Elections board to rule on protest of Newton Falls referendums

Staff report

WARREN

The Trumbull County Board of Elections will have a hearing at 9 a.m. Friday to decide whether two referedum petitions relating to the village of Newton Falls should go on the Nov. 4 ballot.

One of the referendums relates to an income-tax increase for some village residents that the referendum would repeal.

The other would repeal village council’s creation of a stormwater utility that would be responsible for the operation, construction, maintenance and repair of storm-water facilities, stormwater planning and lake- and river-quality management.

John Baryak Jr. of North Canal Street, Newton Falls, filed a protest with the elections board last month, saying Ohio law was not followed by those who circulated the petitions or by village officials responsible for submitting them to the elections board.

In a letter, Baryak said Ohio law requires a certified copy of the referendums to be filed with the elections board and with the village auditor or clerk.

He claims no certified letter was submitted for either referendum.