Canfield residents protest building plan

By ELISE FRANCO

Trustees said the township hall is no longer suitable for conducting business.

CANFIELD — The township hall was packed with residents Tuesday, eager to hear how trustees would respond to complaints about a proposed new township administration building.

People spoke against the trustees’ tentative plans to build a $1.2 million facility on Herbert Road.

Dan Bienko said even though funding for the administration building is not coming out of taxpayers’ pockets, residents of Canfield Township should have the right to vote on whether they want the building.

“Regardless of the source of the funds, trustees are answerable to the residents ... and in accordance with Ohio Revised Code should be submitted for a referendum vote for final approval by all residents,” he said.

Several other residents shared Bienko’s view about giving those who live in the township the opportunity to choose.

Marie Cartwright said she’d like to see this issue on the ballot before any decisions are made.

“I do believe you need to get out there and talk to the people,” she said. “It’s your responsibility as representatives to find out what the opinions of the residents are. ... It’s too costly of a project to move forward on this if we don’t know what we’re in for.”

According to the state code, township trustees may purchase land to be turned into office space without a vote from residents.

Trustee Bill Reese said this is exactly what the trustees are doing.

One reason the new building is necessary is the growing township population, he said.

The current township hall is more than 100 years old. Besides lacking enough office space, Reese said the hall, with a maximum capacity of 80 people, leaves residents standing outside during big-issue meetings. “Canfield has 8,000 residents now, but it’s growing,” he said. “What happens 20 years from now when there are 16,000 residents?”

Having no place to file 200 years’ worth of records is another reason trustees say the administration and the township will benefit from a new building.

“This building served its useful purpose, and now we need offices,” Reese said. “I have absolutely no agenda whatsoever. My objective when I ran for office was to keep what we have as long as we can.”

Cartwright, who also serves as chairwoman of the Cardinal Joint Fire District, said this is a long-standing issue between the trustees and residents.

“I’d really like to see the township residents have a say in the building — if it’s needed and where it should go, as well as approve the cost,” she said.

Reese said funding for the building, which is a part of the Canfield Township Park project, comes solely from a lodging tax paid to the township as well as money collected from land developers over the past 20 years.

Its construction could begin halfway through the first phase of the park project, which should begin construction in August.

Trustee Randy Brashen said he understands the concerns of residents. An earlier public forum in April drew only four people, he noted. “We may not answer all your questions right now, but we do talk about it and think about it,” he said. “We are seriously listening to the community.”