Council again enveloped in allegations of impropriety
By BOB MOREHEAD
BGNN senior staff writer
BARBERTON Council’s March 23 meeting was again a swirl of controversy.
A pair of events was at issue.
First came a violation of Ohio’s Open Meetings Act. Ahead of the March 16 council meeting, President Shorter Griffin went to members on both sides of the chamber and directed who would nominate whom to be chair and vice-chair of the new Charter Review Committee. There was no deliberation and no other members were consulted.
The matter was, in fact, moot because the statute passed last year creating the committee explicitly spelled out that the council president would chair the committee with all council members being members of the committee. By charter, in the president’s absence, the vice president takes over and would on this committee, as well.
The other matter was a pair of letters from council members Julie Miller and Bryan Poorman sent out the previous week, one on official-looking stationary, made with Miller’s business card for the letterhead. The letters touted accomplishments of the new Democratic-majority council and asked for support of a pending Democratic fundraiser.
Partisan politicking using city resources is prohibited by state law.
“I am writing to advise you of (the state auditor’s) knowledge of the alleged campaign practice(s) and to call your attention to the statutory provision above,” Chief Deputy Auditor Tiffany Ridenbaugh wrote them referencing the salient part of the Ohio Revised Code. “We have not confirmed the accuracy of these allegations. Please be aware that if they are true, the activity needs to cease and desist immediately; we request that you take immediate steps to examine these and any ongoing practices and ensure all activities of the city of Barberton mayor/trustee/council members and personnel are in full compliance with Ohio law.”
“There are very few times in your professional life that you will have access to an attorney without charge,” law director Lisa Miller wrote to all of council and then reiterated from the lectern at the March 23 meeting. “You are now in that position. I am available, either by phone or email. I implore each of you to ask before acting. So many of the recent events could have been avoided if a simple call was made or email sent. Additionally, I would caution each of you to reflect on whom you are taking advice from, as only my advice provides you immunity.”
“This council looks like a big circus,” Councilman Monte Harris said. “This has gotta stop!”
That night, council approved an ordinance March 16 contracting with Next Nature Environmental to convert Harter Park into a perennial garden for pollinators, using native flora that will bloom seasonally, providing blooms throughout the spring, summer and autumn.
The project spends $125,000 of Community Development Block Grant money. Habitat for Humanity has promised another $30,000.
Council also approved a measurer hiring Butcher and Sons for this year’s residential demolition program.
Council that night approved an ordinance amending the city’s service bill relief program, removing the fixed dollar amount to qualify, anchoring it to the county’s homestead exemption requirements, instead.
“This prevents us having to come back to council for an update every year,” Mayor William Judge said in the previous week’s committee work session.
Also approved was a resolution kicking off the combined USA 250th/Barberton 135th birthday celebration.
Council also assented to an ordinance spending $685,000 on the next phase of upgrades to the city water pollution control system and fire safety code updates, changing the arson investigator into a fire investigator and updating the fee schedule.
After three weeks of hearings, council approved the 2026 budget. Resolutions proclaiming lost confidence in the Parks Commission and its chair got a second reading and went for a third. The latter is moot as that chair resigned before the resolution was introduced.
