Brimfield trustees set 2026 meeting schedule to first and third Mondays at 7 p.m.
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Summary
After extended debate about public access and staff overtime, trustees approved first-and-third‑Monday meetings at 7 p.m. for 2026 by a 2–1 vote, citing broader public availability but acknowledging staff scheduling impacts.
The Brimfield Township Board of Trustees voted to adopt a 2026 meeting schedule of the first and third Mondays of each month at 7 p.m., reversing a long-standing 8 a.m. meeting time.
Trustees debated the change at length. Proponents said evening meetings make government accessible to working residents. "I've had many residents reach out and say that the 8 a.m. is not to their liking ... the average family in the United States works from basically 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.," trustee Kevin Scott told the board. Opponents raised concerns about department-head staffing and overtime: several department leaders said evening meetings would create overtime costs or conflict with family obligations.
After an amendment to set meetings at 7 p.m., the board adopted the schedule by roll call (two in favor, one opposed). Trustees asked staff to plan for reasonable accommodations for department heads and to evaluate whether some department attendance can be handled by alternates. The board said the schedule will be reviewed after a year and adjusted if necessary.
Practical changes include shifting public hearings and the statutory inventory meeting to align with evening availability. Trustees emphasized the goal of increasing resident participation while balancing department staffing and fiscal considerations.