Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning And Transparency topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents criticize zoning decisions and praise trustees during Brimfield public comment period
Summary
Public commenters used the board's Aug. 20 public comment period to announce candidacies and to raise concerns about transparency, zoning decisions, and recent rezoning actions.
Several residents used the Brimfield Board of Trustees' public comment period Aug. 20 to announce candidacies and to raise concerns about zoning, alleged improper actions, and transparency.
Patty Harsha opened the public speakers by thanking trustees and township employees for their service; she congratulated Trustee Mike Kostenski on his pending retirement and called on residents to treat township employees with respect. Bruce Nippenberg announced he is one of eight candidates running for trustee this year and described his background on zoning and the board of zoning appeals.
Several speakers raised sharp criticisms and allegations about recent rezoning decisions. James McKee said he and neighbors opposed a rezoning and listed a series of complaints, including accusations that prior votes were misrecorded and that an abatement had reduced property-tax revenue. McKee said: "Mike Ladd is destroying Brimfield Township," referencing an identified township official and alleging that decisions favored developers; those claims were made during public comment and were not corroborated by the board during the meeting.
Another resident, Kevin Scott, criticized board members for what he said were insincere references to "transparency" and called for trustees to treat residents honestly. Scott challenged comments made at prior meetings and said residents who oppose certain zoning items should be treated respectfully.
Other public commenters praised township services. Robert Radoslovich thanked road-maintenance crews for visible pothole and roadside work, and Dan Mars thanked trustees and department heads for their service and urged civility during the election season.
Trustees did not take formal action on the allegations raised during public comment; several trustees responded elsewhere in the meeting to specific process questions (for example, Trustee Mike Kostenski clarified that appeals from the Board of Zoning Appeals may be taken to the Portage County Court of Common Pleas and said only one appeal had been filed during his tenure). Candidates, commentators and trustees used the meeting to restate positions ahead of the upcoming election cycle.
