Northfield Center Township Trustees: Proclamation, Roads, Real Estate and Public Safety

RELATED: Northfield Center Township Approves VFW Restroom Variance, Addresses Utility Box Complaints RELATED: Nordonia Hills Library Announces Temporary Closure From a proclamation honoring a former trustee to Flock camera discussions and road improvements, the board tackled a wide range of community issues over two months. Northfield Center Township trustees met on May 4 and June 1, 2026, addressing infrastructure projects, real estate decisions, public safety updates and community concerns raised by residents. Township Honors Former Trustee Richard James At the June meeting, the board opened with a proclamation honoring the family of former Trustee Richard James, who served the township in numerous capacities. James was a township trustee from 1998 to 2001 and a member of both the Northfield Center Township and Northfield Village fire departments. He also worked as a paramedic and was one of the original members of the Summit County Hazmat Team. James served as a fire and EMS instructor at the University of Akron, Cuyahoga Valley Career Center and Euclid Hospital. His wife, Monica, served the township as fiscal officer for 45 years. Sheriff’s Office Highlights Safety Resources At the June meeting, a captain from the Summit County Sheriff’s Office addressed the board and the public, emphasizing the importance of calling the Sheriff’s Office for both emergencies and non-emergency situations. The non-emergency line is 330-643-2181, which uses an automated AI system to gather information and dispatch deputies. The captain also reminded residents that certain fireworks are legal to use on specific dates and that deputies will respond but may not order residents to stop if the activity is lawful. The township’s Sheriff’s Office reported 632 service calls in April and 666 in May, with nine arrests in April and eight in May. Flock Camera System Under Consideration The sheriff’s captain and the board discussed adding a Flock license plate reader camera system to the township’s policing contract. The cameras read license plates and alert deputies when a flagged vehicle is detected. The captain was clear that the system does not use facial recognition. The City of Green paid approximately $50,000 for its first year of Flock cameras, with ongoing costs around $40,000 annually. Trustees estimated Northfield Center would need roughly half as many cameras as Green, putting the estimated cost closer to $20,000 per year. The board expressed interest in exploring whether neighboring communities such as Boston Heights could share camera infrastructure to reduce costs. No vote was taken, but trustees indicated they want firm pricing figures. Fire Department and Road Updates The fire chief reported 32 mutual aid calls during the period, noting that staffing challenges are affecting departments across the region. The department will participate in the township’s open house on June 13 from noon to 3 p.m., along with the Sheriff’s Office and the service department. The event is sponsored by NOPEC and will include a Kona Ice truck. Director of Services Tim Black reported that catch basin rebuilding is underway on Marwick Road, with Rollingbrook nearly complete. Of the approximately 500 catch basins the township maintains, about 28 require full reconstruction. The board also approved a resolution authorizing Pavement Tech Inc. to apply an asphalt rejuvenating agent to 13 roads, including Brookfield Lane, Springbrook Drive and Timber Lane Drive, at a cost of $44,937.43 through the Summit County Engineers Regional Pavement Maintenance Project. Bayberry Road Project Wraps Up A representative from the Summit County Engineer’s Office updated the board on the Bayberry Road drainage project, which is substantially complete. A change order is pending to cover additional costs related to ditch cleaning and an unexpected underground spring discovered during construction. The project was funded in part by a grant, and trustees discussed whether the change order costs may also be eligible for grant reimbursement. Residents along Bayberry Road were praised for their patience throughout the construction process. Preliminary plans for the Norwood Lake drainage project were expected to be submitted to the county engineer’s office by June 9. The Doorwork Ditch project plans are expected to be ready for community review in the fall. Real Estate Decisions on Township Properties East Aurora Road Vacant Lot At the May meeting, the board unanimously approved a new exclusive right to sell agreement with a local real estate agent for a vacant parcel on East Aurora Road, listed at $374,999. The listing runs from May 4, 2026 through May 4, 2027, with a 3% listing commission and 2.5% buyer’s commission. The previous real estate agent’s contract had expired more than a year prior. Trustees discussed what type of business they would like to see on the narrow, 100-foot-wide but 775-f