Twinsburg City Council Reviews 2026 Budget, Cybersecurity Policy, Waterford Pond Dredging

RELATED: Resources for starting a business in Twinsburg. TWINSBURG, Ohio – Twinsburg City Council closed out 2025 with a full agenda on December 9, unanimously approving the 2026 budget, adopting a new cybersecurity policy, and rejecting a proposed clothing allowance and lifetime fitness perk for elected officials. The meeting also featured updates on infrastructure projects, regional legal services, and emotional year-end remarks from council members and the mayor. 2026 Budget Approved Council voted 7–0 to approve Ordinance 115-2025 , the city’s permanent appropriation ordinance for 2026 . The measure sets spending for ordinary and necessary expenses through December 31, 2026. Council President Greg Bellan noted the overall city budget is now about $80 million , with a significant increase tied to long-planned wastewater treatment plant upgrades , estimated at around $17 million . He said council and administration went through the budget “line by line” over several months and described it as “tight” but sound for Twinsburg. Finance Director Christina Conway and the rest of the administration were publicly thanked for the extensive work behind the budget. Citywide Cybersecurity Policy Adopted Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 116-2025 , creating a formal cybersecurity policy for the City of Twinsburg. The legislation was passed as an emergency measure, signaling the city’s intent to promptly implement modern protections for its digital systems and data. Wage Increase for Non‑Bargaining Employees By a 7–0 vote, council approved Ordinance 117-2025 , affirming the annual wage increase for full‑time and permanent part‑time non‑bargaining employees , effective January 1, 2026. Council members explained the measure is designed to mirror the raises negotiated by the city’s union employees , ensuring non‑union staff are treated equitably. Clothing Allowance and Lifetime Fitness Perk Rejected The most controversial item of the evening, Ordinance 118-2025 , proposed amending Chapter 111 to: Give council members an annual clothing allowance , and Allow council to grant outgoing elected officials a lifetime individual fitness center membership and/or permit them to keep their city‑issued electronic device . Councilmembers moved to adopt the ordinance but then voted it down 0–7 . The measure failed without support from any member, and clarifications were made that it was not being treated as an emergency item. Waterford Pond Dredging To Move Ahead Council passed Ordinance 120-2025 as an emergency, accepting the bid of AMS Landscaping, LLC for Waterford Pond dredging – Phase 1 . The project is part of the broader Timothy Lane flood plan . The dredging work, at a cost of $359,000 , is planned for the winter so crews can work with minimal disruption to Waterford residents and nearby golf course users. Liberty Road Culvert Extension Approved In another infrastructure move, council suspended the three‑reading rule and approved Ordinance 122-2025 as an emergency, accepting the bid of Fioritto Construction LLC for the Liberty Road Culvert Extension Project . Suspension of the rules allows contracts to be finalized before year‑end so construction can begin as early as possible in 2026 . Health Board Reappointment Council unanimously supported Resolution 121-2025 , confirming the reappointment of Sheila Williams as Twinsburg’s representative to the Summit County Combined General Health District Board of Health for a four‑year term beginning January 1, 2026. Multiple council members praised Williams’ long service, reliability, and strong representation of Twinsburg, calling her “a jewel” of the city. Prosecutorial Services With Stow Through Resolution 123-2025 , council authorized the mayor to enter into a one‑year agreement with the City of Stow , under which the Stow Law Department will provide prosecutorial services for Twinsburg cases at Stow Municipal Court. The agreement cost is $55,000 per year , which council members said is roughly in line with what the city had been paying for its own prosecutor. Members cited the arrangement as a good example of regional cooperation and a cost‑effective approach. Uniform and Floor Mat Contract Council suspended the three‑reading rule and unanimously passed Resolution 124-2025 as an emergency, accepting the bid of UniFirst for uniform and floor mat rental services . Officials noted the timing was needed to have a new contract in place before the current agreement expires . Year‑End Appropriation Adjustments To close out the fiscal year, council approved Ordinance 125-2025 as an emergency after suspending the three‑reading rule. The ordinance amends 2025 appropriations initially set in Ordinance 120-2024, allowing the city to make necessary adjustments to various funds before December 31. Data Center Application Withdrawn During unfinished business, it was noted that the application tied to Ordinance 86-2025 , involving data center regulations, was withdrawn earlier in the day . As