New Fire Chief, Citizen Comments at Council, and Juneteenth
Fire Chief Joshua Lester was sworn in during Tuesday night’s Westerville City Council meeting, thanking city leaders for the opportunity to serve the department and community.
“I am truly honored and humbled to stand before you after taking the oath as the fire chief for the Westerville Fire Department,” Lester said.
Lester thanked the City Council, City Manager Monica Dupee, and the city administration for their confidence in him. He said he understands the responsibility that comes with the position and pledged to approach the job with integrity, professionalism, and accountability.
He also recognized the firefighters, officers, civilian employees, and support personnel who make up the department, saying its reputation for excellence was built over decades by people committed to serving others.
“While I wear the badge of fire chief, the success of this fire department will always belong to the firefighters, officers, civilian staff and any other support personnel who answer the call and serve this community,” Lester said.
Lester joined the Westerville Division of Fire as deputy chief in March. Dupee told council he had already made a significant impact on the department and demonstrated a commitment to professional excellence and community safety.
In his remarks, Lester outlined several priorities, including firefighter health and safety, professional development, community risk reduction, operational readiness, and continued investment in training and equipment.
He said his leadership would be guided by service, honesty, consistency, and accountability.
“I believe leadership is rooted in service before self,” Lester said. “My first responsibility is to the men and women of this department, ensuring they are supported, trained, equipped and prepared to safely and effectively serve our community.”
Addressing Westerville residents and businesses, Lester promised that the department would continue to protect lives, preserve property, and serve with compassion and professionalism.
“The work ahead of us will not always be easy, but it will always be meaningful,” he said. “We will take care of our people, serve our community with pride and remain committed to the values that define the fire service.”
Lester closed by calling the appointment “the honor of a lifetime” and said he looked forward to helping build the department’s future.
Council unanimously confirmed Lester’s appointment before he took the oath of office. His tenure as chief takes effect June 22.
Concerns persist over 64 E. Walnut redevelopment process
Although a proposed apartment complex, restaurant and parking garage at 64 E. Walnut St. are no longer under consideration, residents continue to raise concerns about the city’s handling of the project.
Several people spoke during Tuesday’s citizen comment portion of the Westerville City Council meeting, criticizing the process that led to the proposal and calling for greater transparency and public involvement as the city considers the property’s future.
Matt Taylor, who lives on East Park Street, urged council to keep Westerville’s “City in a Park” identity in mind as it considers the future of the property. He said the rejected proposal leaned too heavily toward development and tax generation at the expense of open space and neighborhood character.
Taylor said parks and civic spaces have value beyond the revenue they may generate and argued that future plans should balance development with preservation.
“We’re not Dublin, we’re not Gahanna, we’re not anywhere else,” Taylor said. “We’re Westerville.”
Dan Vermeyer, speaking on behalf of property adjacent to 64 E. Walnut St., focused on trees, safety, traffic, investment and public process.
He called for preserving the mature trees on the property and said future development should not increase traffic on East Walnut Street or create additional safety concerns for nearby residents, children and schools. He also asked the city to address speeding in the area.
Vermeyer opposed demolishing what he described as a usable building and suggested alternatives such as a civic arts center, an innovation and business-incubator space or a year-round farmers market with food and coffee.
He also asked the city to offer a public tour of the property and hold a separate meeting with nearby property owners.
“Please continue to establish transparency, better communication and true bi-directional engagement,” Vermeyer said.
Mindy Nelson said she had planned to discuss trust but believed newly sworn-in Fire Chief Joshua Lester had addressed the subject effectively in his remarks earlier in the meeting.
Nelson instead focused on public participation, saying one open house may not be enough to hear from residents. She encouraged the city to hold at least one additional event, particularly because the Aug. 11 meeting will fall close to the start of the school year.
She also called for stronger publicity and suggested asking residents not only what they want at the site, but also what types of development they would consider unacceptable.
“There could be a really good consensus” about what residents do not want, Nelson said, pointing to concerns about traffic and safety.
Charles Taylor praised Lester’s remarks and said his message about trust and public service could be valuable for other city department leaders.
Turning to 64 E. Walnut St., Taylor asked the city to publish a summary of questions and answers from the planned open house so residents can see how their concerns were addressed.
He also urged staff to make presentation materials available before the Sept. 8 work session rather than only afterward. Taylor said the screens used during council meetings can be difficult to read, and residents should have time to review the material in advance.
Justin Wildermuth, who lives at 63 E. Walnut St., said he remained confused about how the earlier redevelopment proposal fit with Westerville’s own planning documents.
He cited city plans that call for employment-generating investment, startup and small-business space, preservation of Uptown’s historic character and context-sensitive development.
Wildermuth said those goals appeared more consistent with retaining the existing office building than replacing it with a denser project.
“It’s confusing because these needs seem to fit the existing office building exactly,” he said.
Wildermuth also questioned whether the city was treating residents’ objections as misunderstandings rather than legitimate disagreements.
“I’ve read the plans, and I still don’t understand,” he said. “I do understand that cities need money, but I do hope you hear us when we say this is not the way.”
Peter Maxwell criticized the city’s handling of the project and said many residents were attending council meetings because they did not believe the process had worked as it should.
He said council’s requested review did not address the full range of questions residents have raised. Maxwell told the council he submitted 18 questions at a previous open house but had not received complete responses.
He called for the city to compile all residents’ questions and provide thorough answers before determining the property’s next use.
“A summary of all of our questions and honest, accurate, thorough answers to them must be the first step,” Maxwell said.
During council comments later in the meeting, members said they were listening to residents and would consider changes to improve access to information.
Council Chair Crystal Zako said presentation text should be easier to read during the Sept. 8 work session. She also suggested providing paper and pens so residents can submit written comments during the meeting, as there will be no traditional citizen comment period.
Zako also asked staff to explore posting council agendas and links to meeting materials on the city’s social media accounts.
Vice Chair Kenneth Glasgow reminded residents that they can also speak with council members outside formal meetings, including at community events, farmers' markets, and informal council outreach sessions.
The city has scheduled two public meetings related to the property. An open house will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 11 at the Westerville Community Center to gather public feedback about possible goals and priorities for the site. A City Council work session is scheduled for Sept. 8, when staff members are expected to present information about city plans, development priorities, the public review process, property valuation, possible uses of proceeds from a future sale and feedback collected at the August open house.
The city also plans to hire a third-party moderator for the August open house so staff members can focus on listening to residents and identifying areas of agreement.
Officials said the Aug. 11 open house will focus on collecting public input, while the Sept. 8 work session will provide a more detailed review of city plans, procedures and resident feedback before further decisions are made.
WeRISE plans Juneteenth weekend events across Westerville
WeRISE for Greater Westerville will celebrate Juneteenth with a two-day series of family, literary, and cultural events at three Westerville locations.
The Juneteenth Freedom Trail Celebration replaces the single community event WeRISE hosted in previous years and encourages participants to visit activities throughout the city.
Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, received word that they were free, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. The date became known as Juneteenth, Jubilee Day, and Emancipation Day.
Texas recognized Juneteenth as a state holiday in 1980. It became a federal holiday in 2021 following decades of advocacy, including the work of activist Opal Lee.
The Westerville celebration runs from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, June 19, at the Westerville Public Library, 126 S. State St. Local author J.P. Mitchell will lead a children’s literature talk, with games, cotton candy, face painting and craft activities also planned.
A Poetry & Jazz program will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Birdie Books, 74 N. State St. People interested in presenting poetry or spoken word must register by Wednesday, June 17.
The weekend concludes from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 20, at Family Room Coffee & Bake Shop, 545 S. Otterbein Ave. The program will feature family-friendly art activities and games.
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