Council approves emergency ordinance allowing mayor to enter tax-lien agreement with Adair Asset Management

Barberton City Council on Monday adopted an emergency ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with Adair Asset Management for the purpose of obtaining certain tax liens affecting properties within the city's historic district.

The measure originated from a committee letter submitted by Stacy Carr requesting legislation to allow Mayor William Judge to enter the agreement. Committee members moved to suspend rules so the matter could be considered that same night; council then voted to adopt Ordinance 104-2025 on the legislative floor after suspension.

Councilman Easterling presented the ordinance on the floor. The ordinance was introduced out of the Parks and Recreation Committee earlier in the evening and carried an emergency clause so the agreement could proceed without the standard three readings. Council called for the roll and adopted the ordinance.

What the ordinance does: it authorizes the mayor to execute an agreement with Adair Asset Management to obtain specified tax liens in the city’s historic district and declares an emergency to allow immediate effect. The ordinance language as adopted contains the authorization and emergency clause approved by council.

What happens next: with the ordinance adopted, the mayor’s office is authorized to negotiate and enter the lien agreement; council did not record additional conditions in the ordinance text during the meeting.