SHADYSIDE — The village of Shadyside is entering a new chapter, driven by collaboration and transparency. After years of internal strife, public scandals, and fractured leadership, local officials are focused on revitalizing the community and promoting a shared sense of responsibility.

As Mayor Mike Meintel puts it, “It takes a village,” a shared sentiment among leadership to “move the village forward.” With a comprehensive set of new initiatives, Shadyside is setting the stage for a future marked by unity and forward-thinking change.

One of the most significant steps in this transformation is the creation of an official village mission statement and a new seal that will represent Shadyside’s renewed focus on growth and community well-being. Meintel has emphasized that success will hinge on active engagement from residents, business owners and local leaders.

“We can’t do everything. It’s going to be a big job to right this ship in town,” Meintel said at Wednesday’s council meeting. “It’s going to take a village to get this together. Everybody you see up here, some have full-time jobs, some have part-time jobs. I expect you to be our eyes and ears.”

The mayor’s call for collaboration extends to the structure of village government itself, with the introduction of new committees designed to encourage transparency and cooperation. These include committees focused on everything from beautification and technology to personnel and water management.

One of the key initiatives is the emphasis on open dialogue between the village government and residents. Meintel called for greater community participation in council meetings, stressing that it’s crucial for officials to hear directly from the people they serve.

“You don’t have to be on the agenda to speak,” Meintel explained. “But what I want people to know is that if you want an answer from me [at the council meeting] – if you come here tonight and just throw something at me, I might not be able to get you the answer – but if you let me know [ahead of the meeting], I can have that answer for you.”

Council meetings will also be made more accessible through video recordings, which will be posted on the village’s website and social media pages for those who can’t attend in person. While meetings will not be streamed live, the goal is to ensure that residents can still stay informed and engaged.

Councilman Bob Dorris, who chairs the new Technology and Social Media Committee, has also placed a strong emphasis on transparency, using social media to keep residents informed.

“I want to get to every committee and every meeting, and if you see something, say something,” Dorris said. “Just the other night, we had a water cutoff over at the bottom of West 42nd, and I don’t think residents knew it was coming. I had a resident message me. I went down, found out what happened, and then instantly put it out there [on social media].”

Dorris also plans to boost the village’s online presence, including the potential for a TikTok page to highlight local businesses, government initiatives and community events.

The Property Maintenance Committee, chaired by John Longwell, will focus on improving property conditions within Shadyside, particularly addressing nuisance properties caused by neglect, overgrown weeds, junk vehicles and garbage accumulation. Among the committee’s key goals is implementing a new property nuisance ordinance, which will guide the enforcement of property standards. The first reading of that legislation – that allows for proactive identification of problem properties and ensures that violations are addressed swiftly – was read during Wednesday’s meeting.

The committee will also focus on following up on nuisance notifications and citations, ensuring that those responsible for neglected properties take corrective actions. Additionally, it will identify properties delinquent on property taxes and work with the Belmont County Treasurer’s Office and the Land Bank to seize problem properties when necessary.

Longwell stressed that part of the committee’s mission is also to provide support to less fortunate residents who may struggle with property maintenance.

The Streets and Alleys Committee will evaluate the condition of streets and alleys throughout the village, including streetlights and department equipment. A key priority will be identifying the most deteriorated areas and coordinating with township trustees on paving projects.

“Right now, there are a lot of bad alleys in this town,” said chair Robert Gorrell. Gorrell said the committee intends to address the worst streets and alleys first to prevent further deterioration.

Other newly-formed village committees include:

– Street Department chaired by Dorris. This committee is focused on evaluating the current status of the Shady Street and Maintenance Departments. The evaluation will include assessing manpower levels, equipment status, future equipment needs and priorities for daily and weekly tasks. This is a one-time evaluation, and the committee aims to develop a plan to address any discovered issues.

– Personnel and Investigation chaired by Brandon Parr. This committee focuses on employee-related matters, including hiring, retention, and the development of an updated employee handbook and drug-testing policy. It will also establish personnel files for each employee and conduct quarterly reviews to ensure accountability and proper oversight. Meintel emphasized the importance of following established procedures during investigations, stating there will no longer be “rogue investigations” and that all matters will be handled fairly and collaboratively.

– Water and Sewage chaired by Gorrell. This committee’s primary focus is working with May Engineering to assess the village’s water treatment plant and distribution lines. A $168,000 EPA loan will fund a system mapping project, and the committee has also secured a $750,000 grant to study the presence of harmful “forever chemicals” in the water supply. The goal is to ensure the long-term safety and quality of Shadyside’s water system.

– Beautification chaired by Melanie Haswell. This committee will focus on enhancing the overall appearance of the village, with special attention given to the Loop area. Planned efforts include improving lighting, removing waste and working with local businesses on beautification projects. Haswell said the committee’s goal is to maintain cleanliness and create a more welcoming environment throughout the community.

– Fire chaired by Gorrell. This committee will work to strengthen communication and cooperation between the mayor and the Fire Chief. Its objectives include improving fire and building inspections and promoting programs such as the CARES initiative, which provides assistance through Belmont County.

– Citizen Advisory chaired by Haswell. This newly-formed committee will consist of 10 residents who will meet regularly to discuss community concerns and serve as a liaison between residents and village council. The committee is intended to act as the “eyes and ears” of the village, ensuring resident input is communicated directly to council members.

Through these efforts, Shadyside leaders hope to build a stronger, more transparent community.

“I will be attending the first meeting of every one of these committees and they are going to be structured,” Meintel said. “I was taught you set up your mission statement, you set up your objectives and you set up strategies and then you work off of that. I have my own ‘Mike Meintel vision’ but I want to hear from everybody.”

Meintel also announced that a special committee to consider DORA – made up of council members Dorris, Parr and Haswell – has been formed to examine the potential implementation of a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area in Shadyside.

The committee will begin by reviewing the sections of the Ohio Revised Code that govern DORA regulations. It will then establish a one-time advisory group consisting of local business owners, clergy and an American Legion representative to gather community input. The committee will compile its findings and present a recommendation to the village council for consideration.

As for other plans to move Shadyside forward, Meintel said he wants to strengthen relationships with political leaders at the county and state levels.

“One of the things we are going to do, probably about once a month, is have political guests come in. We’re going to have state representatives come in,” Meintel said. “I already petitioned the Belmont County Commissioners to hold one of their commission meetings here. We need to build political clout in this town. We need to get to know our state representatives, senators and congressmen. We need to establish a relationship with them.”