Northfield Center Trustees Settle Lawsuit, Hear Sheriff’s Report and Approve Road Program

In a comprehensive meeting on April 7, the Northfield Center Township Trustees addressed multiple critical issues including a settlement with transparency advocate Brian Ames, a detailed crime report from the Summit County Sheriff, and approval of participation in a regional road maintenance program. Settlement with Brian Ames The trustees voted to approve Resolution 25/04-07 H, accepting a settlement agreement in the case of Brian Ames versus Northfield Center Township Board of Trustees (Case number CV-2024-07-2791) in the Summit County Common Pleas Court. Trustee Rich Reville explained that Ames "has a history of suing everybody. He sues the libraries. He sues the townships... for how they keep the records of their legislation, for their agendas and so forth, and how they act on certain things." The lawsuit concerned how the township conducted its meetings, particularly regarding the use of consent agendas and proper procedures for entering executive sessions. While the trustees maintained they could potentially win the case, they decided settlement was more cost-effective than extended litigation. Who is Brian Ames? Brian M. Ames is currently running as a Republican candidate for Portage County Clerk of Courts in the November 5, 2024 general election. He successfully secured the Republican nomination in the March 19, 2024 primary and will face Democratic candidate Jill Fankhauser in the fall. Known throughout Ohio as the "Open Meetings Act Bounty Hunter," Ames has filed upwards of 160 lawsuits against local governments over the past decade for alleged violations of the state's sunshine laws, which are designed to ensure government transparency. Ames, who is from Mogadore, has taken legal action against school boards, budget commissions, boards of elections, and various township entities across Ohio. Ames says his motivation is twofold: he aims to prevent local governments from paying potentially larger settlements if someone else discovers violations, and he believes his work benefits the public by making government bodies more trustworthy and transparent. His settlements typically include a $500 civil forfeiture fine for each violation plus attorney fees. Ames is president of The Advocate, a nonprofit organization based in Mogadore that works for transparency in government. He is also a former software engineer with a reported 95% win rate in his legal actions. Law Enforcement and Community Safety Summit County Sheriff Candy Fathery delivered a comprehensive presentation about law enforcement activities in Northfield Center Township throughout 2024. The Sheriff's Office reported responding to or initiating a total of 6,968 calls for service in the township, including 459 traffic stops. Sheriff Fathery noted that 41 individuals were either arrested or summoned during the year. Crime statistics for 2024 showed notable decreases in several categories compared to previous years: Assaults decreased to only five reported incidents Burglaries were down with just five cases Vandalism reports dropped to only four incidents Thefts decreased from 65 to 51 reports Vehicle theft remained steady with three cases each year The Sheriff reported two categories that saw slight increases: One kidnapping/abduction case was reported in 2024 (which had not been seen previously) Sexual offenses increased slightly from seven to eight cases One robbery was reported in 2024 Sheriff Fathery emphasized that crime decreased in three of the four patrol areas under her jurisdiction. She attributed this success to two factors: deputies choosing to work in Northfield Center Township because they enjoy the community, and the addition of "float cars" that provide additional visibility throughout the county. The presentation also highlighted the extensive specialized units available to the township at no additional cost: SWAT team Crisis negotiators Crime Scene Investigation Unit Crash investigation team Bomb squad (the only one in Northeast Ohio) Mounted Unit (described as the largest and most sought-after in the state) Dive rescue and recovery team Mobile field force Newly established drone response team The largest canine unit in the county (soon to be expanded to 12 dogs) Sheriff Fathery also detailed several multi-jurisdictional task forces under her supervision that benefit the township: A drug unit that collaborates with federal, state, and local agencies The newly established Summit-Stark narcotics interdiction team A human trafficking task force that rescued 112 victims and arrested 50 suspects last year An OVI task force targeting impaired drivers The Sheriff noted that her detective bureau conducted 81 investigations in Northfield Center in 2024 and serves as the investigating agency for several county organizations. Two full-time deputies were dedicated to the warrant division, resulting in nearly 250 felony arrests across Summit County. During the meeting, trustees inquired about House Bill 315, recently passed, which allows