Summit County Issue 17 — City of Barberton proposed charter amendment

Last updated Sat, Nov 7, 4:33 PM ET

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026 · Barberton voters

What it does
Shall Section 4.02 be amended to establish a Division of Parks and Recreation under the direct reporting of the Director of Public Service and shall Section 6.03 be amended to require the Parks and Recreation Commission to serve in an advisory capacity?
A YES vote means
Barberton would create a Division of Parks and Recreation reporting directly to the Director of Public Service, and the Parks and Recreation Commission would serve in an advisory role.
A NO vote means
Barberton's charter provisions on parks and recreation would not change.
Needed to pass
A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Left–right lean
Not a left–right issue: a procedural or local question that liberals and conservatives don't typically split on (AI read of the official ballot summary).

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Background

Barberton City Council passed Ordinance 46-2026, 'Charter Review – Charter Amendment – Parks and Rec Commission,' on April 13, 2026. As introduced, its title described inserting the Parks and Recreation Department under the Service Director and eliminating the Parks and Recreation Commission.

The ordinance text would place a Director of Parks and Recreation, appointed by the Director of Public Service, within the Department of Public Service. It would also state that the Parks and Recreation body serves in an advisory capacity to the Mayor and Council.

On the same day, Council also passed Resolution 33-2026 expressing a formal loss of confidence in the Parks and Recreation Commission. The resolution cited failures to follow Human Resources recommendations and City policies.

Put on the ballot by Barberton City Council, April 13, 2026 (Ordinance 46-2026).

From official source 1, official source 2, official source 3.

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Summit County Issue 17 mean?
Barberton would create a Division of Parks and Recreation reporting directly to the Director of Public Service, and the Parks and Recreation Commission would serve in an advisory role.
What does a NO vote on Summit County Issue 17 mean?
Barberton's charter provisions on parks and recreation would not change.
How many votes does Summit County Issue 17 need to pass?
A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Should I vote yes or no on Summit County Issue 17?
SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.
When is the vote?
The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

Not sure how to decide? Read our nonpartisan guide to the Summit County ballot.

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