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NEWTON FALLS -- New Village Manager Jeremy Shaffer has been meeting with village department heads on various projects, but one that he will focus on is fixing up the community center at the park,
Shaffer told village council he has been in contact with Congressman David Joyce's office to see what federal funding may be available for the work.
He said he also has been in contact with Connie Talcott to terminate Heritage Accord's lease for the building. Shaffer said the village will have control of the center, which he said needs remodeling and upgrade work.
"I did a walk through of the building. It is aged, and there is also water in the basement. We will address the water in the basement next," Shaffer said.
The center was used for many community events and while fundraising and other work was done by Heritage Accord, members said the center had to be closed for safety.
Shaffer said he is also seeing what funds are available for a kayak launch by the falls.
In other business, the village approved the makeup of the nuisance appeals board. Second Ward Councilman Brian Axiotis said he wants the board to be objective and include a variety of people. He said he knows it is often difficult to find people willing to serve on such boards.
Council gave initial approval that the five-member nuisance appeals board should include the village manager, a member of village council, a member of the public and two members of the planning/zoning commission.
It was suggested that Law Director Gary Van Brocklin also serve on the board, but he recommended that the village manager should be the one to represent the village.
Van Brocklin also said the board should have representatives from village council, the planning/ zoning commission and the public.
"What is important it to make the board workable,'' he said
Village council also decided that at 5 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month, there should be a caucus session before the start of the regular council meeting at 6 p.m.
Officials said the caucus would allow for discussion of various issues and items on the council agenda.
"This will allow us to talk about legislation,'' Councilwoman at-Large Julie Stimpert said.
The first caucus is set for 5 p.m. Oct. 7.
Shaffer said he has also spoken to Newton Falls Schools Superintendent Andreas Johansson about the school resource officer. He said the schools have an SRO from the Trumbull County Sheriff's Office, but he wants to see if the schools would use a member of the village police department as an SRO in the future.
Council also gave first reading to declaring real property as tax incentive financing (TIF) district in the village. Shaffer said a TIF is another tool for development in the village
He said the TIF areas include where the planned Circle K will be located and the Dairy Queen area. The other area would be vacant village property off High Street.
Council also approved purchase of a 2019 police cruiser from Cortland at $23,500 and tree and brush removal for West Branch Falls by Dee's Tree Service LLC at $15,000.