Seven Hills Council Meeting: Drone Rules, Sewer Contract, Police Vehicles

SEVEN HILLS , Ohio – The Seven Hills council meeting on Nov. 25 began with packed committee sessions and rolled straight into a 6:42 p.m. regular meeting that touched on nearly every corner of city life: new drone rules , a major sewer maintenance contract , new police vehicles , youth sports funding, economic development on Rockside Road, and an emotional farewell to Ward 2 Councilman Norman Martin . Mayor Anthony D. Biasiotta called it a “microcosm” of how the city has been operating—updating laws to keep pace with technology, upgrading core infrastructure, investing in safety, and celebrating residents’ achievements. Shop with a Cop Donation and Student Honors Before council formally convened, committee time was dominated by ceremonies and student recognition. A big early moment came when Pathways Financial Credit Union , which took over the former Taleris branch on Pleasant Valley and Broadview, presented a $3,000 donation to the city’s Shop with a Cop program. Representatives said Pathways sees itself as a community partner in Seven Hills and hopes this will become a recurring tradition, noting that one representative’s spouse is a police officer, making the program personally meaningful. The city then honored Gia (Gio) Florio , a senior volleyball setter at Magnificat High School and a lifelong Seven Hills resident who works for the city’s Recreation Department. A mayoral proclamation recognized: Her surpassing 1,000 career assists Years of play including travel volleyball Her ties to St. Columbkille and her local family roots Since the proclamation was drafted, Florio’s team has captured district and regional titles and reached the state semifinals , a point the mayor highlighted in his remarks. Next, the city recognized the Seven Hills Sharks boys fall soccer team , which completed an undefeated season . Recreation Director Jen Burger and youth sports organizer Dave Deluzio joined the mayor in handing out awards to the coach and players. Officials credited not just the boys, but families and volunteers whose support made the perfect season possible. Parks & Recreation: IT Services and Holiday Events In the Parks and Recreation Committee , Councilman Michael Morrow and Director Jen Burger discussed a proposed IT services agreement with Blue Technologies : The deal would lock in pricing for three years at $89,148 for the coming year. Burger cited improved ticket response times and a strong cybersecurity program as key reasons to continue. The committee voted to place the IT contract on the next meeting’s agenda (non-emergency). Burger also promoted several Recreation Center offerings: Black Friday membership sale: 30% off memberships through Sunday. “12 Days of Fitness” starts Dec. 1 with rotating daily specials. Santa’s arrival : Saturday, Dec. 6, with a parade up Summit View from Hillside, arriving around 10:30–10:45 a.m. and an indoor event beginning at 11 a.m. There will not be a Christmas car parade this year, council confirmed. Rules and Ordinances: Clarifying Holidays for Council Meetings The Rules, Ordinances, and Ethics Committee , chaired by Councilman Norman Martin , worked to clarify what counts as a “legal holiday” for council scheduling. Current rules say that if a regular meeting date falls on a legal holiday or its eve, council must meet the next day instead. To prevent future confusion, Martin proposed adding language specifying that, for council meeting purposes, a legal holiday means: Any and all federal or State of Ohio recognized holidays. Because state and federal holiday lists now match, this definition should remain accurate even if holidays change or are added in the future. Mayor Biasiotta backed the clarification and noted that in upcoming union negotiations, the administration’s position is to align the city’s employee holiday schedule with the federal and state holiday list , mirroring the new legislative language. The committee unanimously approved the change. Planning and Economic Development: Cooper’s Hawk Lot Split The Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development Committee , led by Councilman Thomas J. Snitzky , flagged no brand-new business but previewed key votes for later in the evening, including: Two zoning variances A lot split connected to the Rockside Road commercial development and a planned Cooper’s Hawk restaurant Later, City Engineer Daniel Gerson, P.E., P.S. explained the lot split in more detail: a large commercial parcel fronting Rockside was previously consolidated and is now being split into: A roughly 2.4-acre parcel expected to be sold to Cooper’s Hawk A 3.6-acre residual parcel to serve future tenants and possible splits Mayor Biasiotta emphasized that Cooper’s Hawk intends to own the land under its building, which the city sees as a positive “skin in the game” move for long-term investment. Finance: Police Cruisers, Engineering Contract, Fire Levy, and Sewer Work The Finance, Civil Service and Personnel Committee meeting tied together several of