Shelby City Council passes emergency salary ordinance, approves firefighter contract and several other measures

Shelby City Council passed an emergency amendment to its elected-official salary ordinance and approved a city contract with the firefighters’ union after an executive session during its Feb. 3 meeting.

The council voted to add emergency language to Ordinance 1-2025 amending council salaries, then suspended the three-reading rule and passed the amended ordinance. Council members said the change was needed to meet a statutory deadline in mid-February. Councilman Martin moved the emergency amendment; Councilman Roberts seconded. Council roll call on passage recorded all members present voting in favor and the ordinance passed.

Later in the meeting, council moved into executive session to “prepare for, conduct and review negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees concerning their compensation or other terms and conditions of their employment.” After the session the council voted to adopt Ordinance 5-2025 authorizing the mayor to enter into contracts with the International Association of Firefighters; Councilman Martin thanked those involved in negotiations and called the outcome a resolution of the matter. The motion to adopt Ordinance 5-2025 was moved and seconded and the ordinance passed on roll call.

Council also adopted Resolution 1-2025 approving assessments for the demolition of a designated dwelling at 1552 East Main Street and passed Resolution 2-2025 supporting the Ohio Municipal League’s challenge to AT&T’s tariff application before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 1-2025 — Emergency amendment to elected-official salaries: motion to amend and add emergency language (mover: Mister Martin; seconder: Mister Roberts). Council suspended rules for three readings and passed the amended ordinance (roll call affirmative). Note: members discussed waiting on state figures that influenced the timing and cited the statutory filing deadline.

- Ordinance 2-2025 — Enacting section 12.96.19, solar energy systems: taken up for second reading; council recorded roll-call approval for the second reading.

- Ordinance 3-2025 — Amending traffic/access management code (section 1206.420): taken for second reading; second-reading roll call recorded in favor.

- Ordinance 4-2025 — Alley vacation along East Main Street (Lots 103–106 and adjacent parcels): introduced and passed first reading; council deferred further questions (parking, fire access) to staff for follow-up.

- Ordinance 5-2025 — Authorizing mayor to enter into contracts with the International Association of Firefighters: council entered executive session for bargaining, then unanimously passed Ordinance 5-2025 on return from executive session.

- Resolution 1-2025 — Assessment for demolition at 1552 East Main Street: passed (roll-call approval).

- Resolution 2-2025 — Supporting Ohio Municipal League challenge to AT&T tariff application at the PUCO: passed (roll-call approval).

Council members framed the emergency passage of the salary ordinance as timing-driven: several council members, including Mister Martin, said they were waiting on state figures that affected calculations and that the statutory deadline required action before the council’s next regular meeting. The city moved to approve the firefighter contract after private bargaining discussions in executive session; Councilman Martin thanked negotiation participants and tied the vote to retaining dedicated safety personnel.

The council recorded multiple unanimous or broadly affirmative roll calls on items listed above; the meeting transcript shows roll-call participation for each vote. Several items introduced for first or second reading will return to council for final adoption or further staff follow-up (notably the alley vacation and the questions about parking and fire-truck access).