[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6633364,"mediaKeyId","2665775-fdc16564a681c1570be13ef142f7ea91","parentId",2665775,"title","Committee debates and amends noise ordinance; multiple technical changes passed and bill tabled for law‑department redrafting","audioSeconds",1090,"startMs",2772830,"endMs",3863390,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665775-fdc16564a681c1570be13ef142f7ea91&start=2772&end=3863","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665775-fdc16564a681c1570be13ef142f7ea91/thumbnail_2772830.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6633364/Amherst/Lorain-County/Ohio/Committee-debates-and-amends-noise-ordinance-multiple-technical-changes-passed-and-bill-tabled-for-lawdepartment-redrafting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633364-9b25b4abcd9e1f12ff37237966339f92/orig.mp4?Expires=1776042901&Signature=oz9CQBoUYrvjBOvs4Zt86G7DIIgKgs0lmZa7NMK8mHZjq38Y8trlE21eNeE9-0IuHOazIo6hHufCpejBb~0clnnFG3UoaO1zJ0Tx-vKBSHGoYNo7OCli0FMtyQ6Dp5s38umgN0lmPwiL9oF8OpVd8SGqZDltWNwI2lmxju3FDzDx8SeGRenugDkfR1-P0hjdDwZNGSJjzeP7zdqkWQzYod1rBbWRnOSRWzfzp1GcQnfZnL~Cqk3g-w5Tr52hi~aI8CIKVhZqKzMM23p1eGCjyBMFgbAJhiLIopqza902i-AMZUB4OU-X3QowO~uWFwbIHWEu37~2jkNeK3btGhgVNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Amherst","date","2025-03-17T00:00:00Z","article","The Amherst Police & Fire Committee spent an extended March 17 session debating revisions to a proposed noise ordinance (Item 8-25-05). Committee members, the police chief, the law department and a Republic Services representative discussed enforceability, decibel thresholds, time windows and exemptions. The committee approved several substantive amendments but ultimately tabled the ordinance for the law department to reconcile language and definitions.

“Certain things that had come forward in the proposed ordinance probably wouldn't be in the best interest of enforcement,” said Police Chief Chip Coffin, describing practical limits on how officers could take sound measurements and urging a shorter measurable duration than some proposed time-weighted averages.

Council President (identified in discussion as council president) proposed simplifying the ordinance to one short enforceable window and one decibel level. She said she and the chief discussed “reducing this to something that's very simply enforceable, and that's reducing it to a very, very short window of time. And just have 1 number and 1 period of time.” The chief and the assistant law director backed a move toward a simpler, enforceable standard.

After debate and competing amendment proposals, the committee approved amendments that: strike the two initial decibel-duration “charts” and replace them with a single approach; set enforceable triggers tied to short durations; change a 15‑minute enforcement averaging period in the draft to 15 seconds for field practicality; and remove the word \"homeowners\" from a roster of exempted equipment so municipal property‑maintenance and contractor equipment can be clarified by the law department. Committee members also added an exemption for “municipal services performing municipal duties” (covering city-contracted refuse collection and similar services) and removed a separate section that constrained refuse collection near residential zones. Several members said those changes aim to avoid unintended enforcement consequences for routine municipal services.

Chief Coffin and Assistant Law Director Ward recommended an enforceable short-duration standard and a decibel threshold in the 80‑dB range for a short interval; committee members discussed varying proposals but ultimately adopted language to simplify enforcement (the committee’s drafting process favored striking multiple tables and consolidating the rule to a single, enforceable standard). The committee then directed the law department to clean up the draft language and definitions (for example, whether “property‑maintenance equipment” rather than “homeowners’ outdoor equipment” should be used) before returning the ordinance to committee. Republic Services’ representative asked that refuse-collection duties be clearly exempted to avoid unintended penalties for routine municipal trash collection.

The committee voted to table the ordinance after approving the technical amendments so the law department can reconcile language and ensure the exemptions and measurement procedures are enforceable and consistent with existing code.

Key action summary:
- Committee approved amendments narrowing enforcement to a short measurable window (committee discussion settled on 15 seconds as a practical field standard for officers) and consolidating the multiple charts in the draft into a single enforceable standard.
- Committee removed “homeowners” language from the property‑maintenance equipment exemption and asked the law department to recast that section to cover relevant equipment and contractors.
- Committee added an explicit exemption for municipal services performing municipal duties and removed a separate restriction on refuse collection near residential zones to avoid conflict with necessary municipal operations.
- After those changes, the committee tabled Ordinance 8‑25‑05 so the law department can produce a revised, consistent draft.

Committee members and staff said the aim was a narrowly enforceable ordinance that will be practical for police to apply and more likely to stand up in court; they asked the law department to return a consolidated draft that incorporates the committee’s technical directions.

Votes at a glance:
- Multiple procedural and substantive amendments passed by majority votes during committee; the committee voted to table the ordinance pending law‑department redrafting (vote to table reported by chair; roll-call results recorded in committee minutes).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Amherst - Council Committees - Mar 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Police & Fire Committee extensively revised the city’s proposed noise ordinance, approving several amendments—including a single flat threshold for enforcement and exemptions for municipal services—before tabling the ordinance for the law department to reconcile language and definitions.","taxTitle","Amherst, Lorain County, Ohio","taxId",72391,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6633368,"Ordinance to stream city meetings and post agendas, minutes sent to council 7–0",534,2094880,2628934,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665775-fdc16564a681c1570be13ef142f7ea91&start=2094&end=2628","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665775-fdc16564a681c1570be13ef142f7ea91/thumbnail_2094880.jpg","/articles/6633368/Amherst/Lorain-County/Ohio/Ordinance-to-stream-city-meetings-and-post-agendas-minutes-sent-to-council-70","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633368-2b9d21286249fdd211e53f732f7cd774/orig.mp4?Expires=1776042901&Signature=EwNhDtocTVVScAmUYdjVWEIhNmfHHK2jsraidRBFvd86pP76tbwlAbK3vhe-JPZFp3iBH-xRYkT2v-c9JL7jc0nK-LrUoH1MFNlWjYSTgeeEKr0Oq0UI3f6Tem8nRRsSu1wOjJh~EWAW88Atj70kYgt6LbAZDGuLEgQsIlLNbPluiqo5mzClXz3b4c2EgXAfmW-4WS2Z1gCBB8TRkUXDdRm4D-WETRLWH69yqESMYwrGW1DfcuhYxbGldHmZOEnhK~NAEtBSirRxlgIZA7o7Xpqn4DtPQtEp5TAocUM~sladxH79Q8BCLO7MHBvVOp~yFFj~WWnkPzwxPwk6tyUgAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Amherst Ordinance Committee voted unanimously on March 17 to send Ordinance A-25-13 to the full council. The measure would require the city to stream certain board and commission meetings on the city website and make meeting agendas and minutes available online.

Council member Dan Dembinski, who submitted the ordinance, said the intent is to improve public transparency by streaming meetings and posting materials for entities that currently do not have that coverage on the city website. “Some of our meetings like the planning commission, you'll have the agendas and the minutes posted to the website, and you can actually watch the meeting,” Dembinski said. “And then some things like the CIC and the park board and civil service, none of that information is available on the website.”

Committee members discussed expected costs and logistics. The mayor estimated the full expansion could cost roughly $30,000 depending on the number of meetings included; the mayor said he would provide more precise numbers before the next meeting. Committee members also raised concerns about boards that frequently convene in executive session (for example the Community Improvement Corporation) and whether streaming was appropriate for strategic discussions that may properly be handled in executive session. Dembinski suggested posting agendas and minutes even if specific meetings are not streamed.

Several members said the transparency gains outweighed the costs. Council member Wernarski said televising meetings would be “money well spent” for meetings where votes affecting the city occur. The committee moved the ordinance to the council floor; the motion passed 7–0.

Next steps: Ordinance A-25-13 will go to the full council for consideration; the administration said it would supply detailed cost estimates for broader streaming prior to the next meeting.

Votes at a glance:
- Motion to take Ordinance A-25-13 to the council floor: Moved by Council member Ornstein; seconded by Council member Janek. Vote: 7–0; motion passed.","The Ordinance Committee approved sending Ordinance A-25-13 to the council floor by a 7–0 vote; the proposal would require streaming city meetings on the city website and posting agendas and minutes for boards and commissions that currently lack those materials online.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6633373,"Executive committee tables ordinance on wage and conditions for income tax clerk after union concerns",1730,305200,2035640,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665775-fdc16564a681c1570be13ef142f7ea91&start=305&end=2035","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665775-fdc16564a681c1570be13ef142f7ea91/thumbnail_305200.jpg","/articles/6633373/Amherst/Lorain-County/Ohio/Executive-committee-tables-ordinance-on-wage-and-conditions-for-income-tax-clerk-after-union-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633373-79e01a6ff136c489f2e92bee09cad83a/orig.mp4?Expires=1776042901&Signature=MKr0OYqhV7MoME-F4suYKj6kv~xUquwHh85oYq-NK0qWR5uZhlgtX8sltu2HHTQClo3KNDkAo~WZBytteEysxOGRK34R-vPnWSEuxYR1EXYFRYDfPesmqSykOOSwoGJv8CmtfcJ0idco8AQeQZrzGlDGPQZ9FIHLY~XVH48phaphA08Z6z18xcEGeEk2kFCoSvPLDavKuekIK8YDE1zoTTuN4ye1aVclX1qviqMPbC1sZeqXwA31yH8uvhkdY6OzihpDJUoBACXK-pwtJRmd2fLevfIhKH2pFsjx2yhIzyiuoFMdcbTQR1TgI3hWz9u21RbHXvImJnboE7WNDaVHbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Amherst Executive Committee on March 17 voted 6–1 to table Ordinance A-25-02, an ordinance to set the wage rate, benefits and conditions of employment for an income tax office clerk. Committee members cited outstanding concerns from the union about the proposed pay level and the job’s relationship to existing part-time positions.

“Mister Ramsey, would you care to speak on this?” the committee chair asked as the ordinance was introduced. Ramsey, an administration official who presented the background, said the ordinance would “define the terms and conditions” for a clerk codified under the city code and that the change was aimed at filling work this tax season.

Ramsey said the measure was intended in part to allow the recently retired income tax secretary, Laura Kemp, to return part time for the season and to provide a short-term solution while permanent staffing is arranged. “I was gonna recommend a couple of things. Number 1, that it just be for a 1 year term, and I think that could be made by amendment,” Ramsey said, adding he had been working on the matter since last summer.

Council members raised several concerns in the discussion. Council member Wernarski pointed out the proposed hourly rate for the clerk was “twice that of the current part time person,” and questioned why a part-time role would be written to receive union-style negotiated increases while not paying union dues.

Mayor (referred to in discussion as “the mayor”) confirmed the wage structure mirrored language used for other non‑bargaining positions and said nonunion roles are sometimes written to receive cost-of-living adjustments similar to union averages. Council member Janek moved to table the ordinance until the union provided a suggested acceptable starting rate; Council member Dimitsky seconded. The motion to table carried 6–1.

Committee members also discussed hiring and advertising history for the income tax secretary position, transitional training positions created last year, and potential nepotism review for a proposed internal staffing plan; Ramsey said any proposed hire involving a relative would be submitted to Ohio ethics for review.

Actions and next steps: Ordinance A-25-02 was tabled so council and administration can confer with the union and provide additional details, including the job description (Exhibit A) and a recommended wage figure. The committee recorded one dissenting vote.

Votes at a glance:
- Motion to table Ordinance A-25-02 pending union input on acceptable wage: Moved by Council member Janek; seconded by Council member Dimitsky. Vote: 6–1; motion passed.","The Executive Committee voted 6–1 to table Ordinance A-25-02, which would establish wage, benefits and conditions for an income tax office clerk; members cited unresolved union concerns over pay and the structure of the position.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6633378,"Committee forwards ordinance to solicit bids for UV upgrades at water pollution control center with emergency",129,22825,152280,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2665775-fdc16564a681c1570be13ef142f7ea91&start=22&end=152","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2665775-fdc16564a681c1570be13ef142f7ea91/thumbnail_22825.jpg","/articles/6633378/Amherst/Lorain-County/Ohio/Committee-forwards-ordinance-to-solicit-bids-for-UV-upgrades-at-water-pollution-control-center-with-emergency","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633378-908383ed447004924af1535ada4ac172/orig.mp4?Expires=1776042901&Signature=kZxdJ-6E8kGq-be32WNayM6DvfyQEoc56kK3S5QjICB2~hyfu5Qwk0lb~4HKFnj4SaTs20YjyOFMjlmCAEuN8EJxHIDkmJF-ionsRx1t7NNTLcEQ1h0V8slPqX6CzbEfIb2S3SAn3NSGqBdHlUomQj-GYNxdcXHicngqLZLqgcAeaWn3FOxjmc8vmM0iAJACq0cswGiKLejbS3xgrqU1vLteTZgTRmMur~Ut6h87bWMrK4YAxDJDlF7KFBbUZb7VL46fSW1lJ6YHBu5HH98i3QKU88A13e1gtw6c~WpatVJccUBTn-fQnUnr~XrjwTUDEOwfGQJmG6lAkOGzM-el4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Amherst Finance Committee voted 7-0 on March 17 to send Ordinance 25-12 to the full council with an emergency designation, allowing the Safety Service Director to solicit bids for ultraviolet (UV) system upgrades at the city’s Water Pollution Control Center.

The ordinance would authorize the safety service director to solicit bids and award a contract for modernizing UV disinfection equipment at the wastewater treatment plant, funding a first-step project estimated at $350,000.

“These are things we can do to upgrade our system. For only the $350,000, this could have been a lot more expensive,” said Alan Merritt, Safety Service Director, describing consultant work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and saying the plan is “step 1” of needed upgrades. Merritt added the amount is affordable this year and staff want to begin the work.

The committee chair opened the item by noting it came from the Safety Service Director and that consultants and EPA guidance informed the recommendation. Committee members expressed support for starting with the targeted UV upgrades while recognizing larger upgrades may follow.

Council member Eric Everlund moved to take the ordinance to the council floor with emergency designation; Council member Raugles seconded the motion. The committee approved the motion on a voice vote, recorded as 7 to 0 in favor.

No financing ordinance or borrowing package was adopted at the committee level; members noted the city may return later to seek additional funds for larger plant upgrades.

Next steps: Ordinance 25-12 will appear on the council floor with an emergency clause so the city can solicit bids and, if awarded, proceed with the UV upgrades as described in the ordinance.

Votes at a glance:
- Motion to take Ordinance 25-12 to the council floor with emergency: Moved by Council member Eric Everlund; seconded by Council member Raugles. Vote: 7–0; motion passed.","The Finance Committee voted unanimously to send Ordinance 25-12 to the council floor with an emergency designation, authorizing the Safety Service Director to solicit bids for ultraviolet system upgrades at the Water Pollution Control Center.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee debates and amends noise ordinance; multiple technical changes passed and bill tabled for law‑department redrafting

Ordinance to stream city meetings and post agendas, minutes sent to council 7–0

Executive committee tables ordinance on wage and conditions for income tax clerk after union concerns

Committee forwards ordinance to solicit bids for UV upgrades at water pollution control center with emergency