On the agenda: Ontario Council Meeting Minutes 09-16-2026 — Flock camera (Sep 16)

7760
Regular
September 16, 2026
Ontario City Council met in regular session on September 16, 2026, at the Municipal Building
with Council President Eddie Gallo presiding. The meeting opened at 7:00 p.m. with the
Pledge of Allegiance.
Present during roll call were Council members Brennen Finfgeld, Rick Pauley, Anderson
Roll, Jason Bilyj, Sherry Branham-Fonner, Rose Feagin, Nathan Sunderland; President Eddie
Gallo, Mayor Josh Bradley, Law Director Andrew Medwid, Service-Safety Director Michael
Morton, and Assistant Clerk of Council Abbey Beaver.
The minutes of the regular Council meeting of September 2, 2026, were presented for
approval.
Hearing no corrections, the minutes were approved as presented.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Mr. Bilyj advised with the temporary budget approaching Finance Committee meetings will
be called soon.
Mr. Sunderland said the Safety Committee of the Whole met today with Police Chief Tommy
Hill in attendance to answer questions and give input on e-bikes.
• There has been an 80% increase in children being transported to Nationwide Hospital
due to e-bikes.
• Chief Hill and the School Resource Officer will meet to discuss parents and students
reading and signing educational paperwork about City Ordinances before riding ebikes to school.
• There is an Ordinance in place where lights must be visible 500 feet in front and 300
feet to the rear of a bike.
• There were suggestions for videos to be added to social media platforms about the ebike policies.
• Flock cameras and how they helped solve crimes in the City were touched on.
MAYOR’S REPORT
Mayor Bradley reported:
• The demolition project at 3620 Park Avenue West is complete. R and D Excavating
finished seeding the site yesterday.
• The intersection study for Park Avenue West and Shelby Ontario Road is currently
underway and will be completed before the end of the year.
• The demolition project at 1943 Park Avenue West is in progress. The building is on
the ground, cleanup and removal will take a few more weeks.
• HomeGoods and Chick-fil-A are still on schedule for opening in November.
Mr. Sunderland stated the site at Park Avenue West and Shelby Ontario Road looks amazing.
He asked if there was any information about the property Dan Niss owns on Park Avenue
West and if Burger King is closing or just remodeling.
Mayor Bradley replied:
• He was not aware of any plans Mr. Niss may have for his property but if he hears
anything he will pass that along.
• Burger King is not closing they are just remodeling.
• He spoke with the manager at O’Charley’s about the quick closure. The manager had
just found out as well and said this location was one of the companies most profitable.
President Gallo stressed O’Charley’s closing was a corporate decision and not a failure by the
franchisee. Cheddar’s and Denny’s did not choose to leave on their own, those were decisions
made by the landowners.
Mr. Bilyj inquired about plans for increased traffic when HomeGoods and Chick-fil-A open.

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September 16, 2026
Mayor Bradley said he does not believe we will have the same issues as Raising Cane’s
opening, however when Chick-fil-A opens Officers will be stationed in that area.
President Gallo explained traffic coming into the City raises from approximately 40,000 per
day to around 70,000 per day during the holiday season starting the middle of November until
the end of December.
SERVICE-SAFETY DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Director Morton advised:
• The bid opening for the second phase of resurfacing was last Thursday. Kokosing was
awarded the contract for $233,125.00. The only two bidders were Kokosing and
Shelly and Sands.
• The Sanitary Sewer Force Main contract was awarded to Driven Excavating LLC for
$895,658.00 which is approximately $166,000.00 less than estimated to go from Rock
Road to the St. Rt. 309/St. Rt. 430 Split.
Mr. Roll thanked Director Morton and Mayor Bradley for their work finding money that had
not been spent over the last couple years by past Administration so a second phase of
resurfacing could be done.
LAW DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Law Director Medwid updated:
• Lieutenant Greg Ford of the Ontario Police Department sent a request to review our
public records policy.
• The City is being inundated with public records requests, especially the Police
Department.
• The Police Department had 36 requests in 2021, 41 requests in 2023, and last year,
2025, there were 95 requests. As of a week and a half ago, this year there have been
85 records requests.
• Every person that requests a public record wants every piece of information, body
cameras, Flock cameras, and every camera we have in the city.
• Ohio Law changes for public records requests and forces us to find exemptions before
we redact anything.
• When people request video, the entire video must be watched to make sure personal
information according to law is redacted, a 15-minute video could take 30 to 45
minutes to review.
• Increase in costs for public records requests are being looked at.
• Ohio law has recently changed in allowing the City to charge more for public records.
• Some requests are very large. We have been getting some odd requests such as
anything that has to do with changing the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America.
• We may start charging the maximum allowable due to the amount of time spent on
requests.
Mrs. Branham-Fonner asked if the law that states the records request is too broad could be
used when warranted.
Law Director Medwid said the problem is we are encouraged to give the information if it is
available.
Mr. Bilyj would like some information on how much it is costing the City and citizens to do
the public records requests.
Law Director Medwid advised he has spoken with Chief Hill to get an hourly rate for time
spent on requests. Lieutenant Ford is working on this information.

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September 16, 2026

MISCELLANEOUS REPORT
President Gallo read a Notice of Public Hearing to be held before Ontario City Council
during the regular meeting at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at the Ontario
Municipal Building, 555 Stumbo Road, upon a proposal to update the City of Ontario Zoning
Code, Part Eleven, Planning and Zoning, Title Five, Zoning Ordinance. Planning
Commission has recommended this update.
PUBLIC COMMENTARY
Paul Williams, 148 Sloboda Avenue, said being able to put a fence on the property line could
create an issue. If the neighbor damages the fence while mowing, there will be issues between
the two neighbors. He asked how to handle a situation where the other neighbor wants a fence
on the property line as well. There needs to be an offset on fences. This was brought to
Council a few years ago and nothing was done. He is asking Council to address this.
Mayor Bradley stated they are looking at changing the fence code and he has copies of other
municipalities’ fence codes. Once regulations are figured out it will be brought to Council.
Craig Hunt, 3680 Park Avenue West, spoke about his issues with the neighbors who put up a
fence. He inquired about what other municipalities are doing about their public records
requests and if the Zoning Code changes will be available for public review. He mentioned
enforcement of rules in Marshall Park.
Law Director Medwid replied State statute is about 25 pages. We have a duty to have
redaction software to provide the video requested. We have a policy outlining what we charge
for records requests.
Mayor Bradley advised the Zoning Code Update will be available on the City website for
review and copies can be provided.
Law Director Medwid said by law the Zoning Code Update must be available 30 days in
advance of the Public Hearing. The Ordinance will update the Chapter, the Zoning Code itself
will be Exhibit A.
President Gallo reiterated Chief Hill stated signs in the park are fine, but it needs to be written
into legislation they can enforce.
CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION NO. 26-16
A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE FIVE YEAR UPDATE OF THE SOLID
WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN OF RICHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
Mr. Roll moved to suspend the reading of Resolution No. 26-16 on three separate days,
second by Mr. Sunderland. Seven members cast their votes Aye, zero Nay, and the motion
passed. Mr. Finfgeld read Resolution No. 26-16, for the second time, by title only.
Mr. Finfgeld moved to adopt Resolution No. 26-16, second by Mr. Roll.
Seven members cast their votes Aye, zero Nay, and Resolution No. 26-16 was adopted.
President Gallo requested clarification about any changes that are made to the Zoning Code
between the time it is publicly posted and when it is voted on.
Law Director Medwid explained it can be changed any time. If changes are made after the
first reading the title will be read as amended.

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September 16, 2026
At 7:39 p.m., there being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned upon a
motion by Mr. Sunderland, second by Mr. Roll.

/s/ Eddie Gallo, President of Council
/s/ Abbey Beaver, Clerk of Council