Hudson Council Sends Gas Aggregation Question to November Ballot

Hudson City Council voted 6 to 1 on July 21 to place a natural gas aggregation opt out program on the November ballot. The vote came during a meeting that also included a resident’s serious allegations against city staff, three board appointments and updates on several ongoing projects. Council met at Town Hall with all seven members present. The session opened with an executive session to interview a Tree Commission applicant and closed with a second executive session on the sale or purchase of public property. Resident Alleges Malicious Prosecution Over Fence Dispute Resident Anthony Ravita used the public comment period to accuse several city officials of malicious prosecution and records tampering tied to a fence permit dispute at his Edgar Drive property. Ravita told council he spent months gathering city records related to a survey conducted on his property in June. He alleged that City Manager Thomas Sheridan, City Planner Hannan, City Solicitor Marshal Pitchford and the city prosecutor coordinated to bring a case against him and his family. He also claimed a site plan used against him in Stow Municipal Court had been altered. Ravita said he provided council and Clerk of Council Aparna Wheeler with supporting documents before the meeting and referenced Hudson codified ordinances on tampering with records. He said he expects to be charged in Stow Municipal Court on July 28. The city has not publicly responded to the claims. Council took no action on the matter during the meeting, and the allegations remain unverified. Council Members Share Committee and Community Updates Council Member Patricia Goetz reported the Tree Commission is on pace to bring in more than $200,000 this year. She said the O’Brien Cemetery restoration will finish this year, while work on Mark Lee St. Mary’s will begin next year. The city is also studying whether to expand the cemetery, with room for roughly 700 additional plots in the back and 1,400 in an open area near the front. A cemetery tour is planned for Sept. 26 from 4 to 6 p.m. Council Member Skylar Sutton said the Tree Commission’s short July 16 meeting focused on storm damage and chlorosis affecting oak trees on Great Oak. An arborist plans an experimental treatment costing about $60 per tree to address concerns about losing the street’s oaks to disease from monoculture planting. Council Member Dan White thanked public works crews for quickly clearing a downed tree that had blocked a road in the Adderbury area. Council Member Amanda Weinstein reminded residents of her office hours on July 22 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at City Hall, where staff will discuss the Clinton Crossing development. Mayor Jeffrey Anzevino noted the city recently thanked the Summit County Developmental Disabilities board for a $430,000 grant supporting the new DREAM Playground at Oak Grove Park. He also promoted two weekend events, Touch a Truck on July 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Eastwoods and McDowell schools parking lot, and Destination Hudson’s Art and Wine event on the Downtown Greens from 3 to 9 p.m. the same day. A separate Clinton Crossing community engagement session was set for July 22 from 5 to 8 p.m. near Owen Brown and Morse roads, where three development plans were expected to be presented. Manager Reports Playground, Bridge and Road Updates City Manager Sheridan told council the DREAM Playground ribbon cutting is scheduled for Aug. 9 from noon to 2 p.m. at Oak Grove Park. He asked residents to stay off the playground until the city confirms it is officially open. Sheridan said the Hines Hill Road bridge replacement project is posted for public comment on Let’s Talk Hudson, with an open house planned for Aug. 12 from 5 to 7 p.m. at City Hall. He also said a pavement bump near Heather Lane and state Route 303 would be patched by the end of the week, weather permitting. Council Member Kyle Brezovec asked about vegetation blocking sightlines at the Hines Hill Road and Route 91 intersection, an area already under review by the Safety Commission. Sheridan said staff would look at cutting back the growth in the short term. Sheridan also updated council on the renovated event space at the former golf course clubhouse, calling it a new venue with garage style overhead doors and fresh paint. He said he would share reservation details with council and post them to the city website. Ellsworth Meadows Golf Course is set to host the Mayors Association of Portage, Summit and Stark counties golf outing next week. Council Fills Three Board Seats Council unanimously reappointed Michael Casper to a full four year term on the Park Board. Council also unanimously reappointed Allyn Marzulla to a full term on the Architectural and Historic Board of Review and appointed Lindsay Putzier to a partial term on the same board ending June 30, 2029. Consent Agenda Advances Budget and Road Projects Council suspended the rules and approved its full consent agenda by