Two Newton Falls referendums are taken back off of November ballot

Staff report

WARREN

Two referendums certified last month to appear on the Nov. 4 ballot in Newton Falls are back off the ballot.

The Trumbull County Board of Elections met Friday morning to hear a protest of the two referendums, then voted 4-0 to take them back off the ballot.

The referendum petitions were circulated by two Newton Falls residents who wanted voters to decide whether to reverse decisions by Newton Falls Village Council that impose an income-tax increase on some residents and establish a stormwater utility that would be responsible for the operation, construction, maintenance and repair of stormwater facilities, stormwater planning and lake-and-river-quality management.

John Baryak Jr. of North Canal Street filed a protest with the elections board, 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 claimed no certified letter was submitted for either referendum.

Two witnesses testified at the hearing — Kathy King, village clerk, and Atty. A. Joseph Fritz, Newton Falls law director. Assistant Trumbull County prosecutors attended the hearing on behalf of the elections board.

Jodi Fiorenzo Dibble, deputy director of the elections board, said one of the factors elections board members considered was an Aug. 29 ruling by the Ohio Supreme Court that addressed similar issues.