CANFIELD — City council at its meeting Thursday heard an update on the Material Sciences Corp. leak and were introduced to the new zoning department arrangement.

City Manager David D’Apolito said the final findings on the MSC leak were presented and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has issued a formal document stating what is happening and what needs to happen next.

MSC operates a coil coating facility at 460 W. Main St. In July, a leak of chemicals was discovered in a ditch running along the bike trail. The fire department and HAZMAT responded and contained the leak as the Ohio EPA took over the investigation and has been working with the company ever since to clean up the spill.

During the investigation, another leak was discovered that could have been ongoing for several years. On Dec. 18, the EPA released its findings and the steps the company needs to take next.

City Attorney Mark Fortunato said, “This is the first formal document from the Ohio EPA.”

He said the next step is the cleanup. He added the EPA and cleanup crew will be working with neighbors on South Briarcliff whose properties border the creek as well as the high school.

“We have been told there is no more active leak,” Fortunato said. “What is out there, is out there. No additional chemicals are being added.”

Councilman Bruce Neff was not happy with the way the situation has progressed.

“I was upset that the city cannot go into the business and inspect,” he said. “Why do we have to go through a public media person in Columbus?”

Fortunato said the city has no authority in this matter, but the Ohio EPA can inspect anytime it wants and it will continue to do so. He said city officials are taking the matter seriously.

The one big question was whether the longer historic contamination was being addressed. D’Apolito said the EPA has addressed the historic leak that was discovered when dealing with the July leak.

Council President Christine Oliver said she still wants to see a Community Town Hall meeting where concerned residents can attend and get answers to their questions. She said the document from the EPA is 3,000 pages long and she would rather get direct answers to direct questions.

D’Apolito said he is working to set up that meeting and it likely will be in February. The hope is to have representatives from the school district and Mill Creek MetroParks, as well as EPA and MSC representatives.

In another matter, D’Apolito introduced Tyler Thorn to council. He said Thorn will be handling zoning duties. The previous part-time zoning inspector, Jodi Flynn, officially resigned the position. She stayed on long enough to train Thorn.

D’Apolito said Thorn will be working in what he calls “a hybrid” situation.

“He will remain full time with public works, but will be taking on the zoning duties as part of his public works position,” he said.

Thorn has been with public works for the past two years.

On the city manager replacement, each year council must approve the line of succession for who should serve as acting city manager when the city manager is absent or disabled. The accepted list is Police Chief Chuck Colucci, first; finance director Christine Stack-Clayton, second; and Assistant Police Chief Scott Weamer, third.