Green · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Green public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Growing the visitor economy strategic plan
The CIC paid ChandlerThinks to craft a plan for attracting visitors who fill Green's 754 hotel rooms (65-70% full) and spend at local restaurants — delivering roughly $700 per household in tax relief today. The plan's four pillars: define Green's identity, put someone in charge, connect and promote through regional tourism bureaus, and invest in the effort.
Green Public Art Plan
A 118-page public art plan is in final draft, with historic preservation themes woven throughout. An open house at Community Hall on October 6 lets residents design their own public art concepts.
Concrete contractor workmanship and road notification gaps
Council members flagged recurring complaints about the citywide concrete repair contractor — slurry runoff, dead grass — and a Mayfair Road microsurfacing backup with no geofenced notification to drivers.
Sewer jet equipment replacement
The city's broken-down sewer jet — borrowed from New Franklin while repaired overseas — would be traded in for $50,000 toward a $324,672 replacement that can also dig with water jets, saving an estimated $60,000–$100,000 a year in contract cleaning.
Organic Smiles Site Plan
A new Organic Smiles business proposed for 808 E. Turkeyfoot Lake Road went before the board for site plan review. The review covers the building plans, elevations, and landscaping in a B-1 business zone.
Legacy Point Identification Sign
A new ID sign for Heritage Landscape Supply at 4940 Aultman Road needs design tweaks — a white split block base matching the building, a verified 10-foot setback from the road, and year-round landscaping. The sign company says revised plans will be ready for the Planning and Zoning Commission in two weeks.
Fire Medic eligibility list extension
The city maintains eligibility lists for Fire Medic, Fire Captain, Firefighter Engineer, and Fire Lieutenant positions, and has signed a requisition to test for an Assistant Fire Chief. These lists drive who can be hired or promoted into fire service roles.
Stoney Creek Estates Phase V street lighting district (Resolution 2026-R49)
The developer pays to install street lights in the new phase, but homeowners there will pay operating costs through property tax assessments.
Parking, loading and stacking regulations amendment (Ordinance 2026-23)
A proposed code change would require drive-thrus to include a bypass lane so cars aren't stuck in the queue. It applies to new facilities and to existing ones only when the layout changes substantially. City Council holds a public hearing in July before final action.
Warriors Journey Home Witness Tree Program
Warriors Journey Home needs local volunteers to hang 22 dog tags daily on the Witness Tree at Veterans Park, November 1–11, memorializing the veterans lost to suicide each day. The commission is recruiting volunteers to make it a daily community ritual.
Lichtenwalter Schoolhouse accessibility walkway funding
The zigzagging accessible walkway between the schoolhouse floors is nearly fully funded — $95,000 secured toward ~$115,000 — with a Summit County CDBG decision pending and construction planned for 2027.
Southgate Farm operations and 2026 strategic plan
The city is hiring a consultant to write a strategic plan for running Southgate Farm — 19 firms applied. The goal is better coordination across city departments and prioritized capital projects, with a consultant chosen by end of October.
Golden Wood Way traffic safety concern
A resident's email about traffic and speeding on Golden Wood Way was read into the record.
Data center development standards
The administration has drafted preliminary rules for data centers, with size restrictions and added study requirements for large facilities. Planning and zoning is reviewing it, and formal legislation is expected in coming months.
Veterans Advisory Commission expansion and appointment
Legislation to expand the commission by two members is before City Council and expected to pass at its next meeting, with no opposition heard so far.
Firefighter hazmat training grant
The fire department won a full $9,750 grant to train all personnel on lithium-ion battery and EV hazards — no net cost to the city.
Tax incentive renewals for Seco Machinery and CASEL Aviation
The tax incentive review council recommended continuing Community Reinvestment Area agreements with Seco Machinery and CASEL Aviation, and council agreed, keeping local employers' incentives in place.
Residential driveway width rules
New rules would let homeowners with three-car garages have wider driveway openings at the street — 30 feet versus 24 feet for two-car garages. Public hearing October 13.
Regulation of smoke and vape shops
The city proposed adding development standards for smoke and vape shop establishments to the Land Development Code. This could affect where such businesses can locate and how they operate in Green.
Auditor of State Award with Distinction
The finance department earned a rare clean-audit award — fewer than 4% of audited entities get it — recognizing tight budget discipline under Finance Director Shelley Goodrich.
Fire department hose grant (Enbridge)
A 100%-covered grant of up to $10,000 would buy 19 sections of modern 2.5-inch fire hose for the tanker truck, meeting NFPA standards. Application deadline was Sept. 11, so council fast-tracked it.
Kleckner Park buildout and possible property acquisition
The bus garage is open, the adaptive playground arrives this fall, and restrooms open once security issues are sorted. The board is watching four nearby houses, hoping the city or schools can buy them someday to round out the park.
Chamber of Commerce partnership for veteran outreach
Chair Hughes reported on a web of local veteran resources — MAPS is hosting an August 20 meeting and wants to partner, Pegasus Farms offers free military camps in Hartville, and Kittles may host a September service-dog social. The goal: get veterans out of the house and connected.
Fall military events: ASVAB, career fair, 9/11 observance
Green High School hosts the ASVAB on November 5 (open to neighboring districts), a community-wide military career fair at Central Park Community Hall on November 19 (now fall-only, once per year), and a 25th anniversary 9/11 ceremony on September 11 plus a veterans/first responders game at Hoover that night.
Restroom and pavilion capital projects
The Creekbend prefab restroom finally opened after inspection delays; Boettler's restroom is slated for August; the pavilion/playground project is moving forward but concrete bids came in high.
TIF exemptions for Chick-fil-A and Brenneman projects
A 30-year TIF on a roughly $1.8 million medical spa and financial office building at 4228 Town Crossing, feeding the Town Park TIF including the planned Burgess–Town Park connector.
Summit County property tax reappraisal
County completed its six-year reappraisal; homeowners who got letters can challenge values informally until August 27, with in-person sessions in Green. Higher values don't automatically mean proportionally higher taxes.
Parks income tax fund flexibility (charter amendment R35)
A ballot issue would change how the parks income tax fund can be used, a compromise giving the administration more flexibility while keeping the parks dedication. Humphrey wants even more flexibility; the mayor calls it a good middle step.
Oak Clinic's new Green facility
The Oak Clinic will build a 30,000 sq ft MS clinic at 1928 Burgess Drive by 2028, bringing 600+ patients a month to Green. It asked the city to remove the boulevard at Massillon/Burgess and build a connecting road to Town Park Blvd for safety.
Charter amendments headed to the ballot
Seven proposed charter changes will go before voters or council, including adding 'strong' to the mayor's form of government, email notice for special meetings, electronic publication, parks board duties, parks income tax allocation, and five-year charter reviews.
Flat Income Tax Revenues and Budget Pressure
Collections are basically flat and business profits are down 12.5%, raising questions about whether spending may need to be pulled back later in the year.
Shared bus garage lease with Green schools
The city and schools will each pay $1 to lease portions of the new shared bus garage and storage facility, which also includes public restrooms for Kleckner Park and space for Blessings in a Backpack.
Friendly Express gas station at S. Main and SR 619
A former radio building on a tight corner lot is being converted into a Friendly Express gas station and convenience store. The owner agreed to shave 20 feet off the building and drop the drive-thru so trucks and cars with trailers can actually move around the pumps — a fix the board liked.
Assistant Fire Chief Examination
The commission was set to consider holding an exam and creating an eligibility list for an Assistant Fire Chief — a key leadership role in the fire department.
911 Funding and Dispatch Center Upgrades
The county is taking over Vesta 911 phone costs — dropping the COG's bill from $4,000 to $850 a month — and 911 government assistance funds will now pay for internet, CAD positions and dispatcher training. The dispatch room is also getting a bandwidth jump from 50 to 500 Mb/s for $750 a month.
Dispatch cost allocation between Green and New Franklin
The two cities hadn't recalculated their dispatch cost shares in years. Green's share rises from 59% to 60.38% and New Franklin's drops to 39.62%, effective with the 2027 budget, with a review every two years going forward.
Firefighters' Union Fact-Finder's Report
Council reviewed the state fact-finder's report on the IAFF Local 2964 contract behind closed doors and will vote on accepting it, with state law requiring action within 7 days.
Chapel in Green expansion
The church is adding a 6,000-square-foot, 400-person community room with outdoor-access restrooms, aimed at smaller events, special-needs ministry and community gatherings.
Personnel Departures: Britton Retirement and Elkins Resignation
Gareld Britton is retiring as Service Supervisor and Michael Elkins is resigning as Parks & Development Planning Administrator — two vacancies city staff will need to fill.
Transition after parks administrator's resignation
Mike is leaving for North Canton to build their parks department. The city is deciding whether and how to fill his role, with staff changes and budget pressures (the CORE project) shaping the decision.
Memorial Day Parade Flag Program
The commission's flag giveaway at the Memorial Day parade was a hit, and they plan to roughly double the order to 2,000 flags next year. ROTC students helped hand them out.
Non-bargaining employee salary adjustments
Non-union city employees are set for an average 3.25% raise costing about $113,100, already accounted for in the budget. Some employees could get slightly more to cover duties from a departed director's position.
Front-yard accessory structure on constrained corner lot at 6287 Caribou Dr.
A gas line easement and septic leach field leave few buildable spots on this steep corner lot, but the board still rejected a front-yard garage as contrary to neighborhood character.
Competitive bidding and procurement rules
A proposal to let the city bypass state competitive bidding rules and set its own procurement system sparked pushback from the law director and finance director, who say bidding protects the city from favoritism and lawsuits. It wasn't adopted — it just goes to council as a suggestion for future study.
Director of Law provisions — term limits, compensation, qualifications
Green's first elected law director is about to term out, and the commission debated whether to rewrite the charter provisions governing the job. Members agreed the language needs work but decided a full stakeholder study should come first, so the proposal goes on the recommendations list.
Southwood Drive Phase 2 Construction
The dedication plat and a $1.23 million Cavanaugh contract would finish the Southwood Drive connection between Tabbs Drive and Arlington Road, easing pressure on Bettler Road — especially during Arlington construction.
Creekbaum Park restroom nearly complete
The long-awaited Creekbaum Park restroom — a precast concrete building delivered by crane — should pass final inspection this week and open Monday. Cost: $419,247 including new utility service.
Dog leash enforcement under Avery's Law
New state law punishes off-leash dog problems more severely. Green's ordinances already require a visible tethered leash of six feet or fewer; staff will distribute reminders, especially for Bettler and Southgate parks.
Code Inspector hiring process
The commission is moving the Code Inspector vacancy forward by screening applications and resumes to decide who qualifies to test. Code Inspectors handle property code enforcement, which affects neighborhood standards and compliance across the city.
Modernizing Council meeting notices
The Charter still requires written notice of Council meetings left at members' homes, which doesn't reflect how things work. The Commission is moving toward email notice with delivery and read receipts, plus website posting and a courtesy phone call.