Twinsburg Council Pauses Drilling, Adopts 2027 Budget

Twinsburg City Council heard an update on the city’s response to a recent home explosion in neighboring Twinsburg Township, including a pause on drilling activity and a donation drive that has raised more than $30,000 for displaced families. Council President Greg Bellan presided over the July 14 session at the Twinsburg Government Center, where members also adopted the 2027 tax budget and advanced a Post Road rezoning toward the November ballot.

Rotary Collection Nears $30,000 for Explosion Victims

Reading a report on behalf of Mayor Sam Scaffide, who was away visiting his newest grandchild, Law Director Matt Vazzana updated council on the city’s response to the explosion. The city has paused all boring and drilling activity in public rights of way while the incident is investigated, and the mayor has asked staff to review what additional regulations the city can legally adopt as a charter municipality.

Through a partnership between the city, the Twinsburg Rotary and the Chamber of Commerce, more than $30,000 had been raised for displaced residents as of the previous Friday. The Rotary is covering all processing fees so donations go directly to families affected. The collection period closes July 15, though residents can continue giving through the Twinsburg Flags website afterward. Council Member Chuck Bonacci noted the Rotary is also covering the site’s card processing fees.

Council Remembers Fallen Officer, Mourns Ward 5 Resident

Council Member Bill Furey opened the meeting by marking the 18th anniversary of the line of duty death of Officer Josh Miktarian, who was killed during a traffic stop on State Route 91 in 2008. Furey asked for a moment of silence before leading the invocation.

Later in the meeting, Council Member Karen Labbe paused to remember longtime Ward 5 resident Roy Meier, a Navy veteran, avid cyclist and trustee of the Twinsburg Historical Society who was struck and killed while biking in Hudson on June 21. Labbe read a brief excerpt from his obituary, noting his greatest legacy was found in “the people he loved, the laughter he shared and the kindness he showed.” Furey added that Meier had called him several times over the years to discuss traffic safety on Route 91 and area bike paths.

Council also recognized the 18th annual Josh Miktarian Memorial Golf Outing, held July 10, which has now raised more than $12,000 for the scholarship fund benefiting Twinsburg and Tallmadge students. Labbe noted that Miktarian’s daughter, who was eight months old when he was killed, recently graduated high school and played in this year’s tournament.

Council Adopts 2027 Tax Budget, Building Code Changes

Council voted 7 to 0 to adopt Ordinance 2026-084, setting the city’s tax budget for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2027, and submitting it to the Summit County Auditor as an emergency measure.

Several building code ordinances tied to the city’s point of sale inspection program, abandoned property registration fees and permit fees also passed unanimously, including Ordinance 2026-085, Ordinance 2026-086 and Ordinance 2026-087. Council first amended those ordinances to correct the date the Architectural Review Board reviewed the proposed changes, and amended Ordinance 2026-087 further to note the board had not favorably recommended the fee changes because members wanted them checked against other communities first.

Ordinance 2026-088, which removes a requirement that the Architectural Review Board review all building code amendment proposals before adoption, also passed 7 to 0. Resolution 2026-090, authorizing two easement agreements with Summit County for the Glenwood Bridge replacement project, passed unanimously as well.

Ordinance 2026-091, adding a new purchase orders section to the city’s codified ordinances, passed as an emergency after a brief procedural mixup required council to suspend the three reading rule and revote. Ordinance 2026-096, approving a broader recodification of city ordinances, and Resolution 2026-097, appointing two members to the Capital Improvement Board, both passed unanimously as emergency measures. Ordinance 2026-098, addressing delinquent sanitary sewer and water fund charges, also passed 7 to 0.

Post Road Rezoning Heads Toward November Ballot

Ordinance 2026-093, rezoning property at 2570 Post Road from public facilities use to single unit residential use, stood on its second reading. A companion measure, Ordinance 2026-094, would place the question of that rezoning before Twinsburg voters at the November 3 general election and also stands on second reading. Both pieces of legislation will return for a public hearing and special council meeting on July 21.

Karen Labbe, whose ward includes the property, said the Planning Commission reviewed the request at a special meeting in June and voted to send it to council. She said the rezoning would benefit a local garage door service business she has recommended to residents in the past.

Ordinance 2026-095, updating the city’s sign regulations under Part Eleven of the codified ordinances, also stands on its second reading.

Natural Gas Contract Delayed After Version Mixup

Council’s discussion of Ordinance 2026-100, continuing the city’s governmental natural gas aggregation program, stalled after members discovered the version posted for the public did not match the updated draft Law Director Matt Vazzana had circulated the day before. The correct version would authorize the mayor to enter into a first amendment with IGS Energy continuing the existing aggregation agreement.

Because the city had not posted the corrected title for the required 24 hour public notice period, council opted not to act on the ordinance Tuesday night. It now stands on its first reading and will be added to the agenda for the July 21 special meeting alongside the Post Road rezoning items.

Resolution 2026-099 was removed from the agenda entirely at the request of the department head who had proposed it.

Economic Development Update

Economic Development Director Rebecca Ziegler told council the Streetscape design guidelines draft is now open for public review ahead of a planned Planning Commission review on August 17. She said the Twins Crossing downtown redevelopment project has secured school board support, calling it a major milestone, with development agreements expected to come before council around September.

Ziegler also reported three property owners are interested in the CIC’s facade improvement grant program, including the recently sold bank building on the downtown square, which will see a temporary co working space while its new owner pursues a larger project. She said the CIC will no longer own any property in Twinsburg as of July 24 and is shifting focus toward tracking job creation tied to its grant programs. Pelican Snowball will hold its official ribbon cutting July 23, and Heritage Coffee is opening a second location in the former Old Joe Coffee space on July 30.

Committee Reports and Other Business

Council members also reported on a range of community activity. Twinsburg’s 250th Celebrate America event drew large crowds despite two vendor no shows, and the city’s Water Balloon Bonanza brought about 150 residents to the pool. The Board of Zoning Appeals approved variances for a detached garage on Joanne Place and an accessory building on Edison Boulevard, and the Architectural Review Board reaffirmed a sign at the Creekside Drive Kiddie Academy location.

The city’s Safety Committee heard that Twinsburg has registered 40 e-bikes with six citations issued so far, and that the police department has added two new canines and a drone. The Building Department reported more than 420 active building projects and roughly 1,850 field inspections so far this year.

Council also waived the 30 day waiting period for two Board of Zoning Appeals cases so work can proceed sooner. The next regular council meeting is scheduled for August 25, ahead of council’s summer recess, with a special meeting planned for July 21.

Watch the Meeting

Watch a summary of the July 14 Twinsburg City Council meeting: Twinsburg Council Pauses Drilling, Adopts 2027 Budget, Advances Rezoning