Public commenters raise concerns over plumbing permit fees and endorse candidate for council appointment

Speakers during the public‑comment portion raised two substantive concerns: permit fee structure and a public endorsement in the vacancy process.

Brad Davis, identifying himself as a resident, told council he reviewed a commercial plumbing permit application and said variable, square‑foot‑based fees can be inconsistent and potentially burdensome for businesses. He gave an example from a commercial plumbing permit that, as he read the fee schedule, resulted in a much higher permit cost than comparable Stark County fees. Davis urged council to reconsider the plumbing permit fee structure to ensure fairness and to avoid discouraging development.

Dominic Fontaine, a former council member who said he lives in North Canton, spoke in support of a local attorney (identified in the remarks as Mark/Martin Zed) as an appropriate appointee for the council vacancy. Fontaine described the candidate as having practical business sense and legal experience and said he would recommend him for the role.

Other brief public comments included a description of a neighborhood walking event and planned future community walks. No formal action was taken on these comments; council members acknowledged the remarks and indicated they would consider the feedback in future work.

Ending: Council did not take immediate policy action on the plumbing fee concerns; staff and council may review fee schedules as part of future fee ordinance or administrative actions. The endorsement was noted as part of public comment on the vacancy process.