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City manager reports 13 water breaks this winter, praises Public Works and police
Summary
City Manager Robert Rapalba told the council the city has experienced about "13 and a half" water breaks recently and praised Public Works staff and local officers for sustained response during a severe storm; the report included local recognitions and upcoming community events.
City Manager Robert Rapalba told the Canfield City Council that the city has experienced about "13 and a half, 13 water breaks" over the recent period and said crews often mounted back-to-back repairs during a major storm.
"We had 4 water breaks occur all at once," Rapalba said, describing how Public Works staff responded overnight and how off-duty workers joined to help. He credited Public Works leadership and singled out John Rath for his role in coordinating the department's response.
Rapalba also recognized Sergeant Chad Barth of the police department, saying Barth received a high honor from the American Legion for his response to a potential suicide and that the officer’s training and compassion helped secure a positive outcome. "Chad did an amazing job and we're pretty confident he saved his life," Rapalba said.
The manager reported additional community and intergovernmental activity: he attended a dinner with state representatives responsible for the capital budget to advocate for the city, and he noted that local second-graders had been selected to speak with astronauts on Feb. 9 as part of a school program.
The report framed the water breaks as an ongoing operational challenge; Rapalba’s remarks emphasized sustained repair work and staff dedication rather than offering a multi-point remediation plan. Council did not take a formal action on the water-break briefing during the meeting; follow-up or capital improvements were not specified.
