Issues spark interest in Beverly

In recent years, it seems like the Beverly Village Council has had as many members appointed as elected.

But controversy over proposed zoning regulations this year galvanized interest in village government. On Nov. 3, Beverly voters will choose from among seven candidates to fill four council seats.

Small business owner Christine Spung-Theis, 44, said debate and discussion over the zoning issue this year opened her eyes to different things going on in the community and eventually led to her first run for public office.

"I decided you can't sit on the fence and complain if you're not willing to step forward and get involved," she said, noting zoning isn't the only issue that concerns her.

Spung-Theis said current council members took community concerns into account and worked with residential and business committees to revise the initially criticized zoning plan.

"It turned out to be very flexible," said Spung-Theis, a member of the residential zoning committee.

While she describes the current council as "a wonderful group of people," Spung-Theis said she doesn't think having some fresh eyes in the group would be a bad thing.

Self-employed woodworker Beth Kenyon, 56, said the zoning issue also got her "involved in council... and the politics of the city." Over the last few months, Kenyon said, she's attended most every council and zoning meeting and, more recently, some committee meetings.

This will be her first run for public office.

Kenyon lived in a rural area just outside Plain City, near Columbus. Although she's lived in Beverly less than a decade, she said she likes the small-town feel.

"For the most part, I'm not here to make any radical changes. I just want to preserve" the village and its way of life, Kenyon said.

Toward that end, Kenyon wants to work as a council member to clean up and fix up problem areas, like deteriorating sidewalks. She also wants to open the lines of communication more between council and citizens.

Jim Ullman, a supply chain operations manager for AEP, served on Beverly's Board of Public Affairs for four years. He resigned earlier this year while mulling a run for council.

While Ullman, 53, agrees some of the zoning concerns have been addressed by council, he doesn't like that the legislation will be finalized before the end of the year. If elected, he wants to revisit some parts of the ordinance.

Specifically, Ullman said the rules could hinder the growth of the village by restricting where businesses can locate.

"That's a real concern for me because the village taxes, that's what keeps the village running," he said.

Making the most of the village's money is another of Ullman's goals.

"I'm hoping that I can put some of my experiences into budgeting and being more accountable for our money," he said.

The fourth challenger in the race is hardly a newcomer to Beverly government. Jay Arnold, 57, served on council for 11 years before being appointed mayor in 2004. He resigned in 2006 after taking a job with the Ohio Department of Transportation (state law prevented him from holding two government positions at the same time, Arnold said).

Now, Arnold is a human resources manager at Eramet and wants to get back on council, where he said he's helped do a lot of positive things.

"I've known the people in Beverly my entire life, and the one thing I want to make sure of is the village council is a good steward of the taxpayers' money," he said, pointing to his business and management experience as a benefit in that arena.

Zoning wasn't Arnold's primary motivator for running, but he does have concerns over how it was handled. He said council left some common sense items out of the initial legislation, spent extra money on outside counsel instead of using the village solicitor and didn't communicate well with the citizens about the process.

Incumbent Councilwoman Amista N. Lipot, 35, admitted council probably could have communicated better with residents about the zoning issue at first. However, she said the goal was always to get feedback from community members.

The aim of the zoning legislation is "to really capture and maintain the integrity of the village we have today and help the landowners retain the value of their property," Lipot said.

Appointed to her seat three years ago, Lipot said council has accomplished "some amazing things" over the last few years.

She said village tennis courts were redone, a sidewalk was put in along Ohio 339 through a Safe Routes to School grant, playground equipment was redone at Dodge Park and the 200-year-old arch in the Beverly Cemetery was refurbished.

Lipot said she would like to see more sidewalks added to make the village more friendly to pedestrians and bicyclists.

Like Lipot, Councilwoman Arlene Pennock, 78, was also appointed to the current council.

"Even though we've had appointed members, we've had a very compatible council," said Pennock, who previously served as the village's clerk/treasurer for more than 10 years.

Pennock pointed to some of the same council accomplishments as Lipot and said council is pursuing another Safe Routes to School grant, as well as funding for improvements to the downtown area.

On the subject of zoning, Pennock said it is important to protect the village as it is now while providing for future growth. She said there were a couple of items inadvertently left out of the first draft, probably because the ordinance was fashioned out of portions of other zoning plans.

Pennock said the zoning ordinance as it now stands will allow any residential property to maintain that designation as long as the property owner wants.

"Our Main Street is a mix of commercial and residence, and we'd like to see it remain that way," she said.

The third incumbent, Councilwoman Kandy Baker, was also appointed to her post. She was originally appointed in 2001, then ran for re-election in 2003. At the end of that term, she decided not to run again.

But when a vacancy remained in 2008, she accepted a second appointment.

"I just enjoy being on council," Baker said. "I think I speak for the people."

In another term, Baker, who has served as chairwoman of the pool committee in recent years, said she wants to come up with ways to increase attendance at the pool. She plans to send letters to residents asking for suggestions.

Baker also hopes to obtain more grant funding for sidewalks and to work on the upkeep of roads and alleys.

She also agreed that council could have done a better job communicating about the zoning issue at first, although she thinks the process is going well now that community members are more involved.

Pennock's daughter-in-law, Mary Pennock, is the fourth council member whose seat is on the ballot. She chose not to run for re-election.

Member Comments

View Comments: | 1-3 | Post a comment

hockeypuck
10-27-09 6:45 PM »Report Abuse	I believe I read in the Times just a short time ago that people would wait to get appointed, not elected to these positions. Wow, what a bunch of hypocrites.
Indian
10-26-09 8:55 PM »Report Abuse	Lots of local interest here??????????????
Indian
10-26-09 1:54 PM »Report Abuse	Zoning is nothing without enforcement. Look at Marietta. If it is not going to be truly enforced, vote it down. Specifically, Ullman said the rules could hinder the growth of the village by restricting where businesses can locate. Is that what zoning is about? Vote it down, if you are not sure.

You must first login before you can comment.

Existing Member Login
Not a Member?	Create a Member Account
*Your email address:		<--Email REQUIRED!
*Password:	Forgot Password?	<--Password REQUIRED!
	Remember my email address.