Lorain Council splits on appointment to Zoning Board of Appeals

LORAIN — Discussions around an appointment to the city's Planning Commission sparked a heated exchange between Lorain's City Council president and an at-large member Tuesday. During the evening's regular meeting, members discussed Mayor Jack Bradley's request for Council to approve the appointment of Brandon Wysocki to the city's Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. While none took issue with his qualifications for the roles, some were concerned with the legal troubles he currently faces. Last February, Wysocki was charged with possession of a deadly weapon in a school safety zone, a fifth-degree felony. The charge stems from a September 2023 incident in which Wysocki allegedly brought a handgun, magazine with additional rounds, a 3-inch pocket knife and mace gel on a Lorain High School field trip to a wooded area behind U.S. Steel while he was a volunteer chaperone. At the time, Wysocki told The Chronicle-Telegram he decided to bring the items to be prepared for any wildlife in the area, including wild dogs or coyotes but was not aware it was a violation of district policy to have it on the trip. In September 2024 Judge John Miraldi granted a motion to suppress state's evidence, which the prosecution has appealed. Wysocki's criminal case remains in limbo until an appeals court rules on the prosecution's appeal of Freeman's suppression ruling. Mary Springowski, D-at large, initially asked Wysocki's appointment to the two boards be held in abeyance until his court cases were finalized "for the sake of appearances." Her motion received support from Beth Henley, D-1st Ward. Victoria Kemption, D-2nd Ward, noted Wysocki had yet to be convicted of a crime, and disputed that his appointment should be held up. Dan Nutt, D-4th Ward, echoed her comments, adding Wysocki would be an asset to both boards. Mary Spellacy, D-7th Ward, agreed. Pam Carter, D-3rd Ward, supported Wysocki's qualifications for the position, but, like Springowski, held reservations with his pending court case. She asked Bradley if Wysocki was convicted, if he would be removed from the Planning Commission. Council President Joel Arredondo compared the discussion around Wysocki's appointment with the results of the presidential election. "I just really find this conversation really interesting," Arredondo said. "... We are here questioning a person's personal issues, when, once again you could said they're hypothetical, but we are willing to accept a convicted felon as president of the United States. And here we have one individual, who has some charges, nothing has been proven … but yet we are willing to pass judgment. I just find that very disappointing." Then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was convicted in March of of 34 counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor. Trump, who won the Nov. 5 election, was sworn into office on Monday for his second term as U.S. president. Law Director Pat Riley told Council the mayor does not need its support for an appointment to the city's Planning Commission, and suggested the two appointments be broken into separate items. Josh Thornsberry, D-8th Ward, made a motion to break the items into two separate matters, while Springowski's motion to hold the matter in abeyance was already on the floor with a second. The longstanding Councilwoman attempted to make a point of order but was told by Arredondo it was not appropriate for her to speak out during the meeting. Instead, he called on Nutt, who seconded Thornsberry's motion to split the agenda item. He told Springowski he did not recognize her motion, which is why he kept the meeting going. Springowski disputed his handling of the issue. "Excuse me, are we Robert's Rules of Order or Joel's rules of order because I just need clarification for the proceeding tonight," she said. Robert's Rules of Order are a type of parliamentary procedure for how to run organizational meetings. As the appointment, now split into two moved forward, Springowski did not vote, stating she would not vote on an illegal motion. Arredondo considered her lack of voting as abstentions. Council failed to pass Wysocki's appointment to the Zoning Board of Appeals, as it required a majority and only garnered five in support. Voting against the appointment were Tony Dimacchia, D-at Large, Henley and Thornsberry, with Springowski counted as an abstention. For the appointment were Nutt, Carter, Kempton, Spellacy, and Sylvia DuVall, D-at Large. At the end of Tuesday's meeting, Springowski re-addressed the issue and how women on Council are treated — alleging they are often spoken down to, talked over or admonished. "There are seven women on Council and we should be treated with dignity and respect," she said. "... You don't talk to each other that way, why talk to us that way?" Wysocki's appointment to the Planning Commission is effective immediately through March 8, 2026. He replaces Michael Nardini and fills the rest of his unexpired term. This story has been corrected to reflect Judge John Miraldi granted the motion to surpress in September. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.