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Conneaut City Council appoints Port Authority member, approves 2026 paving bid advertisement and several event waivers
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Summary
At its March 23 meeting the Conneaut City Council voted to appoint Nicholas Church to the Conneaut Port Authority, authorized advertising for bids on the 2026 Pavement Repair Program, approved a donation to the county transit system and cleared temporary street closures and fee waivers for upcoming events.
Conneaut City Council on March 23 unanimously approved a package of routine and emergency measures, and narrowly approved one appointment after a divided vote.
Council appointed Nicholas Church to the Conneaut Port Authority for an unexpired term ending March 9, 2029 after a roll-call vote that split 4–3. Voting yea were Councilpersons Branch, Gaugh, Moisio and Perkoski; Councilpersons Castrilla, Emery and Kozesky voted no. The motion was moved and seconded in accordance with the ordinance on third reading and the appointment passed.
The meeting also advanced several municipal housekeeping items. Council authorized the city manager to advertise for bids for the 2026 Pavement Repair Program, listing streets including Wrights Avenue (Detroit to Erie Street), Pearl Street, sections of Jackson Street, Old Mill Road between Center Road and Welton Road and Gateway Avenue (with alternates on Commerce Street and Mill Street). Council suspended the three-reading rule, declared an emergency and passed the ordinance by unanimous roll call.
Council approved Ordinance 32-26 to donate funds to the Ashtabula County Transportation System (ACTS), noting that ACTS ridership rose from roughly 3,000 rides in 2024 to more than 5,200 in 2025. The donation ordinance was passed as an emergency by unanimous vote.
The body also approved temporary traffic restrictions and fee waivers for local events. Ordinance 33-26 temporarily restricts traffic for the Conneaut High School homecoming parade. Ordinance 34-26 waives special-event fees for the Sandbar Suds Easter Egg Hunt (application fee $100, utility fee $100 and restoration deposit $500, totaling $700) and includes language encouraging formation of a business owners association in the Port District. Ordinance 35-26 authorizes a street closure on March 29, 2026 — Day Street from Park Avenue to the alleyway — from noon to 2 p.m. Each measure was passed after suspension of the three-reading rule and declaration of an emergency.
Other ordinances were introduced or moved along the reading schedule. Ordinance 25-26 (amending sewerage system charges) was placed for second reading and moved to third reading; Ordinances 27-26 and 28-26 were progressed toward later readings as noted in the record.
The meeting concluded after brief liaison reports and miscellaneous business. Council adjourned at 6:48 p.m.
Votes at a glance - Ordinance 15-26 (appoint Nicholas Church to Conneaut Port Authority): Passed, roll call 4 yea, 3 no (Branch, Gaugh, Moisio, Perkoski = yea; Castrilla, Emery, Kozesky = no). - Ordinance 31-26 (advertise for bids: 2026 Pavement Repair Program): Passed unanimously (7–0). - Ordinance 32-26 (donation to ACTS): Passed unanimously (7–0). - Ordinance 33-26 (temporary traffic restriction for homecoming parade): Passed unanimously (7–0). - Ordinance 34-26 (waive Sandbar Suds event fees totaling $700): Passed unanimously (7–0). - Ordinance 35-26 (temporary traffic restriction for Easter Egg Hunt): Passed unanimously (7–0).
Next steps City staff will proceed with advertising the paving project for bids, coordinate logistics for the approved events, and follow up on the Port Authority appointment paperwork.