WESTON—Weston Village Council on October 5 held the second reading of an ordinance splitting the commercial zone into downtown and commercial districts, voted to support Bill Barnhart for the Northwest Water and Sewer District board, and heard a resident’s questions about how performers were hired to play Santa and Mrs. Claus, according to the meeting minutes. All six council members were present.


Zoning Ordinance Gets Second Reading


Council continued discussion of the proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance, which divides the current Commercial District into a Downtown Business District and a Commercial District, allows R1 and R2 residential standards, and changes setbacks and procedures, the minutes say. It was noted that the Downtown Business District would follow the same general standards as the existing Commercial District. The ordinance received its first reading on September 21 (zoning coverage).


Barnhart Backed for Water and Sewer Board


Council suspended the rules and adopted Resolution 2026-13 as an emergency, casting the village’s votes for Bill Barnhart to fill a vacant seat on the Northwest Water and Sewer District board. Both roll calls were unanimous (rules: Warner/Rupp; adoption: Patel/Rupp). Council had voted to nominate Barnhart on September 8 (September 8 coverage).


Questions About the Santa Program


During the citizens’ portion, resident Jigar Patel asked that several questions about the village’s Christmas program be answered and placed on the record. As recorded in the minutes, he asked:

  • How many council members were privately approached by Councilmember Ashley Patel about hiring her parents to portray Mr. and Mrs. Claus
  • How many board members knew the people being hired were Patel’s parents
  • What the village paid for the Santa suit it owns, and what it costs to clean and maintain (the minutes record this as the “center suite”)
  • Who played Santa in previous years, what they were paid, and how they were selected

The minutes do not record any answers. Council approved funding on September 8 for an appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus at the December 5 tree lighting, at $75 per half hour. The September 8 minutes do not name the performers.

Before adjournment, Councilmember Brittney Klockowski, speaking as a citizen, acknowledged public feedback about possible conflicts of interest. According to the minutes, she said that for future matters involving council members’ relatives she would gather more information and check whether other members know the relevant details before voting. The minutes also note that Patel was absent from the earlier discussion and vote because of knee surgery.


Public Works: Stop Sign Stays Down, Truck and Stormwater Go to Committee


Councilmember Craig Warner reported on the Public Works Committee’s September 22 meeting:

  • Cherry and Willow stop sign: A resident asked that the stop sign at Cherry and Willow streets be put back to keep drivers from cutting through a yard. Google Earth images show a sign there in 2006 and 2010 but not in 2024, and village records show the location crossed off the stop-sign registry with no record of when or why. Reinstating it would require an ordinance, and members worried about misuse because of the immediate left turn and lack of opposing traffic. The motion not to reinstate the sign, citing insufficient traffic, passed unanimously (Klockowski/Warner).
  • Red Chevrolet truck: The village truck has a recurring oil leak and battery drain. The question of replacing it was sent to the Administrative Process Committee by unanimous vote, and Administrator Harold Boggs will keep looking for the cause of the drain.
  • Stormwater: A conditions assessment of the village’s storm sewers is complete, and the village is waiting for the findings. The financial side was sent to the Administrative Process Committee by unanimous vote.
  • Taylor Street: Manhole covers and catch basins on the Taylor Street project are still to be finished by Helms & Sons Excavating. Mayor Rick Easterwood was to contact OHM Advisors about the timeline.
  • Sidewalks: The committee will get a quote for connecting sidewalks to Oak Street along the cross streets between Broadway and Maple.
  • Ball diamonds: Quotes are being sought for lawn and field equipment for Maurice R. Brown Field (the small field) and Bobby Businger Field (the big field).
  • Route 235 trees: Boggs will cut back trees growing in the ditches along State Route 235 near Taylor Street.


Public Safety: Ambulance Lettering and Knox Boxes


The Public Safety Committee met September 28 and reported 335 EMS runs so far this year. For lettering the new ambulance, the committee recommended a $4,050 quote from a Napoleon company that would do the work in Weston, over a $4,000 quote from Design Graphics that would require leaving the ambulance at the shop, so the ambulance stays available locally. The committee also began a 2027 equipment wish list (chargers, Lucas device and cot batteries and other items), discussed replacing a roughly $1,000 mattress borrowed from the fire department, and will look at joining a township grant to buy five Knox boxes, with Patel to bring information in November.

In the citizens’ portion, EMS assistant chief Tim Schroeder said a driver’s training session will familiarize crews with the new ambulance, which is laid out differently from the old one, and that village personnel installed the power-load cot system themselves, saving about $650 (ambulance coverage).


Cemetery: Wreaths Across America Recognition


The Cemetery Board reported that Modern Woodmen selected Weston’s cemetery as one of three in Ohio for promotional recognition through its partnership with Wreaths Across America. Donations have covered 354 wreaths, with 181 still needed so every veteran buried there receives one. Details will be in the November village newsletter. The board also reported that the cemetery truck has broken down, and it will wait until January to decide between repairs and a hand-me-down village truck if the red Chevrolet is replaced. A dead beech tree will be removed, the cemetery sign may move to the 2027 budget, and fall foundations were to be poured by the end of October.


Other Business


  • State audit: Fiscal Officer Stephanie Monts reported that the state audit of 2024–2025 was finalized September 8 and completed satisfactorily.
  • Deck variance: The Planning Commission on October 2 recommended a variance for a nine-foot deck on Locust Street that extends about a foot past the setback. (The zoning report lists the address as Maple Street.)
  • Zoning report: Code enforcement officer Ken Taylor reported that village solicitor Paul Skaff advised it would not be permissible for the village to take over the vacant Russ Street property and negotiate with neighbors to tear the house down.
  • Maintenance: The new mower has been delivered. Boggs received a JPX quote for overlaying the park walking path and was working on the alley in the Sycamore Street area.
  • Adult baseball: Council discussed concern that an adult baseball league, which operates through the Weston Sports Initiative and uses village fields, may leave Weston. Council will follow up to see whether the village can help keep it.
  • Resident concerns: Greg Stevens told council he is frustrated by uneven enforcement. He said few residents register golf carts as required, that he has seen young children driving carts on village streets, and that he shovels his own sidewalk while the village pays to repair others. He also said some properties are kept like junkyards. He asked that rules be applied equally.
  • Bills: Council approved $24,716.16 in bills and $25,876.33 in outstanding invoices (Patel/Susor).


No recording of this meeting has been posted by the village. This account is based on the official minutes; The Weston Common has requested the audio and will update this story if it differs.

Sources: Oct. 5 council minutes · Oct. 5 council agenda · Sept. 8 council minutes