there has been no opposition from adjoining property owners. Schulte said the latter point was noteworthy, and Trustee Bruce Koellner said the map amendment is appropriate for this area. “We are in a housing shortage, and this is an area suitable for this,” Koellner said. In her report, Community Development Coordinator Megan Sutherland announced the Copley Food Truck Festival will be held Sept. 12 at Copley Community Park, with fireworks at the south ballfields at dusk. Sutherland said $14,500 in sponsorships have been secured, and the 18-minute fireworks display — including more than 3,800 fireworks effects — will be the first fireworks display held at Copley Community Park. The rain date for the fireworks display is Sept. 13. Trustees also reviewed information from a grant tracker, which was created to track grants that the township has received over the last five years. Sutherland said the township has received $4 million in grant money in that time. The board also heard an update from Gfroerer on the River Guardians program, a volunteer organization that organizes trash cleanup on waterways. Gfroerer said the group is interested in a cleanup project on Pigeon Creek. She added the township is coordinating an event with Summit Soil and Water, Graf Growers and township residents for the cleanup and restoration of the landscape and rain garden at the corner of Copley and Collier roads. Trustees also approved: • an agreement with Roderick, Linton and Belfance LLP and the issuance of a purchase order in the amount of $10,000 for legal services related to the Joint Economic Development District; • the issuance of a blanket certificate in the amount of $18,823 for software licensing fees and network communications charges; • renewal of the Mitchell Trust CD for a period of six months; • issuing purchase orders of $36,248 to Ohio Edison for costs associated with the installation of street lighting on Sunset Drive, $4,705 for streetlight repairs following damage sustained during the installation of fiber conduit and $14,278 to Grail Inc. for firefighter cancer screening; • the resignation of Brad Lott from the position of road maintenance worker in the Service Department effective Sept. 1, and permission to advertise for the position; • a conditional offer to promote Mark Herman to the position of crew leader in the Service Department; • a conditional job offer of employment to Luke Driscoll as a firefighter/EMT in the Fire Department; • permission to apply for an Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Recycle Ohio Grant in an amount not to exceed $200,000 for a project for a new parking lot at the proposed new recycle center location; • acceptance of the 2027 Township Safety Sign Grant award in the amount of $34,369 for signs, posts and hardware, and authorizing the township administrator to execute the grant; and • a cemetery deed for Patricia Kirby. At a special meeting Aug. 27, trustees extended a conditional offer of employment to Jason Beck for the position of chief of police in the Police Department. Also at that meeting, the board authorized payment to the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System in the amount of $3,709 to cover delinquent contributions. The Copley Township Board of Trustees next meets Sept. 14 at 1 p.m. at 1 p.m. at Copley Township Hall, 1540 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road. The meeting is also available for viewing at www.copley.oh.us, under “Government” and “Board of Trustees Meeting Videos.”