City Council Meetings Could Move From City Hall to North Canton Civic Center

North Canton City Council may see some big changes soon, like a change of venue and laptop computers for each member.

Council President Jon Snyder talked at Monday night’s meeting about moving city council meetings to the North Canton Civic Center, 845 W. Maple St.

He said their current location — City Hall, 145 N. Main St. — could be remodeled and used as the city engineer’s office and building department, in addition to the city offices already there.

He said City Hall is not “user friendly” and has poor parking and acoustics in the council room, which makes it difficult for those in the audience to hear council members. Council took no action that night but Snyder asked members to consider the move, which likely would happen during council’s summer break.

Councilman Pat DeOrio was skeptical about the move, saying events at the North Canton Civic Center may be too noisy for council to conduct a meeting at the same time.

Snyder said everyone seated at the council table also will receive Dell laptop computers to enhance communication among council members and residents and cut down on paper. He said council spends $800-$900 a year on paper alone.

He expects the computers to cost a total of $7,000, with 14 laptops at $500 a piece.

Council also: 

• Interviewed candidates for the vacant city council seat before and after Monday night’s meeting. Snyder said they will have interviewed about seven candidates by the end of the night. Daryl Revoldt, who served as council president, left the seat to take a position with the Ohio Department of Development last month.

• Discussed the possibility of putting a cap on how many coins a person can pay the city with. Members talked about a man who continues to pay for all his parking tickets in pennies and said it’s time-consuming for those who have to count the change. Council took no action.

• Heard from a couple residents who oppose the zoning change request for a property on West Applegrove Street. The city’s zoning board denied the change, and council needs five votes to overturn the board’s decision. It’s in Vice President Doug Foltz’s ward, and Foltz is not in favor of the change. Council will vote at its next meeting.
• Decided to start selling pool passes May 1 instead of April 15.

Council will meet next at 7 p.m. Monday in City Hall.