Concerns over maintenance, oversight raised at Malvern council meeting

Malvern Village Council again heard pointed criticism from Malvern resident and business owner John Champer during public comment at its Feb. 18 meeting, which became a sometimes heated, wide-ranging discussion on storm cleanup, village staffing, employee oversight and health insurance costs.

Champer criticized what he described as a lack of follow-through after the recent snowstorm, focusing on clogged catch basins and areas he said were left unaddressed once temperatures warmed and snow began to melt.

He said he cleared catch basins himself along Carrollton Street and through town, describing the task as taking less than an hour. Champer also raised concerns about the park walking track, saying he initially believed village crews had cleared it before learning others had done the work.

He questioned sidewalk clearing near the gazebo area and the post office and challenged the village’s response time and priorities following the storm.

During the discussion, Champer also questioned employee start times and said he observed a village truck at a drive-thru shortly after the beginning of the workday.

“Hire somebody to mow the park, restructure your employees and get a real street boss,” said Champer.

Champer also questioned oversight of the street department.

“For the last four years I’ve done nothing but try to do the best for this village,” said Village Administrator Derik Kaltenbaugh, who is in charge of the street department. “We’ve brought in $4 million in less than three and a half years that didn’t cost this village a penny.”

Councilwoman Barb Burgess responded by saying the village had received complaints about Champer’s business blocking the street during unloading but had not formally addressed them.

“Nobody’s ever said anything to you because you’re part of our community,” Burgess said.

“The town’s not happy,” said Nolan Champer, who also attended the meeting. “There is a very disgruntled attitude toward this town government. Whether it’s justified or not, the town’s not happy. Let’s get rid of this antagonistic spirit and move forward together. We want to make Malvern better.”

John Champer then turned to village finances, including council pay, income tax revenue and general fund figures and the cost of providing health insurance for employees. He said he contacted insurance providers and referenced examples from other communities.

Councilman Mike McCort reported that Brown Township’s single medical coverage cost was $1,109.76 per month, with the township paying the full premium. He noted that he did not have details on deductibles or plan structure during the meeting.

Mayor Bob DeLong thanked the Champer family for their concerns and for attending the meeting.

In a separate discussion among council, Fiscal Officer Ashley Neading reported that she walked the park’s walking track and created a detailed map identifying areas in need of repair. She said she documented dips in the surface, missing chunks of material and areas where tree roots are pushing up the track, contributing to continued deterioration.

Neading said the village is exploring grant opportunities to address the repairs, including funding assistance through the county and the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association. She said a representative from Vasco, the company that originally installed the track, is expected to inspect the surface and provide a repair estimate.

Kaltenbaugh added he spoke to Carroll County Commissioner Christopher Modranski, who is going to apply for the OMEGA grant on behalf of the village.

Neading also marked several trees located close to the track that are affecting the surface with their roots.

In addition to track repairs, Neading said she obtained a quote for a new paint sprayer for use on curbs and crosswalks, noting that the current equipment is outdated and not performing effectively. She said additional quotes will be obtained before any decision is made.

In other business, council:

—HEARD Councilman Justin Wadsworth discuss the possible use of Monday.com, an online project management platform, to organize scheduling and track village maintenance work. He said council members or Kaltenbaugh could enter issues such as potholes into the system for Street Superintendent Jeff Burgess to review and address. Neading will explore setting up a free trial.

—HEARD hydrant flushing is scheduled for March 23–28.

—LEARNED 50 tons of salt were delivered and stored for future winter weather.

—APPROVED a motion by Councilman Mike McCort to list the village’s old water truck and old trailer for sale on GovDeals, an online auction site used by government agencies.

—HEARD it is about four weeks until Frontier replaces a telephone pole that is holding up the new recycle bins at the parking lot near the Great Trail Fire District fire station.

—HEARD McCort contacted Union Metal Industries in Canton regarding the lamp poles on the bridge. He said the poles may be past their life expectancy and that a specialist is expected to return his call with additional information for the next meeting.