NEWTON FALLS — Village Council is having difficulty finding people to serve the community, including on council and various village boards.

The 3rd Ward seat will become vacant in January as Bob Burke, who currently serves in the seat, did not run in the November election.

There was also no one else who filed in the November general election to seek the seat.

Mayor David Hanson said it is discouraging that no one wants to step up and serve the community.

“I suspect some of it may be apathy. It is hard to get younger people involved in politics or anyone for that matter. I hope someone will step up. I know there are people who are hesitant to get on board,” Hanson said.

The deadline for the 3rd Ward seat was last week.

Hanson said he is aware that if council does not have anyone to appoint to the 3rd Ward that he will have to find someone as he has done in the past.

The 3rd Ward was served by Tesa Spletzer, who was recalled by voters in November 2023.

Council next appointed Brenda Persino to the seat. She resigned in December 2024.

Burke was then named to the seat in March 2025. His term ends Dec. 31. However, Burke, reached after the meeting, said he is considering reappointment by the council to the 3rd Ward seat for a new term after he was informed no one else sought the seat.

OTHER BOARD OPENINGS

Second Ward Councilman Brian Axiotis said he is also concerned there are not enough members for the planning / zoning board, treasury investment board and parks/ recreation board.

Axiotis said because there was not a quorum of members earlier this week the planning / zoning board could not meet.

He said the village charter requires so many members be present to hold a meeting and with vacancies on all the boards and other members not able to attend due to work and other commitments the meetings are canceled.

Axiotis said that in January, there will be four vacancies on the planning / zoning board.

“These committees serve a purpose. They are important and help the city run,” he said.

Axiotis said a Circle K store / gas station is interested in locating in the village and there needs to be a meeting on the company’s plans to locate in a former drug store building

“There are people who want to come here and invest in this town and have a Circle K located here and we don’t have a planning / zoning board to do that,” Axiotis said.

He said he is concerned that some things will not be able to get approved and come to a halt.

Axiotis said the boards meet once a month and some every other month.

Any resident interested in serving can submit their name to the village municipal building.