Weathersfield voters hear about home rule
By Mary Smith
Limited Home Rule would give trustees power under Ohio law to better regulate housing codes and speeding problems.
MINERAL RIDGE —Thirty residents attended an informational meeting at the Mineral Ridge Fire Station on Limited Home Rule, which goes before Weathersfield Township voters Nov. 4.
Trustees and township officials fielded questions from residents on the proposed home rule, and all three trustees explained that it enables trustees to focus on a more effective way of cleaning up unsightly properties, apply for grants for smaller projects, such as waterline installation in a handful of areas that still do not have lines, and to help control on speeding in the township.
Trustee Chairman Fred Bobovnyk said neither the county nor the state will agree to reduce the speed limit on Niles-Carver Road, which runs past Seaborn Elementary, from 40 mph to 35 mph, because there are not enough houses on the street.
He said trustees want the speed limit reduced, even though pupils are bused to school.
Bobovnyk also noted that if after three years, the township is not satisfied with home rule, it can be put back on the ballot for termination. Home rule does not include giving trustees added powers such as establishing criminal offenses or penalties.
The township would adopt an International Property Maintenance Code, and instead of trying to deal with seriously unkempt or unsafe properties through zoning, which can take months, the problems can be addressed under the code.
A police officer has already been trained to issue citations for zoning violations as an arm of the zoning department, but the adoption of the code under home rule would establish fines to be paid if offenders do not act on citations.
The offenders would have recourse through a magistrate — either of the township’s two attorneys, who would hear the property owner’s side of the story, and could grant extensions. The magistrate would also be used for no-parking violations, which the township could pursue under home rule, but now has no power to handle.
Residents asked whether home rule could stop the high traffic in many neighborhoods of children on four-wheel all-terrain vehicles. Township Administrator David Pugh said he that would depend on Ohio law.
The trustees can adopt and enforce laws permitted by state law.
Pugh and Bobovnyk noted that the property maintenance code would not be used to harass elderly residents. The township has found it can help senior citizens make needed repairs to their homes through special funding programs. And they may create a program to funnel any fines earned by the township from code violators to additional assistance for senior citizens.