The League of Women Voters of Licking County | The Reporting Project
OBSERVER REPORT
Government Body Observed: Newark City Council Meeting
Meeting Date: 04-01-2024
Meeting Details:
Attendance: Mayor, law director, and council members were present as well as 19 citizens.
Public Comment: The Fire Chief of Newark, Brandon Metzger, came forward announcing 3 new firefighters were sworn in this morning increasing current staffing level to 81 firefighters. The chief brought the new medic unit, parked near the Municipal Building for the council members to view, thanking the council for the new truck. Over the next 3 to 4 days the chief will be interviewing 21 candidates interested in joining the department. The chief ended his comments with a request to council members to support the recommendations of an increase in the compensation for elected officials of the city, stating it was crucial for retention of firefighters.
The floor was opened for a second time to comments from citizens. Mark Mauter, Director of Development stated that community development is partnering with property maintenance and the Southside Committee for a clean up day on Saturday, April 13th. Mr. Mauter noted that clean up will occur on Hudson Ave on April 20th and on the east side of the city on May 4th. The city will partner with Shackelford Disposal using a large compactor truck for the clean up.
Old and New Business:
Appointments: Newark City Council per Director Mauter’s request appointed Julio Vallardes to a vacated position on Community Reinvestment Area Housing Council term to begin immediately and expiring December 31, 2024.
Standing Committee Reports were noted as received and filed without objection: Finance, Service, and Capital Improvements.
No reports from city officials.
Communications noted from Dave Froelich, an email regarding civil lawsuit with no further information provided. Dan Scheinman TFG Housing Resources received communications regarding Terrace gardens, no further information provided.
Ordinances on second reading:
-Ordinance 24-11 An ordinance amending section 890.13(A) of the codified ordinances of the city of Newark, providing for the allocation of income tax revenues were adopted with a 10-0 vote. This was to allocate revenue to provide sufficient funding for Capital Improvement needs.
-Ordinance 24-12 An ordinance setting the compensation with respect to certain elected officials of the city of Newark for the terms beginning January 1, 2026 and January 1, 2028 and repealing all ordinances and resolutions in conflict herewith upon the effective date received a split vote of 5-5 with Council President Harris breaking the tie vote with a yes, passing the ordinance with a 6-5 vote. Those voting no were Council members - Nealy, Bline, Chute, Cost and Houser. Pay scale is noted in Packet for the meeting, found at City Council Website.
-Ordinance 24-13 An ordinance amending the position classification, pay range and department authorization tables of the city of Newark, Department of Public Service, Division of Water administration by the reclassification of account clerk part-time was passed 10-0 vote.
Resolutions on second reading:
-Resolution 24-20-A CI Appropriating monies for the current expenses of municipal corporation (continuous mower replacement). Mr. Chute stated “I think we’re going to let this die.” The President of the Council then moved on to the next resolutions. At the end of the meeting during the Miscellaneous item on the agenda, Mr. Chute requested Resolution ---Resolution No. 24-2-CI be brought back for a vote where the motion was adopted, passed by a 10-0 vote.
- Resolution 24-21 A resolution authorizing conveyance of certain real property owned by the city to Newark Development Partners. This is a small piece of property formerly 304 East Main St., Newark. Passed with a 10-0 vote.
- Resolution 24-23. Appropriating monies for training for the Clerk of Council position. Passed with a 10-0 vote.
Resolutions on First Reading
-Resolution 24-24. Expedited as well as 24-25. Appropriating monies for current expenses of municipal corporation. Voted to waive 2 day reading rule for both resolutions and motions were adopted 10-0.
-Resolution 24-26. Appropriating monies for current expenses. This was held until the next meeting.
-Resolution 24-27 and 24-28. Resolutions authorizing the Director of Public Service to enter into cooperative agreements with property owners at two different locations for construction of drainage systems. Both resolutions were held until the next meeting, April 15.
-Resolution 24-29 A resolution Authorizing and directing the Mayor to apply for financial support from the State of Ohio 2024 Natureworks Grant was held until the next meeting, April 15.
Note all of these resolutions can be read in full at the Newark City Council Website in the packets section on the Council Meeting webpage.
Miscellaneous (reading the minutes posted on the website will give you a verbatim report of this conversation).
At this point in the agenda each councilman, as well as mayor and law director are asked for comments. The Law Director, Tricia Moore along with the mayor and council members commended the safety forces, fire and police for the handling of Avalon Building; commending members of the Fire Department to save 9 cats and a dog.
The mayor and members of the council gave condolences for the loss of Skip Salome, noting the important work Skip and his family have provided to the citizens by providing meals on Christmas Day.
Several council members addressed Resolution 24-12, explaining their vote on increasing pay raises for executive positions in the city. Mr. Rath noted the importance of the raises voted on in this evening’s meeting for top level executives of the city, seeing it as critical for the city as it grows to recruit top level candidates. He also called on the need to address law enforcement salaries, needing to make significant changes to recruit police officers.
Mr. Rine echoed Mr. Rath supporting why he voted yes to increasing the salary of elected officials (Resolution 24-12) in order to recruit and retain talent, believing it is important to start at the top, to attract talent they must receive appropriate compensation. Mr. Rine stated that yes, they also needed to deal with police and fire retention issues.
Ms. Bline stated that she had voted no to Resolution 24-12 because – “I want to make sure the foundation of our city is met with the officers that we need, and that’s why I voted no.” This was followed up by Mr. Chute and Mr. Houser both stating that they were not against increasing executives’ salaries but voted no because he felt they should be prioritizing safety forces first, and take care of others later.
Mr. Lang stated it was good to hear everyone’s opinions about the raises and felt that it was critical for there to be transparency to constituents with discussions to have occurred before the vote. He stated that he didn’t like passing something 6-5 when possibly they could have worked towards something everyone could have felt better about. Mr. Marmie agreed with Mr. Lang, stating he would have liked more debate and stating that just because he voted for the increase did not mean he didn’t feel safety forces were not the first priority. He reiterated that these raises are 4 years away and this was a promise made to address the salaries that had not been raised for the past 8 years. (please see minutes to read his full conversation).
Next Meeting: April 15, 2024
Related documents, websites: Official Meeting Minutes
Observer Notes: This meeting lasted 44 minutes with significant conversation occurring during the Miscellaneous section of the agenda. The two citizen comment sections on the agenda were utilized by two department heads of the city. The last two council meetings were 17 minutes in length. The conversations at the end of the meeting were passionate, opening mutually held concerns about retention and recruitment of qualified employees to meet the needs of the growing city as well as transparency of decisions made by council members.
Observer: Cindy Webb
Submission Date: 04/04/2024
Reviewer: Karen Semer