St. Bernard council adopts emergency fund transfers and OKs vehicle lease agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management

ST. BERNARD, Ohio — The St. Bernard Village Council on Jan. 23 unanimously approved three emergency measures to authorize limited spending and speed replacement of municipal vehicles.

The council adopted Resolution 1-2025 to authorize the use of village funds to purchase meals or refreshments for public-purpose events; passed Ordinance 1-2025 directing the auditor to transfer $1,400,000 among village cash accounts; and enacted Ordinance 2-2025 authorizing the director of public service and safety to enter a master lease agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management. Each measure passed on recorded 6-0 votes.

Why it matters: The transfers and the fleet lease were processed as emergency ordinances so the village can move quickly to cover near-term needs and to address long lead times for ordering replacement vehicles. Together the actions reallocate existing money and set the village up to lease rather than immediately purchase some service vehicles.

Auditor Brickway said Resolution 1-2025 "authorizes the village to use taxpayers' money for refreshments and meals" and noted the annual authorization is required by law. The resolution was offered, suspension of the second and third readings was approved, and the council adopted the measure 6-0.

On Ordinance 1-2025, Auditor Brickway described the measure as a transfer, not a new appropriation. The ordinance directs the auditor to move $1,400,000 from the general fund into three cash accounts: $100,000 to the master plan cash account, $400,000 to the general bond retirement cash account and $900,000 to the employee health plan cash account. Council members approved suspension of additional readings and adopted the ordinance by voice roll call, 6-0.

Director of Public Service and Safety Tim Wardman described Ordinance 2-2025 and the rationale for declaring it an emergency. "The reason that we're asking for this to go as an emergency is because of the long lead time for the vehicles once we order them," Wardman said, saying a normal course could delay delivery many months. Wardman said the finance committee received a presentation from Enterprise Fleet Management and provided positive feedback; the ordinance authorizes the director to enter a master lease agreement to begin replacing older service vehicles. The council suspended further readings and adopted the ordinance 6-0.

During public comment, former service department employee Don Middendorf, of 5117 Borman Avenue, thanked the council for approving Ordinance 2-2025 and offered to show the vehicles in question to any council member.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 1-2025 (use of village funds for meals/refreshments): Motion to suspend additional readings and adopt made by Councilman Schultmeyer; roll-call adoption 6 ayes, 0 nays; outcome: adopted.

- Ordinance 1-2025 (transfer $1,400,000 among cash accounts): Motion to suspend additional readings and adopt made by Councilman Schultmeyer; roll-call adoption 6 ayes, 0 nays; outcome: adopted. Transfer breakdown stated in meeting: $100,000 to master plan cash account; $400,000 to general bond retirement cash account; $900,000 to employee health plan cash account.

- Ordinance 2-2025 (authorize master lease with Enterprise Fleet Management): Motion to suspend additional readings and adopt made by Councilman Schultmeyer; roll-call adoption 6 ayes, 0 nays; outcome: adopted. Council cited long vehicle lead times as the reason for emergency declaration.

Context and next steps

Council members noted the vehicle-leasing option was discussed at the finance committee on Jan. 15 and received positive feedback there. Wardman asked the council to approve the emergency timetable so orders could be placed sooner; if the normal reading schedule were followed, Wardman said, vehicles likely would not be delivered until well into the next year. The council also scheduled routine committee meetings, including a Committee of the Whole on Feb. 13 and requested a public improvements review for Langley Avenue plans before finalizing a tree-lawn removal proposal.

All three adopted measures were processed as emergency actions; the council recorded 6 ayes and no nays on each final roll call.