Brimfield trustees adopt budget amendments, approve 2026 benefits, refer sign complaint and extend police agreements

The Brimfield Township Board of Trustees on Oct. 16 unanimously adopted a resolution amending the township’s estimated resources for the 2025 fiscal year, approved employee medical, dental and vision coverage for calendar year 2026, referred a zoning-signage matter to the Portage County Prosecutor’s office and extended police bargaining-unit agreements through April 28, 2026.

The amendments to estimated resources were carried by Resolution No. 2025-317 after Trustee Sue Fields moved its adoption and Trustee Nicholas Coia seconded. The resolution increased several fund estimates, including an adjustment to the General Fund of $39,489.24 (bringing the General Fund to $1,095,922.17), an increase to Motor Vehicle Tax of $5,798 (new estimate $23,201.62), Road and Bridge by $9,867 (to $928,256.18), Special Levy–Fire by $45,000 (to $2,094,268.84), Law Enforcement Trust by $1,500 (to $58,833.69), Ambulance and Emergency by $134,000 (to $1,015,603.17), and Debt Retirement by $199,002.30 (to $66,785.00). The board adopted the resolution by unanimous roll call and it was certified by Fiscal Officer Jasmine Golden.

In administration business, Fields moved and Coia seconded approval of employee health coverage for 2026: medical insurance through SummaCare and dental and vision through The Standard. The motion passed on roll call with Trustee Mike Kostensky recorded as absent and both Fields and Coia voting in favor.

On zoning enforcement, the board voted to send the property at 2280 Tallmadge Road to the Portage County Prosecutor’s office regarding signage located in the road right-of-way. Fields moved the referral; Coia seconded and the motion carried.

The trustees convened an executive session at 11:30 a.m. under Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22(G), selecting subsection (4) for matters related to bargaining or negotiations with public employees. The board returned to open session at 11:44 a.m., and immediately afterward Coia moved to extend agreements for all bargaining units, sergeants and patrolmen in the Brimfield Police Department through April 28, 2026. Fields seconded; the extension passed by roll call.

During the public-comment period, four residents spoke. Bill Anderson urged greater transparency in township communications. Thomas Johnson raised concerns about internal township issues. A speaker identified only as Margie told the board she appreciated the meeting’s Pledge of Allegiance and said it had not been recited at a recent zoning meeting. James McKey addressed Trustee Nicholas Coia, saying he had been publicly accosted while with his daughters and that prior attempts to discuss a zoning change at Townhall were dismissed; no response by board members to that allegation is recorded in the minutes.

There was no action recorded for agenda items labeled Police, Fire, Roads, Parks, IT or Cemetery. Trustee Sue Fields moved to adjourn at 11:45 a.m.; Trustee Nicholas Coia seconded and the meeting adjourned by unanimous roll call.

The meeting record notes Trustee Mike Kostensky was absent for votes taken; the resolution and motions were adopted by recorded roll call and certified by the fiscal officer.