The St. Marys City Council met on Friday in order to discuss a few final things before the end of 2023. This resulted in 14 ordinances being passed that same night.
The council conducted the first readings for six different pieces of legislation, all of which were passed after the suspension of the rules. Most of them, primarily Ordinances 2023-48 through 2023-51 dealt with the transferring of funds from places like the Swim Pool Fund, City Garage Fund, New Municipal Building Fund and the Capital Improvement Fund.
Two pieces of note were Ordinance 2023-47 and Resolution 2023-18. Ordinance 2023-47 focused on appropriating monies in order to address deficiencies in Ordinance 2022-45 and similar ordinances for the Fiscal Year of 2023. Council President James Harris said that it “balances the books” for the city for 2023.
Resolution 2023-18 was similar to most of the other ordinances introduced to the council, this one focusing exclusively on transferring money from the ARPA Fund to the General Fund. Otherwise known as the American Rescue Plan Act Fund, the money needs to be moved into the General Fund so it can be spent according to Law Director Zach Ferrall.
The council also approved plenty of items after conducting the third and final readings for them, most of which focused on wages and benefits. These ordinances and resolutions include the following items:
- Ordinance 2023-38 adjusted the salary of the Director of Public Service and Safety position.
- Ordinance 2023-39 set forth the rates, pay and fringe benefits for police sergeants within the City of St. Marys Police Department.
- Ordinance 2023-40 focused on amending Ordinances 2023-01 and 2023-06, which effects the wages and benefits for supervisory personnel and non-represented employees.
- Ordinance 2023-41 mainly dealt with amending Ordinance 2023-02 and the wages and benefits for the chief of police and other police department employees.
- Ordinance 2023-42 amended Ordinance 2023-03, which also affected the wages and benefits of the fire department employees.
- Ordinance 2023-43 authorized the execution of the 2023 PJM Power Pool Participant Schedule with American Municipal Power.
- Resolution 2023-15 allowed the disposition of city property through internet bidding.
- Resolution 20230-16 authorized the execution of paperwork so the city could join the Western Ohio Rural Planning Organization.
All of the items, having been discussed at previous meetings, were quickly approved by council members.
Only four pieces of legislation were left to be reviewed for the next meeting, receiving their second readings during the meeting. The first was Amended Ordinance 2023-44, which dealt mainly with appropriations for the city during the 2024 Fiscal Year. The next two, Ordinances 2023-45 and 2023-46, the first dealing with getting authorization to purchase needed items for various departments, and the second authorizing an agreement with Clemans, Nelson & Associates, Inc. respectively. The last item to be reviewed was Resolution 2023-17, which would allow the Director of Public Service and Safety to transfer real estate to the Community Improvement Corporation and allow said real estate to be sold for developmental purposes.
After the discussion on legislation concluded, the council adjourned shortly afterward. The swearing-in for the new mayor, Joe Hurlburt, will be done on Jan. 1 at 4 p.m. in the Council Chambers, with the first council meeting of the new year to be held on Jan. 8.
