Council overrides mayor's veto on Brook Park ordinance after mayor cites staff constraints

Grove City Council on July 21 voted to override Mayor Stage's veto of ordinance C2225, a measure intended to place council review requirements on city actions affecting Brook Park.

Mayor Stage had submitted a written veto and explained to council that he vetoed the ordinance because Section 1 would impose stringent requirements that could require staff to choose between following the ordinance and complying with legal duties. The mayor said he was not willing to direct staff to violate law or to be put in the position of knowingly breaking statutory obligations; he also submitted a draft resolution he said would respond to the same concerns and clarify administrative notification procedures.

Council members debated whether the ordinance unduly restricted staff. Supporters of the override said the measure was not intended to 'handcuff' the administration but to ensure council was in the funding loop for any significant expenditures tied to Brook Park planning or reuse. Opponents, including the mayor and city attorney Stephen Smith, said the language limited staff's ability to perform normal duties and that a resolution might be a clearer tool.

Park and recreation staff presented two facility tours to the council: the Kingston Avenue building (a small, older facility with two classrooms and a small gym) and Brook Park, a larger former school facility with multiple air-conditioned classrooms, a large gym and converted cafeteria space. Parks Director Jack Castle said Kingston's classroom space is roughly 60% the size of Brook Park rooms and that staff faces a shortage of indoor programming space; he advised Brook Park could provide more rooms to expand programs and reduce wait lists. Castle said a one-time package of work to make Brook Park usable for programming was estimated in memo materials at roughly $47,000 (the mayor noted $5,000 had already been spent and said he would request a resolution to authorize the additional spending).

Lieutenant Jason Stern of Grove City Police described using Brook Park for tactical and drone training (including simunition and stair/hallway searches) and confirmed parts of the facility lack air conditioning; he said the school district had been a cooperative partner in providing access for police training.

Council ultimately voted to override the mayor's veto. The motion to overturn C2225 was moved by President Hauck and seconded; the roll-call recorded: Wilson (yes), Houck (yes), Holt (yes), Berry (no), Du (no), Burrows (yes), Anderson (yes). The override passed and the ordinance will stand as passed by council.

Councilmembers said they want a larger, long-range plan for parks facilities, including a strategic plan for staffing and capital projects. Several members said economic and budgetary implications (roof replacement estimates and feasibility study costs) make council oversight of larger spending items appropriate.

The mayor said he will present a resolution at a later meeting intended to clarify administration notification procedures; council members said they would consider that resolution alongside the now-overridden ordinance language.