Medina Council Backs 39 New Factory Jobs, Plans Law Department Overhaul as Legacy Hotel Passes Final Inspections

Medina City Council approved job creation grants for two growing manufacturers on Nov. 9, clearing the way for 39 new full time jobs. Members also moved toward a full time law department as longtime Law Director Greg Huber prepares to retire. Meanwhile, The Legacy Hotel passed its final inspections and holiday plans for the square took shape. All seven council members attended. Council suspended the rules requiring three readings and passed 11 pieces of legislation, each by a 7 to 0 vote. The Finance Committee met earlier that evening and recommended several more items for future council action. No residents spoke during the visitors portion. Members also approved the minutes from the Oct. 26 meeting. Two Manufacturers Win Job Creation Grants Falcon Industries Inc. plans a 38,000 square foot addition to its plant at 180 Commerce Drive. Economic Development Director Kimberly Marshall said the company will invest $4.3 million in the building, machinery and equipment. Falcon has committed to seven new full time jobs with $780,000 in new payroll. Under Ord. 175-26, the company can receive up to 40% of the new payroll taxes it pays the city for three years. Spray Products Corporation, at 1000 Lake Road, will add a production line to meet growing demand. Plans also call for renovating parts of its manufacturing and distribution space. That work includes modern offices plus meeting and training areas for employees. Spray Products will invest $7 million and has committed to 32 new full time positions. New payroll is expected to reach $2.24 million. Ord. 176-26 provides a grant of up to 40% of new payroll taxes for five years. Marshall said the law director reviewed and approved both agreements. She reminded council that grant payments come from city revenue not generated by income tax. Law Department Moves Toward Full Time Staffing Mayor Jim Shields told the Finance Committee that Huber will retire at the end of the year. Shields plans to recommend Assistant Law Director J. Matthew Lanier as the next law director. Right now, both the law director and assistant law director jobs are part time on paper. Under the proposed change to the salary and benefits code, Lanier would serve as a full time law director. The department’s current assistant prosecutor would move up to assistant law director and assistant prosecutor, also full time. A newly hired attorney, chosen after interviews, would fill the open prosecutor spot. Shields said nobody’s pay changes beyond moving into a new role. Lanier would take Huber’s salary of roughly $131,000. Each other attorney would take the pay of the position being filled. According to the mayor, health care costs also stay the same. He added that the department gains hours without new spending. Council President John Coyne III asked for a breakdown of where salaries would fall. Shields agreed to provide one. The change also swaps fixed attorney salaries for pay ranges. Shields said ranges let the city account for experience when hiring future lawyers. Lanier explained that the two top legal posts became salaried part time jobs years ago, during budget constraints. Over time, he said, both attorneys ended up working well beyond part time hours. Shields noted that Lanier has effectively been working full time already. One part time law director line will stay in the code for a year as a trial. Coyne questioned keeping the extra position. Finance Director Keith Dirham noted that filling it would still require council confirmation. Shields also pointed out that Lanier must still be formally appointed. The committee recommended the change on a voice vote. Finance Committee Sends Spending Items Forward Dirham outlined Budget Amendment #2026-038. It covers the East Smith Road project, Veterans Court items funded by a grant that arrives late in the year, the railroad project, opioid money, court wrap up costs and utility refunds. The committee also recommended raising a purchase order for the law firm Roetzel & Andress under Ord. 146-26. Dirham said the existing order is used up while the firm handles active cases, mainly planning and zoning matters. More invoices are expected before the year ends. Coyne abstained and said he recommends the city stop using the firm. Members attached an emergency clause. Other recommendations included: About $20,000 more for Heritage Pool chemicals at the Medina Community Recreation Center, mainly chlorine. Authority for the law director to file an appropriation for the North Huntington project. Shields said the city’s consultant has struggled to secure an easement from the property known as Union Square. An emergency clause was attached. 2027 blanket purchase orders for police firearms and ammunition from Vances Law Enforcement, uniforms from Akron Uniforms and the department’s Huntington National Bank card. New Court Building Gets Wall Panic Alarms Municipal Court Manager Cindy Lastuka asked for an agreement with Securitec Security Systems. The company wou