Council discusses records-officer change and tentatively schedules May budget work session; enters executive session for real estate

City of Hiram officials discussed administrative items including a change to records-officer duties and the timing of the annual budget work session, then moved into an executive session for real estate.

Jody (city staff) explained that Christy Langston, formerly deputy city clerk, moved to a position in the police department and will serve as the police department’s point of contact and records officer while also backing up court records duties. Jody described the staffing change as reflecting internal reassignment.

On the budget work session, staff asked the council to set a date in May for the annual budgeting meeting and noted scheduling conflicts. Staff proposed May 24 as the working date but sought council confirmation and warned about advertising and hearing-notice timelines. After discussion about alternative dates and start times, council members asked staff to confirm availability and advertise the session; several members indicated they could make a Saturday meeting and a 9 a.m. start was requested by one council member. Jody asked the council to provide dates quickly so the city can meet notice requirements; a council member said, “We’ll get back to Jody by tomorrow.”

Near the end of the public meeting the council voted to enter an executive session “for real estate.” An unnamed councilmember moved to enter executive session and another unnamed councilmember seconded; the council responded in the affirmative and adjourned into the closed session.

These items were administrative; the staffing reassignment and direction to schedule budgets were announced as operational actions, and the executive session was taken in closed session as permitted by state law.