Sylvania City Council approved a series of personnel, infrastructure and public works measures during the July 20 meeting, including a new retirement savings option for employees, a refuse collection contract and funding requests for future road projects.

Council approved Human Resources/Communications Manager Laura Smith’s recommendation to add a Roth 457(b) retirement savings option for eligible city employees.

Members also approved a reorganization of the city’s finance department by creating financial analyst and financial coordinator positions to better define departmental responsibilities.

Thanks to council support, Sylvania Police Department will donate its out-of-warranty ballistic vests to Owens Community College’s law enforcement program.

Council referred a petition from Millstream Development Co. to the Planning Commission to review the request for a zoning change from R-1 to R-1 Planned Development for property on the south side of Brint Road, west of the King Road intersection. The change would allow development of four residential lots with three as single-family use and one as a two-family use.

Council also scheduled a public hearing for Sept. 8 on a petition submitted by Trustee Donald A. Perrucci to rezone property at 8310 Sylvania-Metamora Road from B-2 to B-2 Special Use Permit to allow for the construction of a car wash. Service Director Joe Shaw received approval to modify and extend the city’s 41-year lease for Maplewood Corner Park. The new agreement includes a five-year lease with an option for a one-year extension. Under the lease, the city will pay property taxes on the parcel and provide Reeb Funeral Home, the property owner, with at least 24 hours’ notice before live music events are held at the park.

Council also authorized Shaw to submit the Centennial Road-Little Road roundabout project for 2026 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program funding and Surface Transportation Block Grant funding administered by Lake Erie West. According to the city’s safety director, the project will be submitted to both funding programs with the goal of being selected in one of them.

Additional approvals were given for Small Project funding applications in the Surface Transportation Block Grant program for the Erie Street Resurfacing Project (Highland View Drive to the Railroad Tracks) and the Main Street Reconstruction Project (Convent Boulevard to Brint Road).

In other business, Shaw discussed maintenance of open drainage ditches, shade trees located within the public right-of-way and street lighting. Council approved his recommendations to assess abutting property owners for maintenance costs associated with drainage ditches, shade trees and street lighting.

Council awarded the city’s refuse and recycling collection contract to Republic Services, the lowest bidder.
Members also approved Shaw’s request for a final change order for Phase 1 of the Downtown Transportation Improvement Project, resulting in savings of $275,680.18 for the city.

The next Sylvania City Council meeting is scheduled for 6:30 pm Aug. 17.