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NEWTON FALLS – Village officials are reviewing guidelines on drone usage.
This week, village council and members of the administration met to address updating an ordinance that deals with drones.
Village Manager Jeremy Shaffer said officials are updating legislation that will allow people to fly drones on their own property, but not public streets and rights-of-way. Shaffer said the goal is to not let anyone fly over such establishments as the James A. Garfield Military Base, formerly known as the Ravenna Arsenal.
Fourth Ward Councilman Kevin Rufener said officials want people to enjoy a recreational activity of flying a drone, but following guidelines of where you are allowed to fly them.
Councilwoman-at-Large Julie Stimpert said the issue is more than about where someone is standing when flying a drone, but also where the drone goes.
Shaffer said the ordinance being worked on is basic general safety concerns.
“What we do not want to see is people operating a drone from the right-of-way or the street. This would require they stay on private property and not be in the public street. There is also general safety with a military base nearby,” Shaffer said.
An updated ordinance will be brought before council for a vote.
In other business, resident Julie Lemon said several residents in the 2nd Ward signed a petition to recall Councilman Brian Axiotis for reportedly not representing the residents of his ward or the village in general.
The five petitions were presented to Clerk Corey Snow in early October to be taken to the Trumbull County Board of Elections. However, Law director Gary Van Brocklin said the five petitions were all done differently and therefore are invalid.
“The law director is trying to stop the residents’ right to vote to recall Mr. Axiotis. The residents have a right to vote on this,” Lemon said.
She said the petitions were properly done and have been done in the past to remove someone from office. Resident Charlotte Simmons and others presented the recall petitions in early October.
Axiotis said the five petitions circulated in the 2nd Ward did not even match each other and did not follow the village charter. He said he called people who signed the petition and they told him they felt pressure to sign the petition and were “lied to.”
Lemon made derogatory comments when Axiotis was speaking and was escorted from the meeting by a police officer.
Van Brocklin said Lemon was disruptive and disorderly at the meeting and used profanity.
Also, council approved an agreement with Wood and Lamping LLC for the purpose of city zoning code consulting and drafting services at $65,000. The codes address such topics as signage, rehab housing, vape shops, data centers and rental registration.
Shaffer said the firm will look at current zoning codes and recommend changes and updates. Axiotis said the zoning codes have not been updated for many years and need updated and codified to be in line with other communities.
Also, voters in the village and Newton Township voted in Tuesday’s general election against photo enforcement speed cameras in school zones. The residents had asked that a referendum be placed on the ballot to let the public decide if they want them used.
Snow said legislation can be brought before council to rescind the ordinance previously passed by council.
Council also:
* Heard from Shaffer the city has applied for Ohio Public Works Commission funds for paving of roads in the 1st Ward such as Circle Drive.
* Heard from 1st Ward Councilman Brian Kropp about making the village website more user friendly.
* Approved a recommendation from the parks/recreation board to remove Jennifer McWhirter from the park board since she has not attended meetings.
* Heard from resident Samantha Kropp of the park board about what would be involved to have a volunteer program with residents to help with park projects and improvements. She said she wanted to check what liability would be involved when someone wants to do work at the parks.
* Scheduled a work session for 6 p.m. Dec. 9.