LORDSTOWN — Village officials met in executive session Monday after hearing a complaint by a resident regarding police officers doing a side job at a local company.

Resident Danielle Watson told council and other officials she is aware that some police officers who provide security at Ultium Cells have not been serving minor misdemeanor warrants to employees who work there. She said the officers are paid $70 per hour to work security at Ultium.

“That is a huge problem. They are turning a blind eye to minor misdemeanors. That is no different than an officer stopping someone for speeding, or running a red light or stop sign and that speeder or violator handed that officer $70 to turn a blind eye,” Watson said to council.

She asked council what they plan to do about this, noting the officer should be placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.

Watson played a recording of two male voices discussing an officer picking up someone who had a misdemeanor warrant for a traffic offense and was told not to serve them but only serve those with felony warrants or domestics.

Mayor Jackie Woodward and members of council adjourned into executive session for disciplinary action regarding an employee following Monday’s meeting. Woodward said no action was taken by council following the executive session, and she and council would not further comment on the matter.

Police Chief Brent Milhoan said some officers do work security at Ultium Cells. Woodward said officers are allowed to work side jobs while off duty from the village police department.

REMEMBERING OFFICER

In other business, Woodward said village officials send their thoughts and prayers to the family of Ted Drewek, who died recently at age 58. Drewek served as a police officer mostly in Lordstown and also had worked for the Bazetta and North Jackson police departments.

“He served our police department for many years,” Woodward said.

Drewek served on the department from 1993 to 2025.

A memorial sash was placed at the police department in Drewek’s memory.

Also, resident Judy Gensberg of Ina Drive expressed her concerns that when the village sewers were installed on Ina Drive, there was trespassing on her property by other residents to tie into the sewer line. She said the village did not have her permission to do this and her yard was dug up even though she said she proved ownership of the property.

Gensberg said she has spent $46,000 fighting the issue in court.

Solicitor Matt Ries previously said Gensburg and her husband sued the village about 10 years ago and the matter went to trial regarding a dispute over a 57-foot strip of property as to whether it was part of the right-of-way or her family’s personal property.

Ries said a judge ruled in favor of the village and after the Gensbergs appealed, the village won on appeal.

Gensberg said the street was part of the village’s property and she wants to be reimbursed for money that her father spent paving the street back in the 1990s. Council met in executive session on the matter since Gensberg said at the meeting she is proceeding with court action.

Following the executive session, council authorized Ries to contact Gensberg to tell her council rejected any settlement offer.