Village council adopts ordinance to appoint part-time officer; oath delayed pending drug test

The Village of East Canton council on an emergency ordinance vote approved the appointment of Chad Hilty as a part-time police officer with an hourly rate of $20, subject to completion of usual hiring prerequisites including a drug screen.

Council members passed Ordinance 2025-06 — introduced and read by title during the meeting — authorizing the village to hire Hilty and to make the necessary payroll and appropriation entries. The ordinance sets a one-year probationary period and says the appointment takes effect when Hilty passes the required drug test.

The measure was presented as an emergency ordinance “necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health, safety, convenience and welfare,” language included in the ordinance text. Council members moved to suspend the rules to allow immediate final reading and adoption during the same meeting. After the third reading by title only, the ordinance was adopted by roll call vote.

Council also said it would withhold administering Hilty’s oath of office until the drug-screen requirement is satisfied. No formal oath was given during the meeting.

The village police chief and department staff described recruiting activity and a short period of lower call volume while the department works to restore staffing. The council discussed wages and reviews for officers elsewhere on the agenda, and the council noted the hiring is contingent on routine pre-employment steps.

Votes at a glance: ordinance to appoint Chad Hilty, adopted; motion to suspend rules, adopted. The council did not administer the oath pending the candidate’s drug test.

The council will finalize onboarding steps when the drug-screen result and any other prerequisites are complete.