WEBVTT

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...

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We want to welcome everybody here tonight.

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We're going to start with our BOZA meeting.

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Then we're going to have and do our

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Pledge of Allegiance. Our prayer.

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And then we're going to go into our ceremony.

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Our swearing-in of new

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council members. Due to the

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fact we don't have a quorum here tonight,

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we are not going to be having a regular

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council meeting. So, we're going to go

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with our Board of Zoning Appeals.

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Going into our swearing-in.

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Trying to give you plenty of copies

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upstairs.

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Had to explain that.

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So, if you would, if you would rise

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for the Pledge of Allegiance.

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I pledge allegiance to the flag

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to the United States of America.

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and to the Republic for which it stands.

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One nation under God,

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indivisible with liberty

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and justice for all.

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Please stay standing and bow our heads.

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Let us pray now to give thanks

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for the freedoms we enjoy.

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For without them we would not be

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able to assemble here today.

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We take this short moment to

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remember the past, give us strength

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for the present

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and hope for the future, amen.

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Amen.

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So, Board of Zoning Appeals members.

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You're going to be looking at the variance from

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the zoning code to replace

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an existing garage with two carports.

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at 1124 Willow Street.

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Is Marcie Surman here? Okay.

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If you would like to explain

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to them what you want to do.

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When I got the permit back,

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they made it out it had to be

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six foot off the line.

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On the treeline there, I would like it

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to be the same as that we put it in.

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It's according to Lorain County

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a little off. Two and a half feet off

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the treeline.

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We would probably do

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actually five feet.

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I have a question. Is this a two carport?

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Yeah. There's two separate roles.

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I just want to argue with that line.

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The ... part.

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What other sides are you needing?

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I would need 25 for that.

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I'm just asking.

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So the way the second one is. Any pictures?

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They're inside that packet.

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Is it attached?

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The carport with the garage roof?

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Is it going to be attached to the main building?

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It only ties there. It won't be on it?

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When there's two cars in there

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they'll stay set next to each other.

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The first one is open sided.

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And it just has a roof. And the second

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one is closed in like the garage.

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That's the new structure here?

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It's going to have two garage doors on it?

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No. That was the first one we'll leave open.

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All sides will be open.

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It's literally a tent for it.

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You got any pictures of it?

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Because of what we have here, it's showing

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a portable garage door.

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That's the second one. Yes.

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Board members, any chance of going through

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today? "I make a motion"

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to approve the

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side lot variance.

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Second. "All in Favor?"

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Aye. "Opposed?"

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Thank you members.

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What are you going to do?

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We're going to need to set some stuff up.

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So here's what you vote. I'll cover you.

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We're not bringing this up.

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All the meetings are set.

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We need to be following the

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Board of Zoning Appeals. "Maybe we"

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should explain it? "No, but he really"

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would start. "So we call the council meeting"

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first.Then we talk about whether

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quorum for now. And then we need a vote.

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We'll make it.

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Well, we best go on then.

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No, we should not. "I don't know."

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Go ahead.

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I'll recognize the Law Director. "Well."

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We should call the meeting. We should call to order

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the council meeting.

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Well, we can do the roll call. "Do the roll call."

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Okay. So we are going into regular

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council meeting. McCort? "Here."

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Strah is absent.

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Kitts? "Here." Sauer?

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is absent. Dukles?

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Absent.

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Go ahead and perform your ceremony now.

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We don't have to quorum to have a meeting. "Okay."

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Well, then. When will we have a meeting, then?

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It. I don't know. Like for a special meeting.

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We're going to have to call a special meeting.

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Yeah, we'll have to call a special meeting.

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...

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I think the only alternative we have

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what it calls for is a motion to adjourn.

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And so, we need that.

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I move. "Second."

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Technically.

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All in favor? "Aye."

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Opposed?

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Okay, we're up. "Are you good with everything?"

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Yes. In fact I have a blessing

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for what is ...

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Somebody does.

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All right. We can handle this.

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Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen.

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My name is Andrew Lipian and I serve as

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the village administrator for this fair village

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of Grafton. I will be serving

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as master of ceremonies for this evening's

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swearing-in ceremony.

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I'd like to call this ceremony to order and

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thank all of you for being here this evening.

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Tonight's gathering is a brief ceremony

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swearing-in our newly elected council members

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for the Village of Grafton.

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All these members will be sworn in this evening.

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It is important to note for the record that

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they will not officially take office until

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January of 2026.

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This ceremony is being held in advance

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to ensure continuity and an orderly

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transition of government.

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Due to extenuating circumstances

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several current members of council

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were unable to be present at this meeting.

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As a result the regularly scheduled council

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meeting was cancelled. Or, as you heard,

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due to a lack of quorum, not able to

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be held in its entirety.

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We will immediately communicate if and when

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members of council can obtain a quorum.

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Hold a special meeting and

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do so before the end of the year.

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Additionally,

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a council member

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will be able to be present. But not

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all council members will be able to be present

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at the first meeting of Council on January 6th.

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Also, due to extenuating circumstances

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there's an important meeting that

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we're able to conduct the swearing-in ceremony of

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the newly elected council members this evening

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in a brief ceremonial format.

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At this time

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we wish to recognize the following members

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of Council who are transitioning out of office:

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Matthew Dukles, 1st Ward Council,

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Liz Sauer, 2nd Ward Council,

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and Timothy Strah, Council At-Large.

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We extend our sincere appreciation

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for their dedication and service

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to the residents of the Village of Grafton.

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Their contributions helped shape our community

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and we're grateful for their public service.

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We also express our hope

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that they will, when possible, continue their

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service as members, civic leaders and resources

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to our incoming council members. Supporting

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a smooth and successful transition.

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Before we proceed, I'd like to recognize

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distinguished members of the local press.

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Who are with us this evening. We appreciate

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your attendance and your coverage of

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village business.

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I would also like to take this moment to

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acknowledge and welcome special guests

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who are with us this evening.

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Please stand when your name is called.

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Councilwoman Lynette Kitts,

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4th Ward Councilwoman for the Village of Grafton.

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Councilman Patrick McCort,

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Ward 3 Councilman for the Village of Grafton.

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Law Director R. J. Budway,

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for the Village of Grafton.

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Madam Clerk-Treasurer Stephanie Barnhart

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of the Village of Grafton.

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And of course, Grafton mayor. The Honorable

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Charles L. Duke Jr.

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Mayor of the Village of Grafton.

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And his lovely wife, Debbie.

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Where are you, Debbie? Please stand.

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Please have a round of applause

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and a warm welcome.

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We also extend a warm welcome to family members.

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And other distinguished guests that are becoming

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council members. Thank you for being here to

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support them on this special occasion.

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At this time it is my honor to invite

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Grafton Mayor Charles Duke Jr.

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to the podium to offer a few brief remarks.

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Is he? "More than you think."

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Whatever you'd like, sir.

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The podium's yours.

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They're brief.

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After the first hour we'll take a break.

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I've got. I do have a little bit of

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advice that I would like to start with.

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For you new council members.

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It's a learning curve.

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You've never done anything like this before

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in your life. You're not politicians.

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Neither was I. Neither am I now.

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We are regular, normal people.

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We have a tow truck driver and home remodeler.

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A Lorain County Deputy Sheriff.

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A UPS driver.

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A former postal carrier.

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A former factory worker for 47 years.

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And I'm the undertaker.

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Normal people.

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Trying to do an extraordinary job.

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If you keep in mind; if you concentrate

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on your differences.

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The things that keep us separated.

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You've already slated yourself to fail.

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But, if we concentrate on what brings us

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together and strive for that one goal;

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the sky's the limit.

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When I was elected in,

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my transition. Let's just call it this way;

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was not pretty.

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But I want to give you a few things

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that we have accomplished. My administration

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has accomplished.

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The first thing I did was

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put Chief Danny Clark in as Safety

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Service Director.

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So I think we needed to have somebody in

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there that knew what was going on.

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Was able to handle the job.

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So we turned that over to him.

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One of the great things we did

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is we did not have an employee handbook.

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We never had one before.

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If we would have had an employee handbook, we

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wouldn't have been in half the mess we were in.

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So, I'm glad for that. We also have

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an HR Director.

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First time in Grafton history.

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J. R. White.

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This is a good one here.

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We got our road restriped.  

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And the reason that we did that. I put out a

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poll wanting to know what the people thought.

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It's your village.

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You hired us to represent you.

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And when I ran for office, I ran by

274
00:12:50,415 --> 00:12:52,415
listening to the people's voices.

275
00:12:52,415 --> 00:12:54,415
It's a government of the people, by the people

276
00:12:54,415 --> 00:12:56,133
and for the people.

277
00:12:56,133 --> 00:12:58,133
And the poll came back that

278
00:12:58,133 --> 00:13:00,455
better than 80% wanted it restriped.

279
00:13:00,827 --> 00:13:02,827
So, voilà. We did it.

280
00:13:04,308 --> 00:13:06,452
We also brought back our 4th of July

281
00:13:06,452 --> 00:13:08,452
parade, which keeps growing bigger and bigger

282
00:13:08,452 --> 00:13:09,983
and bigger.

283
00:13:09,983 --> 00:13:11,905
And thanks to the

284
00:13:11,905 --> 00:13:14,016
jewelers, we got Big Ben, our

285
00:13:14,016 --> 00:13:16,561
clock, repaired and going again.

286
00:13:16,841 --> 00:13:18,841
I want a shoutout to him.

287
00:13:19,422 --> 00:13:21,422
We have a.

288
00:13:22,329 --> 00:13:25,025
I've got to tell you this. We got a new VA.

289
00:13:25,377 --> 00:13:27,501
Andrew Lipian. Where'd you go Andrew?

290
00:13:27,501 --> 00:13:28,899
Right here.

291
00:13:29,617 --> 00:13:31,780
This man here works more hours

292
00:13:32,158 --> 00:13:33,851
than all of us together.

293
00:13:34,601 --> 00:13:36,811
With the concentration being on Grafton.

294
00:13:37,307 --> 00:13:39,653
I called here at 7 o'clock. I called him.

295
00:13:39,653 --> 00:13:41,653
I called him at 11 o'clock the other day

296
00:13:41,653 --> 00:13:43,287
on a Sunday night.

297
00:13:43,287 --> 00:13:45,471
He still sat in his office typing out emails.

298
00:13:46,097 --> 00:13:48,097
I had to suspend him to get him to go home.

299
00:13:49,506 --> 00:13:51,121
He's a hard worker.

300
00:13:51,499 --> 00:13:53,499
He's a hard worker. And we also have

301
00:13:53,499 --> 00:13:55,329
a Deputy VA.

302
00:13:55,329 --> 00:13:57,329
Which turned out to be very beneficial

303
00:13:57,329 --> 00:13:58,892
on our behalf.

304
00:13:58,892 --> 00:14:00,892
Regardless of what you've read,

305
00:14:00,892 --> 00:14:02,904
on the Internet. Which I like to stay away from

306
00:14:02,904 --> 00:14:04,904
the Internet. But what you've read

307
00:14:04,904 --> 00:14:06,904
on the Internet is that Duke's spending all

308
00:14:06,904 --> 00:14:09,035
this money with the new VA.

309
00:14:09,035 --> 00:14:11,035
And that's not true. Because when Andrew

310
00:14:11,035 --> 00:14:13,035
goes on military leave,

311
00:14:13,035 --> 00:14:15,781
he only draws half his pay from the military.

312
00:14:16,583 --> 00:14:18,583
The other half. The other half we use

313
00:14:18,583 --> 00:14:20,583
here in Grafton to pay the Deputy VA.

314
00:14:20,583 --> 00:14:22,583
It doesn't cost us any more money.

315
00:14:23,131 --> 00:14:25,177
They say Duke's draining the village.

316
00:14:25,803 --> 00:14:28,085
I can't do anything without Council's approval.

317
00:14:29,018 --> 00:14:31,227
So, I'm doing the best that I can here.

318
00:14:31,227 --> 00:14:32,919
You do a wonderful job.

319
00:14:32,919 --> 00:14:34,919
We got some new businesses.

320
00:14:34,919 --> 00:14:36,919
Biggby Coffee.

321
00:14:36,919 --> 00:14:38,919
Butter and Bloom Bakery.

322
00:14:39,369 --> 00:14:41,226
CC Saloon.

323
00:14:41,748 --> 00:14:43,748
And now we have a new Home Store.

324
00:14:43,748 --> 00:14:45,748
And I'm still working on Hardee's. Don't give

325
00:14:45,748 --> 00:14:47,643
that up yet.

326
00:14:47,643 --> 00:14:49,800
We're working hard. And we have

327
00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:51,800
Albert's Fresh Market that we're still

328
00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:53,957
working toward your pharmacy.

329
00:14:54,094 --> 00:14:56,094
We're going to push. We're going to fight.

330
00:14:56,257 --> 00:14:58,257
This town wants it. This town needs it.

331
00:14:58,257 --> 00:15:00,014
You can do it.

332
00:15:01,104 --> 00:15:03,104
We also gave away five

333
00:15:03,104 --> 00:15:05,478
awards with the ARPA Fund.

334
00:15:05,993 --> 00:15:08,241
So part of that went to you for your help.

335
00:15:09,128 --> 00:15:11,358
We did it for Gunter Concrete.

336
00:15:11,723 --> 00:15:13,723
The old Historic School.

337
00:15:13,723 --> 00:15:15,723
CC Saloon.

338
00:15:16,147 --> 00:15:18,462
I'm missing somebody. "You probably did."

339
00:15:18,809 --> 00:15:20,021
Village Coffee and Cream.

340
00:15:20,025 --> 00:15:21,913
Village Coffee and Cream.

341
00:15:21,913 --> 00:15:23,913
So we managed to get that done.

342
00:15:24,161 --> 00:15:26,161
We have repaved Novak.

343
00:15:27,061 --> 00:15:29,061
Jamie Court. Vivian Drive.

344
00:15:29,863 --> 00:15:31,863
Still working on some of those roads.

345
00:15:31,863 --> 00:15:34,144
We plan on getting them done. Shelby's done.

346
00:15:34,144 --> 00:15:36,144
And the lake streets. "And all the lake streets:"

347
00:15:36,144 --> 00:15:39,389
Erie, Ontario back there. We get those done.

348
00:15:40,230 --> 00:15:42,230
We got the VA Memorial.

349
00:15:42,230 --> 00:15:44,230
It's down there at the five points.

350
00:15:44,230 --> 00:15:46,191
they used to call it five points. Then that

351
00:15:46,191 --> 00:15:47,930
got ruined.

352
00:15:50,331 --> 00:15:52,331
We got our hand in there.

353
00:15:52,860 --> 00:15:55,043
So we're working on possibly.

354
00:15:56,595 --> 00:15:58,804
We're putting in a base of concrete

355
00:15:58,804 --> 00:16:01,191
for vases, so people can leave flowers for

356
00:16:01,191 --> 00:16:02,594
our veterans.

357
00:16:02,594 --> 00:16:04,594
We've also entered into some agreements about

358
00:16:04,594 --> 00:16:06,594
a pocket park behind the old Grafton

359
00:16:06,594 --> 00:16:08,115
Historic School.

360
00:16:08,122 --> 00:16:10,121
The ... cleaned.

361
00:16:10,121 --> 00:16:12,206
I didn't do this all on my own.

362
00:16:12,206 --> 00:16:14,354
This is the administration. Everybody working

363
00:16:14,354 --> 00:16:15,916
together.

364
00:16:15,916 --> 00:16:18,743
We've had interns in here working for us,

365
00:16:18,743 --> 00:16:20,821
for college credits. That's the first time

366
00:16:20,821 --> 00:16:22,206
that's ever happened.

367
00:16:22,206 --> 00:16:24,206
And boy, did it ever come in handy.

368
00:16:24,206 --> 00:16:26,206
As a matter of fact, we got three coming

369
00:16:26,676 --> 00:16:28,676
for a month in January

370
00:16:28,676 --> 00:16:30,676
to help us through this transition.

371
00:16:31,570 --> 00:16:33,838
We got a lot of water meters replaced.

372
00:16:34,301 --> 00:16:36,301
We hired a gal to do our digital records

373
00:16:36,301 --> 00:16:38,301
and our IT. That's Cailyn Hess.

374
00:16:38,712 --> 00:16:40,882
And she has been phenomenal and

375
00:16:40,882 --> 00:16:43,641
helping get some of these projects done.

376
00:16:43,980 --> 00:16:46,150
Now she conrols our website.

377
00:16:47,011 --> 00:16:49,011
Doing a real good job.

378
00:16:49,291 --> 00:16:51,291
We got the Department of Youth that's

379
00:16:51,291 --> 00:16:53,291
going to be groundbreaking

380
00:16:53,291 --> 00:16:55,102
this spring.

381
00:16:55,102 --> 00:16:57,102
Yes, I just talked to them today. It's coming.

382
00:16:57,565 --> 00:16:59,565
So Governor Mike DeWine hopefully will be

383
00:16:59,565 --> 00:17:01,565
here in our little town.

384
00:17:02,335 --> 00:17:04,335
And one of the biggest ones,

385
00:17:04,576 --> 00:17:06,641
plan of Grafton was

386
00:17:06,641 --> 00:17:08,739
we kept the Library in town.

387
00:17:09,906 --> 00:17:12,043
That was a big fight. "Thank you."

388
00:17:12,043 --> 00:17:13,339
Hear, hear.

389
00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:15,920
We got the wetlands put in at the end of

390
00:17:15,920 --> 00:17:17,920
Willow Street. So there's no more houses being

391
00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:19,588
built in there.

392
00:17:19,679 --> 00:17:21,882
I told you we had a HR Director.

393
00:17:21,882 --> 00:17:23,692
We also hired a Main Street

394
00:17:23,692 --> 00:17:25,470
Grafton director.

395
00:17:25,470 --> 00:17:28,019
They picked it out. We donated the money.

396
00:17:28,430 --> 00:17:31,025
And you can see what a difference that made in

397
00:17:31,253 --> 00:17:33,462
Old Fashioned Christmas. And some of our other

398
00:17:34,519 --> 00:17:36,519
parades and that, that we have going on.

399
00:17:36,839 --> 00:17:39,777
Because, because the newspaper is very limited,

400
00:17:40,155 --> 00:17:42,560
and who gets it. It only comes out four days a week.

401
00:17:42,827 --> 00:17:44,991
I decided to do the Duke Dispatch.

402
00:17:45,741 --> 00:17:47,741
Online, so everybody could

403
00:17:47,741 --> 00:17:49,741
keep up with what we're doing. Because

404
00:17:49,741 --> 00:17:51,578
I understand not everybody can be at every

405
00:17:51,578 --> 00:17:53,578
council meeting.

406
00:17:53,578 --> 00:17:55,578
We got the zoning completely overhauled

407
00:17:55,578 --> 00:17:57,290
in the village.

408
00:17:57,290 --> 00:17:59,844
And we did the Historic Overlay District.

409
00:18:00,901 --> 00:18:03,085
So we managed to get all that done

410
00:18:03,940 --> 00:18:05,940
in the wild, wild west.

411
00:18:06,762 --> 00:18:08,560
Because it wasn't easy.

412
00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:10,867
But together. We work together

413
00:18:10,867 --> 00:18:12,867
and we got all that accomplished.

414
00:18:13,193 --> 00:18:15,193
And you boys that are coming on, keep that

415
00:18:15,193 --> 00:18:17,284
in mind. We work together.

416
00:18:18,041 --> 00:18:20,041
Got it done. We're going to have differences.

417
00:18:21,973 --> 00:18:23,757
But we got to work together.

418
00:18:23,757 --> 00:18:25,757
And who do we work for? We work for the

419
00:18:25,757 --> 00:18:27,757
people that's setting behind you.

420
00:18:27,757 --> 00:18:30,261
They put us in. That's who we work for.

421
00:18:30,789 --> 00:18:32,789
With that being said, I'll turn it back over

422
00:18:32,789 --> 00:18:34,372
to Andrew. "Well said, Mayor Duke."

423
00:18:40,686 --> 00:18:42,686
Thank you, Mayor Duke.

424
00:18:43,338 --> 00:18:45,338
At this time, Mayor Charles

425
00:18:45,338 --> 00:18:47,312
L. Duke will administer the oath

426
00:18:47,312 --> 00:18:49,312
of office to the newly elected council

427
00:18:49,312 --> 00:18:51,351
members for the Village of Grafton.

428
00:18:52,101 --> 00:18:54,101
We will begin with the swearing-in

429
00:18:54,101 --> 00:18:56,101
of Scott Walter Kilgore

430
00:18:56,101 --> 00:18:58,199
incoming at-large council member

431
00:18:58,199 --> 00:18:59,989
for the Village of Grafton.

432
00:18:59,989 --> 00:19:01,989
Mr. Kilgore's joined this evening by his

433
00:19:01,989 --> 00:19:03,989
distinguished guest; his wife,

434
00:19:03,989 --> 00:19:05,989
Mrs. Lora Kilgore.

435
00:19:05,989 --> 00:19:07,989
Come to the left.

436
00:19:11,844 --> 00:19:13,844
Can I get a bible? "We have one."

437
00:19:13,844 --> 00:19:15,674
All right. Very good. You guys line up

438
00:19:15,674 --> 00:19:17,674
right over here.

439
00:19:20,707 --> 00:19:22,707
Okay.

440
00:19:22,707 --> 00:19:24,582
Who would you like to have hold the Bible?

441
00:19:24,584 --> 00:19:26,290
My wife. "Your wife? Okay, wonderful."

442
00:19:26,290 --> 00:19:28,513
Would you like to take this

443
00:19:28,514 --> 00:19:31,000
Yes? "I'd be delighted."

444
00:19:31,567 --> 00:19:33,567
And this is the oath of office, Mr. Mayor.

445
00:19:33,567 --> 00:19:35,567
And the Bible. Still want to hold the Bible?

446
00:19:35,567 --> 00:19:37,567
You want to hold it here to his left, so he

447
00:19:37,567 --> 00:19:39,567
can raise his right hand? "Left hand on"

448
00:19:39,567 --> 00:19:41,567
the Bible. Raise your right hand.

449
00:19:42,095 --> 00:19:44,095
Repeat after me.

450
00:19:44,095 --> 00:19:46,095
I, Scott W. Kilgore

451
00:19:46,095 --> 00:19:48,574
I, Scott W. Kilgore "do solemnly swear"

452
00:19:48,574 --> 00:19:50,617
I solemnly swear "I will support the"

453
00:19:50,623 --> 00:19:52,623
Constitution of the United States. "I will"

454
00:19:52,623 --> 00:19:54,623
support the Constitution of the United States

455
00:19:54,623 --> 00:19:56,480
the Constitution of the State of Ohio

456
00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:58,101
the Constitution of the State of Ohio

457
00:19:58,101 --> 00:20:00,101
and all the laws of the municipality

458
00:20:00,101 --> 00:20:01,970
and all the laws of the municipality "I will"

459
00:20:01,970 --> 00:20:03,760
faithfully, honestly and impartially

460
00:20:03,774 --> 00:20:05,774
I will faithfully, honestly and impartially

461
00:20:05,774 --> 00:20:07,892
discharge the duties "discharge the duties"

462
00:20:07,892 --> 00:20:09,892
of the office of Councilman At-Large

463
00:20:09,892 --> 00:20:11,604
of the office of Councilman At-Large

464
00:20:11,604 --> 00:20:13,394
Village of Grafton "Village of Grafton"

465
00:20:13,394 --> 00:20:15,394
State of Ohio "State of Ohio" during my

466
00:20:15,394 --> 00:20:17,394
continuance in said office. "during my"

467
00:20:17,394 --> 00:20:19,858
continuance in said office. "Congratulations."

468
00:20:38,214 --> 00:20:40,214
Congratulations Councilman-elect Kilgore.

469
00:20:40,214 --> 00:20:42,214
We wish you luck on your term in Council

470
00:20:42,214 --> 00:20:44,214
and look forward to serving together for the

471
00:20:44,214 --> 00:20:46,534
residents of the Village of Grafton. One more

472
00:20:46,534 --> 00:20:48,534
round of applause, please.

473
00:20:52,350 --> 00:20:54,350
Mayor Duke will now swear-in Brian

474
00:20:54,350 --> 00:20:56,350
Michael Romes. Incoming council member

475
00:20:56,350 --> 00:20:58,984
for the 1st Ward of the Village of Grafton.

476
00:21:00,889 --> 00:21:03,007
Who would you like to hold the Bible? "My Mom"

477
00:21:03,007 --> 00:21:05,007
or my sister, or both. "All right."

478
00:21:05,007 --> 00:21:07,007
That sounds like the whole family to me.

479
00:21:07,809 --> 00:21:09,809
Come on, now that we got the whole family.

480
00:21:09,809 --> 00:21:11,809
I give my whole day.

481
00:21:15,606 --> 00:21:17,606
It's Romes. Thank you. Romes.

482
00:21:17,606 --> 00:21:20,069
That's my daughter. "He's been my neighbor"

483
00:21:20,069 --> 00:21:22,258
for several years. I'm used to swearing

484
00:21:22,258 --> 00:21:24,258
at him. But now I can swear him in.

485
00:21:28,192 --> 00:21:30,422
As long as you can put your hand on it, too.

486
00:21:30,422 --> 00:21:32,187
Raise your right hand, Brian.

487
00:21:32,187 --> 00:21:34,187
I, Brian Romes "I, Brian Romes"

488
00:21:34,187 --> 00:21:36,017
do solemnly swear "do solemnly swear"

489
00:21:36,017 --> 00:21:38,017
I will support the Constitution

490
00:21:38,017 --> 00:21:40,160
I will support the Constitution "of the United"

491
00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:42,160
States "of the United States" the constitution

492
00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:44,160
of the State of Ohio "the constitution of"

493
00:21:44,160 --> 00:21:46,160
the State of Ohio "and all the laws of the"

494
00:21:46,160 --> 00:21:48,610
municipality "all the laws of the municipaliy"

495
00:21:48,610 --> 00:21:51,689
and I will faithfully, honestly and impartially

496
00:21:51,826 --> 00:21:54,016
and I will faithfully, honestly and impartially

497
00:21:54,016 --> 00:21:55,957
discharge the duties of the office

498
00:21:55,957 --> 00:21:57,898
discharge the duties of the office

499
00:21:57,898 --> 00:22:00,062
of Ward 1 Councilman "of Ward 1 Councilman"

500
00:22:00,062 --> 00:22:02,441
of the Village of Grafton "of the Village of'

501
00:22:02,441 --> 00:22:04,441
Grafton "State of Ohio" State of Ohio

502
00:22:04,441 --> 00:22:06,441
during my continuance in said office.

503
00:22:06,441 --> 00:22:08,441
during my continuance in said office.

504
00:22:08,441 --> 00:22:10,441
Congratulations.

505
00:22:17,316 --> 00:22:19,316
No disrespect.

506
00:22:20,797 --> 00:22:23,374
I'll buy you one tomorrow.

507
00:22:23,863 --> 00:22:26,065
Congratulations Councilman-elect Romes.

508
00:22:26,065 --> 00:22:28,327
Who is also a distinguished veteration,

509
00:22:28,327 --> 00:22:30,327
veteran of Operation Desert Storm.

510
00:22:30,797 --> 00:22:32,797
We wish you luck on your term in Council

511
00:22:32,797 --> 00:22:34,797
and we look forward to your promising

512
00:22:34,797 --> 00:22:36,954
career serving the residents of Grafton's

513
00:22:36,954 --> 00:22:39,065
1st Ward. Congratulations again.

514
00:22:45,197 --> 00:22:47,197
And finally Mayor Duke will now

515
00:22:47,197 --> 00:22:48,949
swear-in Rodney Lynn Campbell

516
00:22:48,949 --> 00:22:50,864
incoming council member representing the

517
00:22:50,864 --> 00:22:52,864
2nd Ward of the Village of Grafton.

518
00:22:52,864 --> 00:22:54,792
Mr. Campbell is joined by his distinguished

519
00:22:54,792 --> 00:22:57,337
guest, his wife; Mrs. Christine Campbell,

520
00:22:57,337 --> 00:22:59,337
who will be holding the Bible.

521
00:23:09,056 --> 00:23:11,134
Thank you. You hold that. Rodney

522
00:23:11,134 --> 00:23:13,036
put your left hand on the Bible.

523
00:23:13,036 --> 00:23:15,036
Raise your right hand and repeat after me.

524
00:23:15,636 --> 00:23:17,826
I, Rodney Campbell "I, Rodney Campbell"

525
00:23:17,826 --> 00:23:20,061
do solemnly swear "do solemnly swear"

526
00:23:20,061 --> 00:23:21,662
that I will support the Constitution

527
00:23:21,676 --> 00:23:23,154
that I will support the Constitution

528
00:23:23,154 --> 00:23:25,076
of the United States "of the United States"

529
00:23:25,076 --> 00:23:27,076
and the constitution of the State of Ohio

530
00:23:27,076 --> 00:23:28,827
and the constitution of the State of Ohio

531
00:23:28,827 --> 00:23:30,650
and all laws of this municipality

532
00:23:30,650 --> 00:23:32,435
and all laws of this municipality

533
00:23:32,435 --> 00:23:35,172
and I will faithfully, honestly and impartially

534
00:23:35,172 --> 00:23:37,697
and I will faithfully, honestly and impartially

535
00:23:37,971 --> 00:23:40,401
discharge the duties "discharge the duties"

536
00:23:40,401 --> 00:23:42,545
to the office of Ward 2 Councilman

537
00:23:42,545 --> 00:23:44,375
to the office of Ward 2 Councilman

538
00:23:44,375 --> 00:23:46,531
of the Village of Grafton "of the Village of"

539
00:23:46,531 --> 00:23:48,152
Grafton "State of Ohio" State of Ohio"

540
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during my continuance in said office.

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during my continuance in said office.

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Congratulations.

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Congratulations to Councilman-elect Campbell

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We have full faith in your promising

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career. And we also thank you for your service

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on the Board of Zoning Appeals.

547
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Another round of applause the councilmen-elect.

548
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Congratulations to our newly sworn-in

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council members-elect. May you serve with honor

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and integrity for the people

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you were elected to represent.

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Once again, we note for the record

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that although these members have been sworn-in

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this evening, their official term of office will

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begin January 2026. We welcome you back

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to Village Hall for our first regularly scheduled

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meeting of Council, January 6th

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2026. Right here in Council Chambers.

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We thank you too for your willingness to serve

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the Village of Grafton. We wish you every

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success in your upcoming terms.

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On behalf of the village, thank you

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to everyone for your attendance this evening.

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To our officials, the guests and the families

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who support public service behind

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the scenes. We know that's a very big job.

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We appreciate the community's understanding

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of unique circumstances surrounding this

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evening's ceremony. We thank you for sharing

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this important moment. This concludes

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the swearing-in ceremony

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Thank you all for attending and please join

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us in the adjoining gathering room

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up on the second level of Village Hall.

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For coffee and a cutting of cake

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prepared by Albert's Fresh Market.

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Thank you one and all. Enjoy and a Merry Christmas.

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...