Votes at a glance: Council approves rezoning, bidding limit change and five budgeted projects

WORCESTER, Jan. 6, 2025 — The Worcester City Council took a series of votes Monday night on ordinances and budgeted resolutions. Key outcomes:

• Ordinance 2024-39 (procurement/competitive bidding authorization limit): Council voted to suspend the rules and adopt the ordinance increasing the city’s authorization limit for procurement. The council suspended rules by roll call and then adopted the ordinance; the adoption roll call recorded Councilmember Myers voting No while other named members voted Yes. Outcome: adopted (recorded roll call: Wharton — Yes; Jose — Yes; Myers — No; Malta — Yes; Knappick — Yes; Abernathy — Yes; Gaffey — Yes). Note: the ordinance’s title references the competitive bid limit but the city administration said the language actually increases the authorization limit (municipal procurement authority), not the competitive-bid threshold.

• Ordinance 2024-40 (rezoning to C-3 at Smithville Western and Cleveland Road): Following a public hearing and applicant presentation, the council suspended the rules and adopted the rezoning. Outcome: adopted (roll call recorded yes votes from Abernathy, Malta, Jose, Gaffey, Wharton, Myers and Knappick).

• Resolution 2025-01 (stormwater storage building design contract): The council authorized the administration to enter into a contract for professional design services using a design-build approach for a new stormwater storage/building to house equipment at the city property near 1151 Mechanicsburg Road. Outcome: adopted (roll call recorded Yes votes from multiple councilmembers).

• Resolution 2025-02 (police vehicles upfit and purchase): The council authorized upfitting four previously authorized vehicles and purchasing/upfitting three additional 2024-model patrol vehicles, citing a cost-savings opportunity by buying available 2024 units now. Outcome: adopted (roll call recorded affirmative votes).

• Resolution 2025-03 (Akron Road shoulder widening and turn lanes): The council authorized advertising for bids and contracting for shoulder widening and turn lanes on Akron Road; the project has a $330,000 ODOT Transportation Improvement District grant and an estimated total cost of $625,000, leaving a city share of roughly $295,000. Outcome: adopted (roll call recorded affirmative votes).

• Resolution 2025-04 (Long Run water storage tank painting): The council authorized advertising and contracting to paint the interior and exterior of the Long Run water storage tank; staff estimated a project window of roughly three months and discussed seasonal constraints on paint application. Outcome: adopted (roll call recorded affirmative votes).

• Resolution 2025-05 (Old Man Road sanitary sewer extension): The council authorized bidding and contracting for construction of a sanitary sewer extension to serve a TIF area; councilmembers said the work will largely be along the east property line of the high school and thus will minimize prolonged road disruptions. Outcome: adopted (roll call recorded affirmative votes).

• Liquor control petition (transfer of a T-5A license for Best Western/Best Western Plus Hotel and Conference Center): Council voted to wait to hold the local hearing on the license transfer (options were: hearing in Columbus, a local hearing, or no hearing); the motion to wait was carried.

Several votes were taken under suspension of the rules to expedite action on first- and second-reading items; where voting detail appeared on the transcript this summary records named roll-call votes and the outcomes shown in the public meeting minutes.

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