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Council advances multiple ordinances and places labor contracts on first reading
Summary
The Washington Court House City Council on April 23 advanced a package of ordinances and placed three police labor-contract resolutions on first reading, approving amendments and readings by roll call.
The Washington Court House City Council voted on multiple ordinances and resolutions at its April 23 meeting, taking a mix of first- and second-reading actions and placing three labor-contract resolutions on first reading.
Key outcomes at a glance
• Ordinance 4-2025 (door-to-door sales and solicitation license fees and terms): proceeded on to second reading; council roll call recorded affirmative votes from members present. The ordinance amends codified ordinance section 114.04 concerning licensing and terms for door-to-door sales and solicitation.
• Ordinance 5-2025 (vacant and/or abandoned buildings): taken off the table, amended by council and placed on first reading as amended. Council actions included an amendment vote and a subsequent roll-call vote to place the amended ordinance on first reading.
• Ordinance 6-2025 (downtown signage): council voted to amend and advance the ordinance; the amended version was set on second reading.
• Ordinance 7-2025 (zoning substitution to allow single-room-occupancy conversions): placed on first reading after substantive debate and public comment (separate, detailed coverage available).
• Ordinance 8-2025 (joint negotiation on a one-price schedule for street lighting electricity): put on first reading; council expressed intent to negotiate regionally on street lighting rates.
• Ordinance 9-2025 (fireworks ordinance): placed on first reading. Council members discussed additional amendments and agreed to prepare revised language for the next meeting limiting public use to Independence Day and New Year’s Day; council indicated amendments will be presented at a subsequent meeting.
• Ordinance 10-2025 (cooperative agreement approval): placed on first reading; council took the matter up with a roll-call vote.
Labor contract resolutions (first reading)
• Resolution R18-2025: Contract with the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Ohio Labor Council for dispatchers (mediation number referenced in contract title). Placed on first reading.
• Resolution R19-2025: Contract with FOP Ohio Labor Council for patrol officers. Placed on first reading.
• Resolution R20-2025: Contract with FOP Ohio Labor Council for sergeants. Placed on first reading.
Voting and amendments: Several items were taken off the table, amended on the floor and then advanced with roll-call votes; recorded votes in the transcript show the members present voting affirmatively on the readings and on amendments when taken. Where an amendment was offered and voted on, council recorded the amendment vote and then voted on the amended legislation.
Why it matters: These readings advance code changes and municipal policies that affect downtown signage rules, vacant-property enforcement, street-lighting procurement, fireworks restrictions and licensing for solicitors. The labor-contract resolutions set the process for collective bargaining outcomes to return for final approvals in future meetings.
Next steps: Most items remain at first or second reading and require subsequent council readings or BZA/staff follow-up before enactment. Labor-contract resolutions will return for final council consideration after staff and union procedural steps.
