Girard will ban donation boxes

GIRARD

The city is a step closer banning clothing donation boxes after a first reading Monday of an ordinance that would do just that.

After two more readings, the boxes owned by several different companies that are now scattered throughout the city will have to go.

Mayor Jim Melfi had asked the council for legislation to regulate the boxes, at least to keep them out of sight behind buildings.

But the legislation came to the floor from the zoning committee asking for a ban “within the entire city.”

“The committee and the council is concerned about the condition of the boxes, the overflow situation and the locations,” said Councilman Steve Brooks, chairman of the zoning committee. “They’re being placed in prominent areas.”

He said that a box was recently removed from in front of the Family Dollar store after it became a nuisance and the city discovered the real estate company that owns the plaza never gave its owner permission to put it there.

Representatives Valerie Walker of Planet Aid and Shirl Ransley of Ohio Mills Corp. said that is a situation that would never occur with their boxes, because they have regular drivers. Walker attended the meeting for Planet Aid’s Solon office and Ransley attended for her company’s Cleveland office.

Planet Aid sells donated clothes to support community programs.

Ransley said Ohio Mills Corp., like Planet Aid, is a nonprofit organization, raises money for the Special Olympics of Ohio.