St. Bernard council adopts levy renewal, emergency appropriations, Langley Avenue contract and one-year firefighter contract

The Saint Bernard Village Council on March 27 unanimously adopted four measures aimed at municipal finance, street repairs and the fire department.

Council passed Resolution No. 3 (2025), authorizing a renewal 7-mill property tax levy and declaring an emergency so the matter can be certified to the Hamilton County Auditor for placement on a special election ballot. The council voted 6-0 on both the motion to suspend the second and third readings and on final adoption.

The resolution was revised from an earlier draft to reflect a recent change in law that, according to Law Director Dan Volkenberg, required specific county language. "The change in the law required that we state that the village is wholly located within Hamilton County," Volkenberg said during the meeting.

Council also adopted Ordinance No. 10 (2025), authorizing additional appropriations and declaring an emergency. Mayor Stutchell summarized three line items described in the meeting record: a $3,264.88 Ohio EMS grant to be placed in the ambulance-supplies line item; $70,000 to restore contract-staff funding that had been left out of the budget; and $134,000 for engineering on the Greenlee improvement project. The ordinance passed on a 6-0 vote after suspension of the second and third readings.

Ordinance No. 11 (2025) — authorizing the director of public safety and service to enter into a contract with Bridal Inc. for the Langley Avenue reconstruction project and declaring an emergency — was adopted by a 6-0 vote after suspension of additional readings. The ordinance text shown in the meeting record names "Bridal Inc" as the contractor for the Langley Avenue work.

Finally, Ordinance No. 12 (2025) — accepting and approving terms of employment between the Village of Saint Bernard and Local 450, Saint Bernard Firefighters (IAFF) — was placed on the table, suspended for additional readings and adopted by a 6-0 vote under emergency. Mayor Stutchell described the agreement as a one-year contract that mirrors the police contract this year because of anticipated reduced revenue; he said the approach is intended to avoid overextending the village financially. "We thought it was prudent ... to not offer an extended contract being anything beyond 1 year," Stutchell said. The contract provides a 4% pay increase and raises the paramedic stipend from $3,500 to $5,000, according to the mayor's summary. The mayor also said the department's contract expires April 1 and noted a desire to avoid retroactive pay by finalizing the agreement before the next pay period.

All four measures were approved by unanimous 6-0 votes in recorded roll calls. The clerk recorded the ayes as Mr. Morton, Mayor Stutchell, Mr. Edwards, Miss Hausfeld, Mr. Schultmeyer and Mr. Culbertson for each action.

What happens next: Resolution No. 3 will be certified to the Hamilton County Auditor for placement on a special election ballot; the appropriations ordinance and the two emergency ordinances take effect under the council's emergency declarations so the village can implement the appropriations and execute the street and labor contracts without delay.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution No. 3 (2025): renewal 7-mill tax levy; motion to suspend readings and adoption both passed 6-0; outcome: adopted and certified to Hamilton County Auditor.

- Ordinance No. 10 (2025): additional appropriations (Ohio EMS grant $3,264.88; contract staff $70,000; Greenlee engineering $134,000); passed 6-0; outcome: adopted (emergency).

- Ordinance No. 11 (2025): Langley Avenue reconstruction contract with Bridal Inc.; passed 6-0; outcome: adopted (emergency).

- Ordinance No. 12 (2025): employment agreement with Local 450, Saint Bernard Firefighters IAFF (one-year term, 4% increase, paramedic stipend increased from $3,500 to $5,000); passed 6-0; outcome: adopted (emergency).