April 1 Common Council Meeting Recap

Provided below are meeting highlights from the Tuesday, April 1, Common Council meeting. Watch the full meeting on the city YouTube channel here.

Transparency in the School Budget:

President McTernan called for greater transparency in the school budget, which makes up over 50% of the tax bill. “Few people know what’s in it—this has to change,” he emphasized. He praised the Board of School Estimate, which includes Mayor Elizabeth Fagan, Councilmember Delia Hamlet, and Councilmember Kevin Smallwood, for working diligently with the school administration to bring down the proposed school budget increase of just under 9 percent to just under 4 percent without compromising educational quality, student-teacher ratio, or programming. 

Historical Minute:

Matt McKeever, a sophomore at Summit High School, shared Summit Baseball’s rich history at Memorial Field, where the team has practiced for 100 years. Did you know Hall of Famer Joe Medwick signed with the St. Louis Cardinals after playing here? Be sure to catch the home opener this Thursday at 4pm against Roselle Park! Watch the Historical Minute here.

Ordinances for Introduction:

• Outdoor Sleeping Ordinance: A new ordinance was introduced to regulate camping and sleeping in public areas.
• Personal Transportation Devices: A proposed ordinance seeks to regulate the use of skateboards, scooters, and electric vehicles, including banning these devices from downtown sidewalks.
• Resident Protection Code Revision: The city introduced updates to strengthen police regulations, focusing on unauthorized access to private property and suspicious activities while in possession of devices that can jam Wi-Fi or clone key fobs. Extends suspicious activity to peering into vehicles or trying to enter private structures. 

All of these ordinances were just introduced. The public hearing will take place on April 22 where anyone is welcome to voice their thoughts on each issue. After the public hearing, Council will vote on each ordinance. 

Resolutions Passed:

• Sewage Fee: Summit residents will pay a low sewage fee of $399 per household, significantly lower than many neighboring towns. This is due to a cooperative agreement set forth decades ago that allows for great service at a low rate.
• Tatlock Playground Upgrade: The council approved the purchase of custom owl playscape and playground equipment for Tatlock Playground.
• $5,000 Donation from Elks Lodge: Summit’s Elks Lodge made a generous $5,000 donation to support the Police Department’s DARE program.

Mayor Fagan’s Comments on First Responders’ Efforts:

Mayor Elizabeth Fagan commended Summit’s first responders for their incredible work in collaboration with Summit High School students during the OM3D live scenario on distracted and drunk driving. The engaging demonstration and video served to raise awareness about the dangers of impaired driving. Watch the video here.

Upcoming Events:

• Summit Showcase – April 10, 3-5pm: Join us at the new fire station on Broad Street for the First Annual Summit Showcase! Meet representatives from all city departments, enjoy interactive activities, and pick up some fun swag. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about your local government and volunteer opportunities. More info here.
• Easter Egg Hunt – April 12, 1:45pm: Don’t miss the annual Easter Egg Hunt on the Village Green! Festivities begin at 1pm, and the hunt kicks off at 1:45pm. Be sure to BYOB (Bring Your Own Basket) for this fun-filled tradition! More info here.
• Earth Day Cleanup Success: A huge thank you to all the volunteers who participated in this year’s Earth Day Cleanup. Summit residents came out in full force to help clean up our parks and green spaces, showing their commitment to keeping our community beautiful and sustainable.

Click here to watch the full meeting and click here to view the meeting agenda.

This information is also available on the city website at https://cityofsummit.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2466.