Aurora City Council & COW - 10/27/25

Aurora, Ohio, City Council and Committee of the Whole
October 27, 2025

Committee of the Whole (COW): The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by Chairman John Kudley with Council members present:  Brad Duguay, Reva Barner, George Horvat,   John Seitz and Scott Wolf. Peter French, Sara Grdina Gilmore and Dennis Kovach were absent. There were 8 City Officials and Employees present. There were 6 citizens present.

Minutes from October 13, 2025 could not be accepted for lack of enough Council Members present who were at that meeting. They will be approved at the next meeting.

Finance Director’s Report: The report was included with the packet. “Fund balances remain in a healthy position with $48,200,362 unencumbered in all funds and $19,343,953 unencumbered in the General Fund.”

 There were 3 Ordinances proposed for 1st Reading:

• An Ordinance for a contract with Thompson Electric to install the new generator at Westerly WWTP (Waste Water Treatment Plant). Theirs was the lowest and best bid.
  
• An Ordinance to enter into a contract with H&M Landscaping for the 2026 Turf and Landscape Maintenance for $84,280.00 with an option to renew for the 2nd and 3rd  year. The city has been using their service for 5 years.
  
• An Ordinance granting a CRA #2 area tax abatement to Trinity Pro LLC, 119 E. Garfield Rd for 25% for 6 years. The business is Lotus Wellness which wants to move to the PNC building and is planning on making improvements to the new space. Mr Kudley voted no saying he has issues with it. He believes it is premature to come before Council before it has gone through Planning and Zoning since there are other considerations such as a traffic study that should be done and it might give the wrong message to Planning. He wants to hear from Planning first. Mr. Wolf said he might want to postpone it. Mr. Horvat asked the Law Director if this is out of order. Mr. DiPiero replied that he considers it a parallel track and nothing is improper. He then asked Planning Director Denise Januska for a timeline. Ms. Januska said it has been accepted for study and it may take 2 more planning meetings. Mr. Duguay supports businesses in Aurora but questions if there is a reason this is being brought up now. Development Director Holly Harris Bane said the CRA approval is needed before the business can proceed so these can run at the same time. The CRA will be null and void if Planning doesn’t approve it. Reva Barner said she is always an advocate of businesses and it doesn’t look like this will affect Planning and Zoning. It was passed on to Council for its 1st Reading.
  

Meeting adjourned at 6:15 pm

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City Council (CC):   Council President George Horvat called the meeting to order at 6:19 pm with the Pledge to the Flag of the United States of America. Council members were present and absent as noted in the COW report. There were 8 City Officials and Employees present and 6 people in the gallery.

October 13, 2025 Meeting Minutes were not adopted as there were not enough Council Members present who could vote on them.

Mayor’s Report: City News highlighted:

• Aurora Trail Challenge now through October 31.
  
• Early Turkey Trot pricing now through October 31.
  
• Last brush pickup is Monday October 27.
  
• Leaf collection is underway and will continue as weather permits.
  
• Trick or Treat is Friday October 31 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
  

         There was a groundbreaking ceremony for the Aurora Park at Geauga Lake on Thursday October 23. Part of the park is in Bainbridge Township so the Vision Plan that was approved by Aurora on July 21 was submitted to the Bainbridge Trustees. The design plans were submitted to the Geauga County Engineer on August 15 and it is on the Bainbridge Trustees agenda October 27 for preliminary approval of the plans.
  The Mayor’s focus for this meeting was on Parks and Rec’s Projects and Events some of which include painting the Bicentennial Gazebo, the Deed House, Wee House, barns at Spring Hill and Hartman Park. The Ravine Bridge and a public restroom at Paddock River Preserve continue. Improvements at Sunny Lake included a storage shed with kayak rack and kayak launch for which the city received a $26,000 State Capital appropriation toward this project. Events included the 4th of July festivities, Summer Concert series, Splash Bash, Fishing Derby, Car Show, National Night Out, Fall Festival at Sunny Lake. Turkey Trot, Tree Lighting and Breakfast with Santa are in the works.
  Focus on Service included Aurora Park at Geauga Lake earthworks, Sidewalk Assistance Program, Geauga Lake FEMA project of stormwater retention ponds, preparing for the resurfacing of North Chillicothe and East Garfield (these are State Routes), Winter Preparation and Good use of the recently purchased Crack Sealer.
        
Law Director’s Report: Mr. DePiero  updated Council on Union Negotiations. There are tentative agreements with the 2 Police Unions and the Fire Union and is optimistic that the Service Union agreement will happen this week. There will be an Executive Session scheduled for the next Council Meeting to discuss them.

Citizens Comments on legislation– A spokesperson for New Leaf Ventures is looking forward to approval for a conditional zoning certificate for a condominium development located on the southwest corner of SR 43 and Aurora Lake Road that are being marketed to a 55+ demographic. She also assured Council that sidewalks are very important to their plans.

 Council Remarks on legislation– None

Legislation:
Ordinances on 3rd Reading

• An Ordinance from Planning Commission granting a conditional zoning certificate for multi-family to New Leaf Development for a condominium development located on the southwest corner of SR43 and Aurora Lake Rd in the PD Planned Development District was adopted with a No vote from R. Barner.
  
• An Ordinance from Planning Commission approving the revised development plan for Hawthorn of Aurora LLC located Southwest of Aurora Lake Road and North Aurora Road, in a PD Planned Development District was postponed. Ms. Barner asked if they have their own HOA and if they would have Lake access the answers to which were, yes on the HOA and no on the Lake access. Mr. Wolf asked about the free standing condos and whether there was a plan to limit the number of cars allowed. The condos are age targeted but not age restricted so the rules would prohibit overnite outside parking. Three Council members were absent so they wanted to give all members an opportunity to vote on this.
  
• An Ordinance from Planning Commission granting a conditional zoning certificate for a comparable use to Accanto Health/The Emily Program for an in-patient residential medical facility, located at 700 Walden Place, in the PD Planned Development District was adopted.
  

Ordinances on 2nd Reading:

• An Ordinance from Mayor, Duguay & Horvat setting the compensation of the Mayor and City Council members for the periods beginning January 1, 2028 through December 31, 2031 was adopted with rules suspended. Mr. DiPiero advised this be passed before the election even though it does not take effect until 2028. Mr. Kudley commented that this should have been brought up earlier in the year. It has been a confusing split at times, causing some Council members to receive lower pay. This should correct that problem.
  
• An Ordinance accepting the proposal of Strand Associates, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $62,000.00 for design services for the replacement of the culvert on Eldridge Road was adopted with rules suspended.
  

Ordinances on 1st Reading:

• An Ordinance proposed from City Council approving and adopting the current replacement pages of the Aurora Codified Ordinances, as prepared by the Walter H. Drane Company and verified by the Clerk of Council, was moved to a Consent Agenda with rules suspended.
  
• The 3 Ordinances proposed for 1st Reading at COW went to 2nd Reading. See COW for details.
  

Citizens Comments: A representative from Accanto Health/The Emily Program at 700 Walden Place said she was excited to join the Aurora Community.

Council Members Remarks: R. Barner Thanked Laura Holman, encouraged everyone to get out and vote and wished everyone a Happy Halloween.
  B. Duguay talked about the recent accident at East Blvd and 43. He asked that safety measures be looked at and addressed at that intercession, especially as traffic will be increasing with the opening of the apartments and Meiers.
  J. Kudley encouraged people to check out the Community Focus App for 16 programs about Aurora. For those interested in Haunted Aurora, there is one that features Aurora’s Haunted buildings including the Aurora Inn, Library, Train Station and City Hall.

Meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m.

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