The Roads & Safety Committee voted July 10 to send an ordinance to tonight’s council agenda for first reading that would authorize a contract and create a permanent, part‑time school resource officer (SRO) position funded in a 60/40 split with the Stowe Monroe Falls City School District.

The proposal, discussed at length by Police Chief Bill and members of the committee, responds to months of difficulty filling off‑duty SRO shifts and what the chief described as an “inefficient” model in which schools previously hired officers as outside jobs.

The city’s chief said the department has worked about a year updating the memorandum of understanding with the school system after Officer Barry Smith’s retirement and that Officer Bethany Chalmers and the DARE officer are SRO‑trained. “If this program that we’re trying to initiate, if it’s not successful, I will be back in front of council with another program,” the chief said, describing the plan as a pilot and saying the department would continue seeking alternatives including grant funding.

Councilwoman Kelly Coffey, who helped gather comparative models from other Ohio jurisdictions, called the proposal “a good starting point” and stressed the time sensitivity because school starts in a month. “I feel like the numbers are persistent with other cities,” Coffey said.

Committee members pressed the chief on whether the schools had actually cut SRO funding and whether the contract would protect the city from staffing and budget risk if a school later reduced its contribution. The chief said he did not have the school district’s approved budget on hand and that Dr. Gould and Mark Treen from the district were on vacation and not present to answer budget questions.

The law director and command staff were reported to have worked with labor representatives and the unions to structure an MOU that would limit part‑timers to school duties during the school year and require training during summer months. The chief said union leadership was consulted and raised concerns about part‑timers supplanting full‑time overtime opportunities; the proposed agreement is intended to prevent that.

A resident speaker, Brian Angeloni, told the committee he supports the pilot and urged the city to proceed, calling the cost modest in the context of the police budget and the city’s reserve fund.

The committee moved the ordinance on to the full council for first reading only; the chair said he intends to invite school district representatives to the council hearing so members can press for the district’s budgetary intent.

The ordinance is listed on the agenda as 2025‑149; the committee advanced it to council for first reading by voice vote.