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9/13/2012 - West Side Leader
     

By Kathleen Folkerth

John Conklin

Photo courtesy of the city of Norton

NORTON — Former Norton City Councilman John Conklin is back on Council, taking the seat vacated by former Ward 4 Councilman Ken Braman.

Conklin’s appointment was official after a 4-2 vote during Council’s Sept. 10 meeting. Clerk Karla Richards said Council members Charlotte Whipkey (at large) and Bill Mowery (Ward 3) voted against Conklin, as they favored candidate Paul Tousley.

Residents Mark Spisak, Gerald Wise and Jim Pekarek also had applied for the seat, according to city officials. During a special meeting Sept. 4, Tousley, Richards and Spisak were nominated, but none got enough votes to get the appointment.

Richards said Conklin previously had been appointed to Council and also has been on the city’s Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals.

Conklin was originally appointed to fill the vacant Ward 4 seat in 2000 and won election to the seat in 2001, Richards said. In 2005 he was defeated in the Democratic Primary Election by Braman. At that time, Norton races were partisan.

At presstime, Conklin had not returned a call seeking comment on his appointment.

Richards said the choice of Conklin rankled one community member in attendance at the meeting, who had to be removed by a police officer because of his outburst.

Because Braman, who retired in August with more than a year left in his second four-year term, was also Council’s vice president, Council also needed to vote on a member for that position. Councilman Todd Bergstrom (Ward 1) was selected, Richards said.

Also during the meeting, Council approved a motion made by Whipkey to once again place time for citizen comment at the beginning of Council meetings. Recently, Council President Don Nicolard (Ward 2) cited Council Rule 312 that he said gave him authority to change the time for public comment to the end of meetings.

Also Monday, Council conducted a public hearing regarding a proposal to change the zoning of a parcel at 4331 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road from R-1 (Residential) to B-3 (Business). Richards said Council heard third reading of the legislation, but then sent it back to Council’s Planning Committee for consideration for 90 days.

Council also adopted the following:

• a resolution to terminate certain existing levies should voters approve the city’s 4.6-mill fire levy on the Nov. 6 General Election ballot;

• a resolution of appreciation for Braman for his service on Council; and

• a resolution of appreciation for the service of Richard Easterling as a member of the Planning Commission.

Norton City Council will next meet for committee meetings Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers at the Safety Administration Building, 4060 Columbia Woods Drive.

     

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