2019 Campaign Platform

page NOTE: This is the original web page from my 2019 campaign; compare vs results webpage.

Fiscal Responsibility

As a Certified Public Accountant and small business owner, I have a proven record of fiscal responsibility that can benefit Copley Township.  The following paragraphs highlight how badly our township needs my expertise.  

Poor Decisions

Copley Township’s recent history is littered with poor financial decisions.

  • Purchase and subsequent demolition of Community Center on Sunset Drive * Cost $1,000,000 +-

  • Purchase and subsequent demolition of 4 historic homes at 1554 to 1576 South Cleveland-Massillon Road * Cost $575,000 plus demolition and other expenses.

  • The former Brookwall Fire Station has been idle & wasting away for 14 years in the heart of Montrose.

Deficit Spending

Poor decisions and lack of planning, coupled with poor fiscal management, has resulted in Copley Township’s cash balances dropping dramatically.  In the last 5 years the cash in;

  • Copley’s General Fund has dropped 67%.

  • Copley’s Police/Fire/Road Fund has dropped 34%.

  • Click on the link below to see the fund balance details. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hAlTxoBUd8dKeiOhpEKVrN-36uz-oEkb/view?usp=sharing

Capital Projects Funds Never Used

Copley’s only fund balance that hasn’t dropped is the Capital Projects Fund.  Details about this fund;

  • The entire fund is from Copley’s portion of JEDD taxes.

  • In 2011, Copley Trustees passed resolution 2011-64 specifying that JEDD tax revenue would be deposited into this fund and used for “the extension of water and sewer lines in Copley”.

  • This made sense.  Money raised from businesses paying JEDD taxes would be used to fund sewer and water services for our community; just as the JEDD intended.  But it never happened!

  • The Township never spent a dime of the money on Capital Projects. 

  • Since they weren’t investing in our future, the Trustees stopped funding for Capital Projects in 2015 and starting using the JEDD taxes to cover general administrative expenses.

Proposed New Fire and Police Station

We need to make this happen.  I am a supporter of this project.  But it must be done right.

  • Having wasted so much money in the past, it’s going to be more painful to pay for now.  

  • The project is estimated to cost as much as $12 million. 

  • The current Trustees have already spent hundreds of thousands on architectural designs, attempted to choose a poor location, and still don’t have any final plans. 

  • Do you trust the current board of Trustees to oversee the construction of this project?

Economic Development

During my career I’ve provided guidance on several commercial development projects.  Locally they include Chagrin Highlands and Akron’s Historic District.  For Copley, infrastructure is the starting point.  

Copley Circle

  • Any discussion of economic development must include Copley Circle.  It must be more vibrant. 

  • Bad news - our township hasn’t solved some fundamental problems with Copley Circle;

    • Access - Parking is limited, it is not pedestrian friendly and there are no paths or sidewalks that can get you there. 

    • Traffic – vehicles from the north can only pass through the circle; ensuring traffic snarls.

    • Sewer - some properties on the circle are still not serviced by sewer. See next section.  

Under-Utilized Commercial Property

  • Copley Township has identified 440 acres of land that is already zoned for business use but that is under-utilized. 

  • There is a current proposed project for an under-utilized 2-acre site that already has sewer.

  • The user intends to construct a building and employ about 7 people.

  • Copley estimates this single project will produce $25,000 in tax revenue every year.

  • Assuming this project to be average, Copley’s under-utilized commercial property could generate an additional $5.5 million every year ($25,000/2 acres * 440 under-utilized acres).

  • Problem - More than half of our 440 acres of under-utilized commercial property is not currently serviced by sewer. 

  • In other words, more than half our township’s commercial property is not ready for development. 

Joint Economic Development District & the Promise of Sewer/Water

  • In an effort to “facilitate economic development”, Copley entered into the JEDD agreement with Akron in 1994. 

  • The JEDD requires Copley commercial property owners to pay income taxes to Akron.  In exchange, Akron would provide Copley with sewer and water services.

  • 25 years later, more than half of Copley commercial property is still not serviced by sewer.

  • Akron has informed Copley that they have met their sewer/water obligations for the JEDD.

  • The unkept promise of sewer services has resulted in;

    • Many Copley businesses paying 25 years of JEDD taxes and never receiving sewer and/or water services.

    • Slowed economic development and vacant store fronts that we drive by every day.

    • Less tax revenue for Copley and resulting annual budget deficits.

    • No money for Copley to invest into amenities.

A Second Sewer System

  • There are actually two sewer systems in Summit County; one owned and operated by the City of Akron and another by Summit County. 

  • Personal Experience - After years of attempting to obtain sewer for my commercial property that is located in the JEDD, I finally reached an agreement with Summit County.

  • It’s important to note that I had to take the initiative myself; Copley Township did not lead.

  • Leaving individual property owners to fight their way through government bureaucracy is a root cause why so many Copley properties are under-utilized.  The township needs to lead the way on behalf of individual land owners.

  • Good news - Summit County is willing to provide sewer to other commercial properties in Copley Township. 

  • Bad News – Our Trustees haven’t provided any leadership on what happens when a JEDD property owner gets sewer from Summit County.  Do they remain in the JEDD?  Do they keep paying taxes to Akron when the sewer is from Summit County?

Township Amenities

Over the past 20 years, Copley has added hundreds of homes and thousands of residents.  Over the same span, it’s hard to identify any additional amenities provided by our trustees.  The good news is there are still opportunities.

Trails

It is difficult to traverse our community on foot or bike.  None of our major roadways have sidewalks.  Our neighborhoods are not connected to our schools, post office or other community destinations.  We have a community park with a nice trail; but you need to get in a car to get there.  It is time for Copley to make this a priority.  Creating a pedestrian friendly community needs to be at the forefront of every decision we make.  While it won’t happen overnight, something certainly should have happened over the last 20 years. 

Here is an opportunity;

  • Barberton owns 813 acres (the reservoir) in Copley. 

  • Copley gets zero tax dollars and the residents get zero use of this acreage.

  • The Summit County Trail plan calls for trails around the Barberton reservoir.  http://www.ohioeriecanal.org/assets/files/SummitCountyTrailsPlan.pdf

  • We need to work with Summit County to get this trail built and then connect it to our neighborhoods.

Here is another;

  • Bath and Fairlawn are extending sidewalks along Route 18 in Montrose. 

  • Separately, Fairlawn is widening South Cleveland-Massillon Road and installing a multi-use path.

  • The path is planned to stop at the Copley Township line & also parallel I-77 to Brunsdorph Road.

  • Both of these projects are mostly funded by state and federal money.

  • Yet there are no plans to connect and extend the pathways into Copley.

 And yet another;

  • Many areas that need connecting trails are adjacent to Copley’s list of under-utilized commercial properties. 

  • As sewer and water is being made available to these parcels, we should work with those property owners to facilitate the creation of multi-use pathways.

Parks

Summit County Metro Parks boasts 16 parks and 3 trails.  Copley is easily the most populated township in the county.  Yet none of the Summit County parks are in Copley.  Some facts;

  • The average American city provides 13.1 acres of parks for every 1,000 residents.

  • Copley has 90 acres of parks and 17,304 residents as of the 2010 census.

  • Copley currently provides 5.2 acres of parks for every 1,000 residents. 

  • Just to be average, Copley needs another 200 acres of parks.

Community Center

We paid $400,000 for a community center, but then decided to tear it down.  That’s your tax dollars!

More specifically;

  • The Trustees bought one on Sunset Drive for $400,000 plus closing costs in 2008.

  • Spent another $400,000 plus to maintain it for several years.

  • Never rented it and rarely allowed public use.

  • Then they paid to tear it down in 2014.

In summary, Copley spent about $1 million on a community center that they tore down.   

There are countless reasons and uses for a community center. 

  • More than 20% of Copley residents are over 60 years old and our community doesn’t have a senior center. 

  • Some community organizations, like the Copley Athletic Association, schedule their meetings in Montrose bars. 

  • From Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to youth sports organizations and senior groups, there are plenty of opportunities to partner and make a community center a reality. 

Unfortunately, except for sitting on vacant land, nothing is happening.