Council approves short-term contract with Fulton County firm to support law director; several related pay and budget ordinances pass

Napoleon City Council on first reading under emergency approved a set of measures to bring outside legal help into the city law department and to reflect those costs and roles in the 2025 pay schedules.

Council acted after Law Director Billy explained his office had lost its paralegal and that he had arranged short-term assistance with a Fulton County firm led by attorney Barbara Caperstom. “The agreement would be for 28 hours for the month,” Billy said, adding the base cost would be “slightly north of about $60,000 per year” and he expected the final annual cost could be “somewhere between 10, 15, 20 over that likely, in a year.”

The council passed Resolution No. 5-25, which authorizes spending over $50,000 and directs transfers under Ohio Revised Code section 5705.14 to allow the outsourcing agreement to begin. Council also approved a separate resolution (006-25) to add the firm to the city’s recurring-cost list so the expense will be included in future budget cycles. Council later approved Ordinance No. 010-25 to amend the compensation schedule so the contracted assistant positions appear on the 2025 pay scale.

Why it matters: The law director told council he wants immediate outside assistance to maintain prosecution of misdemeanor traffic cases and to provide office continuity while the city recruits a permanent paralegal or assistant. Council members questioned hours and costs before approving the measures under emergency suspension so the firm could begin work March 3.

Details of the measures and votes - Resolution 5-25 (assist law director; authorize expenditure and transfers under Ohio Revised Code section 5705.14): passed on first read under emergency by suspension. Roll-call votes recorded as Yes: Ross, Ken, Bob, Jordan, Tom, Doctor Dade, Britney. - Resolution 006-25 (amend recurring-cost list): passed on first read under emergency by suspension. Roll-call recorded in the minutes as Yes votes from Ross, Ken, Matt, Jordan, Tom, DeGeys (Doctor DeGeys), Britney. - Ordinance 010-25 (amend compensation to add assistant-to-law-director positions to pay scale): passed on first read under emergency by suspension; roll-call recorded as Yes from Ross, Ken, Bob, Jordan, Tom, Doctor Dade, Britney. - Ordinance 008-25 (performance-based pay increase for the Law Director, retroactive to Jan. 1): passed on first read under emergency by suspension; roll-call on the ordinance recorded mixed votes (majority Yes; Jordan and Scott Tate recorded No on the ordinance roll-call in the minutes).

What council said: Billy said the plan will provide continuity and short-to-intermediate coverage for court prosecution and routine questions the office receives. When asked how quickly the city would hire a permanent replacement, Billy said he planned to search carefully and did not expect to move quickly because finding a paralegal with municipal-law experience will be difficult.

Next steps: The outsourcing agreement was authorized to start as soon as the contract is executed, with the firm scheduled to begin March 3. City staff will incorporate the recurring expense into the next budget cycle and proceed with local recruitment for a permanent paralegal.

Ending: Council made the approvals on motions to suspend the rules and pass on first reading; the minutes record the vote tallies for each measure and show the items passed under emergency suspension.