CITY OF BRUNSWICK, OHIO
MINUTES OF COUNCIL
Monday, January 9, 2023
Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance The regular meeting of Brunswick City Council was called to order by
Mayor Ron Falconi at 7:03 p.m. at the Municipal Complex.
Roll Call of Members showed the following Council Members present: Roll Call - Ayes - 7, Nicholas Hanek,
Brandon Lambert, Michael Abella Jr., Anthony Capretta, Joseph Delsanter, Tim Smith, Kristy Piper. Nays - 0.
Motion Carried.
Others Present: Mayor Ron Falconi, Acting City Manager/Safety Director Todd Fischer, Law Director Ken
Fisher, Clerk of Council Laura Timura.
Correspondence There was none.
Approval of Regular Council Meeting Minutes dated December 19, 2022 Nicholas Hanek moved to
approve the Regular City Council meeting minutes dated December 19, 2022, as written, seconded by
Joseph Delsanter. Roll Call - Ayes - 7, Nicholas Hanek, Brandon Lambert, Michael Abella Jr., Anthony
Capretta, Joseph Delsanter, Tim Smith, Kristy Piper. Nays - 0. Motion Carried.
Mayorâs Report:
Mayor's Court Financial Report for the month ending December 2022 will be posted on the website and
added to the minutes for the record;:
Mayor's recommendation to reappoint Bradley Saeger to the Planning Commission:
If anyone on Council has questions regarding this recommendation, they should contact the Mayor.
Clerk of Councilâs Report There was none.
Council Committee Reports:
Economic Development Committee..............................................Mr. Lambert:
Economic Development Committee Meeting Minutes dated December 19, 2022:
Brandon Lambert moved to approve the Economic Development Committee formal report dated
December 19, 2022, as written, seconded by Nicholas Hanek. Roll Call - Ayes - 7, Nicholas Hanek, Brandon
Lambert, Michael Abella Jr., Anthony Capretta, Joseph Delsanter, Tim Smith, Kristy Piper. Nays - 0. Motion
Carried.
Services, Utilities, Technology & Cable Committee................................Mr. Smith:
Services, Utilities, Technology & Cable Committee Meeting Minutes dated December 19, 2022:
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Brunswick City Council Monday, January 9, 2023
Tim Smith moved to approve the Services, Utilities, Technology & Cable Committee formal report dated
December 19, 2022, as written, seconded by Anthony Capretta. Roll Call - Ayes - 7, Nicholas Hanek,
Brandon Lambert, Michael Abella Jr., Anthony Capretta, Joseph Delsanter, Tim Smith, Kristy Piper. Nays - 0.
Motion Carried.
Finance Committee................................................................................Mr. Hanek:
Finance Committee Meeting Minutes dated December 12, 2022:
Nicholas Hanek moved to approve the Finance Committee formal report dated December 12, 2022, as
written, seconded by Joseph Delsanter. Roll Call - Ayes - 7, Nicholas Hanek, Brandon Lambert, Michael
Abella Jr., Anthony Capretta, Joseph Delsanter, Tim Smith, Kristy Piper. Nays - 0. Motion Carried.
Safety & Environment Committee.......................................................Mr. Capretta:
Safety & Environment Committee Meeting Minutes dated December 12, 2022:
Anthony Capretta moved to approve the Safety & Environment Committee formal report dated December
12, 2022, as written, seconded by Brandon Lambert. Roll Call - Ayes - 7, Nicholas Hanek, Brandon Lambert,
Michael Abella Jr., Anthony Capretta, Joseph Delsanter, Tim Smith, Kristy Piper. Nays - 0. Motion Carried.
Planning & Zoning Committee..............................................................Mr. Delsanter:
Mr. Delsanter had no formal reports this evening.
Parks, Recreation & Community Committee..........................................Mrs. Piper:
Mrs. Piper had no formal reports this evening.
Building & Building Code Committee...................................................Mr. Abella:
Mr. Abella had no formal reports this evening.
Other Committees, Boards and Commissions
Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes dated December 12, 2022:
Nicholas Hanek moved to approve the Committee-of-the-Whole formal reports dated December 12, 2022
and December 19, 2022, as written, seconded by Joseph Delsanter. Roll Call - Ayes - 7, Nicholas Hanek,
Brandon Lambert, Michael Abella Jr., Anthony Capretta, Joseph Delsanter, Tim Smith, Kristy Piper. Nays - 0.
Motion Carried.
Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes dated December 19, 2022:
Petitions from the Public on Legislation There was none.
Reading of Legislation and Action on Legislation:
3rd Reading(s)
RES. NO. 115-2022 - An emergency resolution authorizing the City Manager to purchase one (1) 2023 Ford
Explorer Utility Vehicle with fire equipment installed for the Division of Fire from Montrose Ford in an
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Brunswick City Council Monday, January 9, 2023
amount not to exceed $55,000. - 3rd Reading (Safety & Environment Committee, Administration/Greg
Glauner):
Anthony Capretta moved to adopt Resolution Number 115-2022, seconded by Kristy Piper. Roll Call - Ayes
- 7, Nicholas Hanek, Brandon Lambert, Michael Abella Jr., Anthony Capretta, Joseph Delsanter, Tim Smith,
Kristy Piper. Nays - 0. Motion Carried.
RES. NO. 116-2022 - An emergency resolution authorizing the City Manager to purchase three (3) 2023 Ford
Police Interceptor Utility police cruisers and one (1) 2023 Dodge Charger police cruiser with police
equipment installed for the Division of Police from Montrose Ford in an amount not to exceed $222,000. -
3rd Reading (Safety & Environment Committee, Administration/Brian Ohlin):
Anthony Capretta moved to adopt Resolution Number 116-2022, seconded by Brandon Lambert. Roll Call -
Ayes - 7, Nicholas Hanek, Brandon Lambert, Michael Abella Jr., Anthony Capretta, Joseph Delsanter, Tim
Smith, Kristy Piper. Nays - 0. Motion Carried.
2nd Reading(s)
1st Reading(s)
RES. NO. 1-2023 - An emergency resolution declaring the official intent and reasonable expectation of
the City of Brunswick on behalf of the State of Ohio (the borrower) to reimburse
the Cityâs Skyview Drive Improvement Fund #373 for the Skyview Drive Phase II improvements (OPWC
Project #CI49Z) with the proceeds of tax-exempt debt of the State of Ohio - 1st Reading (To be brought
from Finance Committee, Administration/Todd Fischer).:
Nicholas Hanke moved to suspend the rules, seconded by Joseph Delsanter. Roll Call - Ayes - 7, Nicholas
Hanek, Brandon Lambert, Michael Abella Jr., Anthony Capretta, Joseph Delsanter, Tim Smith, Kristy
Piper. Nays - 0. Motion Carried.
Nicholas Hanek moved to adopt Resolution Number 1-2023, seconded by Brandon Lambert. Roll Call - Ayes -
7, Nicholas Hanek, Brandon Lambert, Michael Abella Jr., Anthony Capretta, Joseph Delsanter, Tim Smith,
Kristy Piper. Nays - 0. Motion Carried.
RES. NO. 2-2023 - An emergency resolution determining to proceed to submit to the electors the question
of issuing bonds in the aggregate principal amount of $12,000,000 to provide funds for the purpose of
constructing, furnishing, equipping and otherwise improving a new fire station and preparing, equipping
and otherwise improving its site. - 1st Reading (To be brought from Comittee-of-the-
Whole, Administration/Ken Fisher/Todd Fischer).:
Nicholas Hanek moved to suspend the rules, seconded by Brandon Lambert.
Mr. Hanek discussed the motion noting that this decision was not taken lightly and that the conditions of
the current fire stations are atrocious and not reflective of how this community supports first
responders. This issue is necessary for the betterment of first responders and to improve the safety of the
community. This will improve the Division of Fire's ability to respond to medical emergencies in a more
effective way.
Mr. Smith stated that he has been in government for over 18 years and that the building of a new fire
station has been discussed for a long time. He told the citizens of Brunswick that it is time for a new fire
station and he is 100% behind this issue.
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Brunswick City Council Monday, January 9, 2023
Mr. Delsanter explained that when he first came on to Council, the City was in a difficult situation. The
administration had created a full-time Fire Department without a funding source. This was an expensive
endeavor for the City. Mr. Delsanter commended the Fire Department, the staff, and the Finance
Department for finding the best ways to give service to the community with very little funding. He
explained that the current facilities are in too poor of a condition to house first responders and their
equipment. Mr. Delsanter also commended the administration for their vigilance, diligence, modesty, and
professional resolve that put the City in a position to ask residents to do what is right for both the City and
the first responders. This is a well-thought-out plan that will improve services for residents.
Mr. Fisher clarified that Resolution Number 2-2023 is on tonight's agenda to place on the ballot on May 2,
2023 the issue of the $12,000,000 levy. This was an emergency due to the need to be certified by
Wednesday, February 1 at 4 p.m. The City is not taking an official position one way or another on how to
vote. Individual Council people can express their opinion, but the issue tonight was to simply place this
matter on the ballot and there is no official position by the City being taken on whether or not to vote for or
against the levy.
Mr. Lambert added that there will be a lot of choices to be made this year as citizens of the City of
Brunswick. He reiterated that this issue is important to all of Council regardless of their different
backgrounds, affiliations, and experience. Council feels this is one of the most important things Brunswick
will be working on this year. He encouraged residents to be cognizant of that and to address questions and
concerns with their Council representative. Mr. Lambert offered to do tours of the current fire station with
residents in his Ward.
Mrs. Piper added that she was shocked at the fire station conditions and feels that the City needs to
accommodate women first responders. She expressed happiness that the City was moving forward in that
regard.
Roll Call - Ayes - 7, Nicholas Hanek, Brandon Lambert, Michael Abella Jr., Anthony Capretta, Joseph
Delsanter, Tim Smith, Kristy Piper. Nays - 0. Motion Carried.
Nicholas Hanek moved to adopt Resolution Number 2-2023, seconded by Kristy Piper. Roll Call - Ayes - 7,
Nicholas Hanek, Brandon Lambert, Michael Abella Jr., Anthony Capretta, Joseph Delsanter, Tim Smith, Kristy
Piper. Nays - 0. Motion Carried.
City Manager's Report Acting City Manager, Todd Fischer relayed to residents that the City Manager
Newsletter would be reaching residents around the third week of January.
He honored Greg Crane who passed away recently. Mr. Fischer explained that Greg Crane had served as the
Service Director for the City of Brunswick for almost 30 years, as well as having served on the Citizens
Financial Audit Advisory Review Committee for nearly 15 years. Mr. Crane put his heart and soul into the
City of Brunswick for almost 45 years. Greg Crane contributed to the financial turnaround of the City. Mr.
Fischer offered his condolences to the Crane family.
Administrative Departments There was none.
Open Forum There was none.
Unfinished Business Mr. Hanek explained that there was a motion to bid for Phase II of the Plum Creek
Greenway, which was funded primarily through grants from the State of Ohio. He let everyone know that
substantial progress had been made. Once bids are received the hope would be to see this project go
through to Laurel Road.
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Brunswick City Council Monday, January 9, 2023
He also offered his condolences to the Crane family. Mr. Hanek shared that Mr. Crane had explained to him
how the storm water flow works. The information that Mr. Crane provided, helped to shape a lot of the
policies that Mr. Hanek advocated. He was thankful to Mr. Crane for his contributions to both him and the
City as a whole.
New Business There was none.
Adjournment Nicholas Hanek moved to adjourn, seconded by Tim Smith. Roll Call - Ayes - 7, Nicholas
Hanek, Brandon Lambert, Michael Abella Jr., Anthony Capretta, Joseph Delsanter, Tim Smith, Kristy
Piper. Nays - 0. Motion Carried.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:19 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Laura Timura
Clerk of Council
Mayor Ron Falconi
Adopted
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