Twinsburg City Council picks Jeffrey A. Deeds for open seat
EDITOR'S NOTE: This article has been updated to reflect that five people were interviewed to fill the open Ward 1 council seat. A sixth person withdrew his candidacy before being interviewed.
Parkland Drive resident and real estate development executive Jeffrey A. Deeds will join the other six members of City Council on the dais when the governing body reconvenes for the new year in January.
A 27-year resident of Twinsburg, Deeds was named to the unexpired term of Sam Scaffide at council’s Dec. 13 meeting, getting the nod over four other applicants for the Ward 1 seat. The term runs until Nov. 30, 2023.
The other applicants were Chuck Bonacci, Michael Turle, Matt Grant and Tim Clark. All five men were interviewed by council on Dec. 12.
Scaffide is now serving as mayor after being elected in November to fill the unexpired term of Ted Yates, who moved to Florida to become village manager of Islamorada on the southern coast.
“Because of my real estate development background, I feel I can be an asset to the city in the review of the zoning code and redevelopment of the areas surrounding the square,” Deeds said.
“I am at a point in my life where I want to give back to the community, and I look forward to serving the residents to the best of my ability. One of the great strengths of Twinsburg is its diversity. That’s the main reason my wife and I chose to move here.”
Since 1995, Deeds has been a real estate development executive for Visconsi Cos. Ltd. in Pepper Pike. He currently serves as vice president of development. In this role, he has managed development projects from conception to construction.
Prior to that, he worked for the Kossman Development Co. in Pittsburgh; 84 Lumber Co. in McMurray, Pennsylvania; The Routh Co. in Youngstown; and Brickman Group Ltd. in Long Grove, Illinois.
He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in landscape architecture with an emphasis in urban planning from Ohio State University in 1986, took graduate-level business courses at Roosevelt University and did prerequisite coursework at Youngstown State.
Deeds holds a real estate broker’s license, and has been a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers since 1993. He is married to Sharon, and their three children all graduated from Twinsburg High School. He enjoys golf, skiing and traveling.
“The opening of the Ward 1 seat offers an opportunity to share my experience with the town that I am so immensely proud to call ‘my city,’” he wrote in his cover letter to council.
Congratulating Deeds for his appointment, Councilman Greg Bellan said, “We are incredibly lucky to have this caliber of people getting involved with city government. It was a tough decision, and I’d like to thank everybody [who applied to fill the seat].”
“I am truly amazed at how many people apply to fill various positions in the city,” added Council President Scott Barr. “There is indeed a lot of interest in participating in government activities.”
Council clerk Shannon Collins named Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year
Scaffide read a proclamation recognizing council clerk Shannon Collins as Twinsburg Chamber of Commerce’s citizen of the year. She and business person of the year Matt Cellura were honored Dec. 8 at a holiday gathering.
Collins is married with three children, and was born and raised in Twinsburg. She first got involved in local government as a teenager, serving on the parks and recreation advisory council.
She served four years as co-president of the Rotary Club, is active in the Twinsburg High Athletic Boosters and serves on the board of directors of The JBStrong Foundation.
In 2015, she helped bring the Traveling Veterans Memorial Wall and military/first responders exhibits to town, has helped expand VFW Post 4929’s Parade of Flags program and was involved with the repainting and outfitting of the Josh Miktarian fire hydrant.
Collins also has been an integral part of the fire department’s Santa gift run – serving as Head Elf – helps with the department’s annual golf outing and played a part in planning its 100th anniversary celebration this year.
Among her other accomplishments were helping with the 2021-22 Salute to Veterans program at the high school and with the delivery system for the Twins Days Welcome Hot Dog Roast, at which 500 meals were served.
“Everybody here [at City Hall] is proud she works with us, and we extend sincere congratulations to her,” said Scaffide.
Contact the newspaper at twinsbuergbulletin@recordpub.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Twinsburg City Council picks Jeffrey A. Deeds for open seat
