Hilliard residents ask council to fund air-dispersion modeling and review legal counsel in EPA fuel‑cell appeal

Two Hilliard residents used the public-comment period at the Dec. 2026 City Council meeting to press elected officials for action on proposed fuel cells and a pending EPA appeal.

Anna Cannelongo, who gave her address as 4438 Jenny Dawn Place, asked the council to require or fund air-dispersion modeling “to make sure that the residents and the school children at Beacon and residents at Darby Glen and that people who play at the park are safe.”

“I just want to go on public record that we are officially asking for dispersion modeling of fuel cells,” Cannelongo said, urging the council to ensure community safety near the site.

Annette Singh, 4460 Swenson Street, also asked the city to fund an air-dispersion model and raised separate concerns about the city's legal approach in an EPA appeal related to the fuel cells. Singh told council she has filed motions for discovery and a motion to stay, and said she has seen no corresponding action from the city's appointed attorney.

“At minimum, I respectfully request that the city review their attorney's performance and consider engaging in either an alternative or an additional legal counsel to ensure the city's interests are properly being protected moving forward,” Singh said, noting a joint status report with the city's appointed attorney is scheduled for Feb. 9.

Council members did not take immediate action on the requests during the meeting. Acting City Manager Riley later told the council a fuller update on the fuel-cell issue is expected at the next council meeting and that some matters may be handled in private session if appropriate.

Next steps: Council said it will consider an update on the fuel-cell matter at the next meeting; Singh requested confirmation that her concerns about legal representation would be reviewed before the Feb. 9 status report.