Norwood City Council voted unanimously on Jan. 13, 2025, to adopt an ordinance authorizing the mayor and the safety-service director to enter into a collective bargaining agreement with International Association of Fire Fighters Local 445 covering Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2027; the ordinance was declared an emergency and passed after the council met in executive session to discuss bargaining strategy.

The agreement was introduced during the council's legislative portion after Council Member Hoover asked the body to enter executive session for “preparing for, conducting or reviewing negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees concerning their compensation or other terms and conditions of their employment.” Council then returned to open session, suspended the rules to allow all three readings, and passed the ordinance.

The contract's most visible procedural steps were the request for executive session by Council Member Hoover and the unanimous roll-call vote to adopt the ordinance. Council Member Bridal (transcript: “Mister Bridal”) spoke during the discussion period before the vote, urging caution about the city's finances: he said the police and fire budget “has the ability to cripple us” if not managed carefully and asked that all parties act in good faith as the city moves forward.

Motion and adoption details are reflected in the council record: Council Member Braden moved to pass the ordinance; Mrs. Hoover seconded. A roll call recorded all members present voting in favor; the clerk announced the motion carried.

The ordinance authorizes the mayor and safety-service director to execute the attached Exhibit A implementing the agreement and declares an emergency, which accelerates its effective date under the city's procedures. The council did not discuss or read aloud detailed economic terms of the contract on the floor; specific wage, benefit, or cost figures are contained in the ordinance exhibit referenced at the meeting.

Council members framed the vote as both a labor-management step and a fiscal responsibility matter. The transcript shows repeated council emphasis on moving in “good faith” while watching the municipal budget; no dissenting votes were recorded.

The ordinance now becomes part of the city record; implementation steps (payroll adjustments, collective-bargaining administration and posting of Exhibit A) will follow city administrative procedures and any required personnel or payroll actions by the safety-service and finance offices.

For context, council took the executive-session step permitted under Ohio law for the stated purpose of negotiating with public employees; the public record contains the motion and the unanimous vote to adopt the ordinance but not the confidential bargaining deliberations held in executive session.

Key details: the enacted ordinance covers Jan. 1, 2025–Dec. 31, 2027; it was declared an emergency at passage; council voted unanimously to approve the measure.

Looking ahead, council members said they expect city administration and finance staff to manage contract implementation within the city's budgetary limits and to inform council of any material cost impacts.