Norwood council adopts employee pay ordinance, Montgomery Road paving agreement and emergency fuel payment; salary approved after executive session

NORWOOD, Ohio — At its Feb. 25 meeting the Norwood City Council approved several items by unanimous vote, including an ordinance setting non-union employee pay rates, an agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation for FY2025 paving on U.S. 22 (Montgomery Road), and a resolution authorizing payment of $7,711.04 for fuel previously provided by World Fuel Services, Inc. The council also approved a salary request after an executive session.

Key outcomes (votes at a glance):

- Non-union employee pay rates (ordinance): Council voted to suspend rules for all three readings and then passed the ordinance. Roll-call recorded: Mrs. Branson, Mrs. Hoover, Ms. Royce, Mr. Moore, Mr. Guertin and Mr. Braden voting yes; motion carried unanimously.

- ODOT FY2025 urban paving agreement (Montgomery Road): Council approved suspending rules and passed a final ordinance to authorize a paving agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation covering Montgomery Road from the north part of Norwood past Holy Trinity to just north of Dana Avenue. Council members voted yes in roll call (all members present voted yes). Councilmembers emphasized the multiyear negotiation with ODOT and the long-standing public interest in repaving Montgomery Road.

- Then-and-now certificate to pay World Fuel Services, Inc. (DBA World Connect) $7,711.04 for fuel: Council passed a resolution to authorize the city auditor to approve a then-and-now certificate from fund 1001-0815-57300 to pay for unassigned transportation fuel costs. The motion to suspend rules and pass carried with all present voting yes.

- Salary approval for Mary Yaeger: After an executive session under Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22(G)(1), council returned to public session and approved the salary request contained in a letter from the auditor/administration. The motion carried with all present voting yes.

Why it matters: The Montgomery Road agreement is the most visible public-facing action — council members noted the repaving will address long-standing pothole issues on a heavily traveled corridor (including routes used by Xavier University students). The pay-rate ordinance updates non-union salaries and the fuel payment clears an outstanding obligation. The salary approval was handled in executive session as permitted under Ohio law for personnel matters.

Speakers cited: motions and roll-call votes were recorded by the council president and by council members who took the roll calls during each vote.