7/18/2012 - West Side Leader
     

NORTON — In a special meeting July 11, Norton City Council members adopted on second reading a resolution to place a fire levy on the Nov. 6 General Election ballot.

Council Clerk Karla Richards said all seven Council members attended the meeting, and the vote to approve the resolution was 5-2, with Council members Charlotte Whipkey (at large) and Bill Mowery (Ward 3) against the measure.

Council voted on the resolution, the second step in the process to get the levy on the ballot, during its regular meeting July 9. Councilman Scott Pelot (at large) was absent, and Whipkey and Mowery voted no, which meant there weren’t enough votes to pass it with just one reading, Richards said.

Now that it has passed, Richards said she filed the request with the Summit County Board of Elections July 16. It was necessary for Council to act on the levy because the deadline to file for the November election is Aug. 8 and Council is on its summer break until after that date.

The levy before voters will be a four-year, 4.6-mill levy for the purpose of funding the fire department and its vehicles, equipment and supplies. The city tried unsuccessfully to pass a similar levy in March.

Richards said the levy would cost residents the same amount as with the March levy — about $141 a year for the owner of property worth $100,000.

Voters also did not pass a fire levy in November 2011. When that happened, Council voted to reduce the manned hours at the city’s fire station effective Jan. 1 and lay off nine firefighters. The cuts meant the station would have no personnel for fire and EMS calls from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. However, Norton firefighters continued to cover the station until the March election. When the March levy was defeated, the firefighters ceased the evening coverage, according to city officials.

• Akron Council addresses missing 19-year-old
• Old memories meet new era at Rotary Camp
• Falls Council OKs sale of State Road property
• Hindu temple welcomes public for opening celebrations
• Norton Council preparing opposition to Internet café bill
• Peninsula residents take Council to task for actions, behavior
• Boston still seeking sewer funding
• Richfield Village welcomes former mayor at meeting
• Granger fiscal officer retiring in July
• County Council OKs pay raises
• Seventh Neighbors Day Akron set for May 25
• Take Back Day a hit
• West Side News & Notes
• Green has new buyer for Belden Lodge
• Old memories meet new era at Rotary Camp
• Manchester Education Foundation formed
• Springfield officials hear passionate pleas about photos
• County Council OKs pay raises
• Coventry trustees move forward with demolitions
• Springfield applying for grants
• South Side News & Notes