Fairport Harbor council advances waterfront planning, approves infrastructure, personnel and public-safety measures

Fairport Harbor Village Council members selected a new council pro tem, heard public comment calling for public review of an RFQ for the waterfront water-plant parcel, and approved multiple infrastructure and personnel measures at their Jan. 7 regular meeting.

The council nominated and confirmed Frank as council pro tem after a brief closed-door discussion and a public motion and second; the appointment was approved by roll call. Village Administrator Lucas summarized upcoming work including updates to a vacant property registration program and the village’s participation in a Grand River to Lake Erie Corridor active transportation plan led by Lake Development and funded through an ODOT grant. Andrew, the village engineer, told council the water tower electrical work is wrapping up and the tower is expected to be placed into service within about a month. Administrator Lucas also said Ohio Rural Water has begun a free water-rate study for the village; the last full study was completed in 2014.

A member of the public during the open-comment period urged the council to publish guiding principles for the RFQ on the water-plant property and to ensure broad public engagement. The commenter said options should be fully vetted and that interim uses could be considered while a longer-term plan moves forward. Council members and staff responded that the RFQ would be brought back to council before it is released, that prior planning work and public documents exist from earlier efforts, and that a steering committee and planning commission input would be part of the process.

Council business included the first reading of Ordinance 2025-4 to let the Tree Commission establish a residential tree-planting rebate program; the mayor said the ordinance contains language that should be cleaned up and asked that it be placed on first read rather than advanced this evening.

On infrastructure, council accepted bids and authorized contract execution for the 5th Street storm and sanitary improvement project; the village engineer reported the engineer’s opinion of probable cost was given in the packet as “830 5,000” and that the lowest responsive bid was $669,899 from Great Lakes Crushing. Council also adopted a resolution authorizing the administrator to apply for and enter into a Water Pollution Control Loan Fund agreement on behalf of the village for construction and design of wastewater and stormwater facilities with a dedicated repayment source identified in the application.

Personnel and compensation measures approved included a promotion of Patrolman Matthew Schuster to Police Officer 3 (Resolution 2025-03) and amendments to the personnel code to increase probationary periods (Resolution 2025-06). Council also adopted amended 2025 permanent appropriations (Resolution 2025-16) and a resolution transferring funds from the general, senior center and water funds to debt service funds (Resolution 2025-17).

Other items adopted this evening included: a short-term rental ordinance establishing Village Code Chapter 1381 and declared an emergency (Ordinance 2024-80 on the agenda), appointments to committees and boards, acceptance of the volunteer firefighters dependency fund board appointments as required by Ohio Revised Code Chapter 146, a central dispatch and communications services agreement with the Lake County Board of Commissioners for police and fire dispatch, and several recognitions and awards including a resolution honoring LyondellBasell’s 50th anniversary in the village.

Finance staff provided routine reporting: Fiscal Officer Christine Page said the December revenue for the month was $252,450.21 and reported year reconciled revenues and expenditures as stated in the packet. The administrator said the hometown heroes banner program has received 26 of a target 28 applications and will run until either March 1 or until the program reaches 28 banners.

The meeting closed after public comment on waterfront planning, a question about DORA status (the administrator said the DORA application work is ongoing and not yet approved), and a resident’s question about the success of an abandoned-vehicle compliance push; the police chief said the effort produced “quite a bit of compliance” though some outliers remained.

Votes at a glance Ordinance 2024-80 — Establish Short-Term Rental Regulations (Village Code Chapter 1381): Adopted and declared an emergency. Ordinance 2025-4 — Tree Commission rebate program (first reading requested): Placed on first reading; council did not advance for adoption this evening. Resolution 2025-03 — Promotion of Patrolman Matthew Schuster to Police Officer 3: Adopted. Resolution 2025-05 — Amend compensation rates and special pay regulations: Adopted. Resolution 2025-06 — Amend personnel code to increase probationary periods: Adopted. Resolution 2025-07 — Appoint members to various committees: Adopted. Resolution 2025-08 — Appoint members to Volunteer Firefighters Dependency Fund Board (per Ohio Rev. Code Ch. 146): Adopted. Resolution 2025-09 — Accept bid and authorize contract for 5th Street Storm and Sanitary Improvement Project (contract with Great Lakes Crushing): Adopted. Resolution 2025-10 — Authorize application for Water Pollution Control Loan Fund agreement: Adopted. Resolution 2025-11 — Honor William Creed and Gazette Newspaper with Eastern Lake County Chamber Beacon Award: Adopted. Resolution 2025-12 — Honor Lake County Employee Federal Credit Union as Chamber Business of the Year: Adopted. Resolution 2025-13 — Commemorate LyondellBasell 50th anniversary: Adopted. Resolution 2025-14 — Authorize agreements with Lake County Board of Commissioners for central dispatch services: Adopted. Resolution 2025-15 — Authorize senior center director to purchase a freezer for the Fairport Harbor Senior Community Center: Adopted. Resolution 2025-16 — Approve and adopt amended 2025 permanent appropriations: Adopted. Resolution 2025-17 — Transfer funds to debt-service funds: Adopted.

Many of the agenda items were adopted by roll call with all voting councilmembers recording “Aye.” Where the packet or meeting record noted a correction to the agenda language (for example, Resolution 2025-03 was described in the agenda as “step 2” but the resolution text and packet correctly listed Police Officer 3), the council directed that the correct wording be recorded in the minutes.

Why it matters: The council’s actions move several near-term infrastructure projects and personnel changes forward and keep waterfront redevelopment planning on the council’s public track. The acceptance of a construction bid and the loan-fund application are preparatory steps for stormwater and sanitary work that will affect downtown and waterfront parcels; the public asked the council to ensure the RFQ for the water-plant site includes clear guiding principles and public engagement steps before the village issues it.

What’s next: Council members said the RFQ will be brought back to a council agenda for review before it is released. The water tower should be placed into service within the next month, and the Ohio Rural Water water-rate study is underway; the administrator said a proposed employee education benefits agreement will be presented at the February meeting.