Twinsburg City Council Appoints New Fire Chief, Tackles Budget Shifts and Business Incentives

TWINSBURG, Ohio – Twinsburg City Council wrapped up a busy June 23 meeting with a new fire chief officially in place, infrastructure funding reshuffled, and several business programs renewed for another year.

Council members also shed light on the city’s ongoing data center moratorium, introduced legislation headed to voters in November, and celebrated community members making an impact beyond city hall.

Watch the meeting highlights on SeeGov: https://seegov.org/watch/6UYxdvkVuVf

Fire Chief Wilson Takes the Helm

The council’s most celebratory moment centered on the fire department. Multiple council members reported attending the ceremonial swearing-in of Fire Chief Wilson, who was joined by four newly appointed fire department members.

Mayor Scaffide praised Chief Wilson’s performance during the interim period, emphasizing the importance of integrity and strong leadership for the department going forward. The appointment drew broad recognition from council as a milestone for the community.

Budget Reallocated for Salt Storage Expansion

On the infrastructure side, the city’s engineering department reported a pair of budget adjustments. A planned vehicle purchase was deferred in order to fund window repairs at a city facility. Those repairs are supported in part by an OPEC grant.

Separately, funds originally budgeted for a leaf machine were redirected toward expanding the city’s salt storage facility. The goal is to allow Twinsburg to fully utilize its competitively bid salt allocations each season.

Council clarified that the new facility is designed to be relocatable, meaning it could move if the city’s service garage location changes in the future.

Verizon Data Center Clarified During Moratorium

A speaker addressed questions about the local Verizon data center during the city’s ongoing data center moratorium. The facility was described as a LEED Gold certified enterprise operation using advanced energy and water conservation measures. Council members noted that the mayor and city staff are actively studying the issue during the moratorium period.

Wastewater Department Earns Statewide Recognition

The wastewater department also had reason to celebrate. Nate updated council on lab coordinator Corey Ugulis, who was named the 2026 Lab Analyst of the Year through a statewide water and wastewater professionals association. The recognition highlights the department’s work managing treatment operations and watershed samples across the region.

Pre-construction meetings, submittal reviews, and material orders for a new equalization basin are on schedule, with a mid-August groundbreaking expected. No financial change orders have been issued on the project.

Business Incentive Programs Renewed

Council renewed two programs aimed at supporting local economic development.

The Twinsburg Community Reinvestment Program offers property tax breaks to businesses that invest in their properties and add employees. Agreements under the program are reviewed annually by the county, the city, and the school board.

The Twinsburg Occupancy Program provides three to five year income tax abatements for tenants moving into vacant buildings. The goal is to boost income tax revenue by attracting new businesses to empty commercial space. That program is also reviewed annually by the school board, county, and city.

Both resolutions passed 7 to 0.

CIC Land Transfers Approved

Council authorized the mayor to purchase two parcels of CIC-owned land for nominal fees, returning bed tax funded properties to city ownership so Twinsburg can handle maintenance directly. Both resolutions passed 7 to 0.

Garage Ordinance Fails; Sign Regulation Headed to Planning Commission

Not every measure moved forward. An ordinance to amend regulations on the orientation of attached residential garages failed on a 3 to 4 vote.

Council did introduce an emergency ordinance to place a rezoning question on the November 3, 2026 ballot. A separate ordinance to amend sign regulations was referred to the Planning Commission for review at its August 17 meeting, passing 7 to 0.

Council also suspended the three-reading rule to expedite certification of several items and adopted Ordinance 202692 as an emergency, both passing 7 to 0.

Upcoming measures on the horizon include adopting the 2027 tax budget, amending the Building Code to remove mandatory Architectural Review Board review of code changes, authorizing easements with Summit County for the Glomo Bridge Replacement project, and adding a new purchase orders section to the city’s codified ordinances.

Community Highlights and Upcoming Events

Council members used their reports to spotlight several community opportunities.

Council Member Castillo highlighted the Senior Council’s annual Alzheimer’s picnic and fundraiser, noting that residents can still contribute to the effort.

Council Member Furey promoted the McTyrion fundraising golf outing, which supports criminal justice and law enforcement scholarships in Tallmadge and Twinsburg. A fire union fundraiser at Glen Eagles will also benefit the scholarship fund and several local charities. Residents can contact the fire department for details on how to donate or participate.

Council Member Post announced a Ward One information day at Glen Meadow Park on August 16.

Looking ahead, the city is planning a community celebration with food trucks, activities, a Rock the Park concert, and fireworks. Council also noted that upcoming summer recess dates would affect the meeting schedule, and announced future council meeting dates accordingly.

On a lighter note, council addressed a question about hobby beekeeping. Council Member Bonacci clarified that beekeeping is permitted only as an accessory use for residential property owners. Allowing it in a public facility zone would require a charter-triggered ballot measure.

Coverage of Twinsburg City Council meetings is made possible through NEOhio.News and the SeeGov civic media platform.

Watch the Meeting