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Businesses and residents criticize Main Street resurfacing communication; council debates service director contract and hiring process
Summary
Business owners, residents and council members raised concerns about poor notice and contractor communication during Main Street resurfacing. Speakers questioned the interim service director’s availability and the mayor’s hiring authority; council said the hiring and confirmation process is governed by the city charter.
Multiple business owners and residents told the council they were surprised and inconvenienced by recent Main Street resurfacing work, saying they received inadequate notice from the contractor and city and that signage and detours were insufficient.
Michael Matheny, a Main Street business owner, said employees and customers were stranded because work closed the road and no clear detour or advance notice was provided; he said deliveries were missed and vehicles damaged while maneuvering around the work. Other members of the public described confusion among elderly residents and a lack of timely robo calls or signage before water shutoffs and road closures.
Several speakers criticized the interim director of public service’s part-time presence and a reported $10,000 raise after the council voted not to approve a permanent hire. Council members and staff responded: the city charter vests hiring authority for department directors with the mayor, who must then bring the hire to council for confirmation. The council explained a temporary contract was used to maintain essential public services — water, sewer, mowing and road projects — while the position remained open and the city continued recruitment efforts. The transcript indicates the temporary contract had been extended and that the position remained posted on job sites including Indeed, LinkedIn and OhioMeansJobs.
Councilors committed to check where communication broke down and to add stronger maintenance-of-traffic requirements and contractor-notice language in future contracts so businesses will receive timely notice of closures. Staff said routine project updates, a weekly city e-newsletter signup, and use of changeable message boards are among the tools the city will use to improve advance notice. The transcript also records repeated public requests for a full-time service director and for a formal charter review if residents want to change the mayor’s hiring authority.
The council did not take formal action to change hiring authority at the meeting; attendees were told a charter amendment would be needed for structural hiring changes.
