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Ashland commissioners approve multiple ordinances, grant acceptances and municipal orders in consent agenda
Summary
At its Jan. 23 meeting the Ashland Board of Commissioners approved a package of first readings, ordinance repeals, grant acceptances and a municipal order relating to opioid litigation settlement participation. Actions were taken on streetscape funding, sewer reporting, water-main replacement grants, and personnel classification changes.
The Ashland Board of Commissioners approved a slate of ordinances, resolutions and a municipal order during the consent portion of its Jan. 23 meeting, the board confirmed in voice votes. Items included a streetscape funding agreement, sewer-reporting services, repeal of a previously approved minority loan, updates to the city's classification and compensation plan, and multiple water-project grant acceptances.
Why it matters: The measures commit federal and grant funding, change personnel listings used for budgeting and operations, and authorize the city to participate in a statewide opioid litigation settlement. Several items also create or amend obligations that will shape near-term public-works projects and city budgeting.
Most items were presented and approved on first reading with motion and second and were passed by voice vote with no roll-call tally recorded in the transcript. Notable items approved include:
- An ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute Supplemental Agreement No. 2 with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for the Winchester Avenue Streetscape project (Thirteenth to Eighteenth Street), providing $550,000 in federal SAH funds with a $62,500 local match to be paid from the general fund. (First reading approved.)
- A task order with Strand Associates Inc. for preparation of the 2024 combined sewer overflow reports for the Department of Utilities, not to exceed $20,000. (First reading approved.)
- Repeal of Ordinance No. 103, Series 2024, which had approved a minority loan to Broadway Books LLC. (First reading approved; one commissioner recorded an abstention.)
- An ordinance amending the authorized positions listing and adopting revised job descriptions tied to the classification and compensation plan (as adopted by Ordinance No. 31, Series 2023, and previously amended by Ordinance No. 82, Series 2023). The ordinance was presented as a measure with significant fiscal impact (discussed by a commissioner as roughly $1.4 million) and was approved on first reading.
- Resolutions accepting grant assistance and authorizing budget amendments for multiple water-main and pump-station projects, including project identifiers shown in the meeting as 21CWW015 and 22CWW105.
- A municipal order authorizing the mayor to execute documents necessary for the city’s participation in litigation settlement with Kroger related to opioid medications in Kentucky.
Board members also moved and approved an executive session during the meeting to discuss a personnel matter and property acquisition; the board returned to open session and stated no action was taken in executive session.
Votes at a glance (as recorded in the meeting transcript): - Supplemental Agreement No. 2 (Winchester Avenue Streetscape): motion, second; voice vote; approved. - Strand Associates task order (CSO reports, up to $20,000): motion, second; voice vote; approved. - Repeal of Ordinance No. 103 (Broadway Books LLC minority loan): motion, second; voice vote; approved; one abstention recorded (name not specified in transcript). - Ordinance amending authorized positions/listings and job descriptions: motion, second; discussion recorded; voice vote; approved. - Grant acceptances for US 23 Winchester Avenue water-main replacement projects (project 21CWW015 and another water-main item): motion, second; voice vote; approved. - Resolution for Boggess Drive/Florida Street/Johnson Fork Pump Station project (22CWW105): motion, second; voice vote; approved. - Municipal order to participate in Kroger opioid litigation settlement: motion, second; voice vote; approved.
The transcript records motions and seconding for each consent item and multiple ‘‘aye’’ responses from commissioners; explicit roll-call tallies and individual votes were not recorded in the public transcript excerpts.
Next steps: Items passed on first reading will return for subsequent readings or implementation according to the city’s ordinance processes and the grant agreements’ conditions.
Ending: The board moved on after concluding the consent agenda to a ceremonial pinning for newly promoted fire engineers and other agenda items.
