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Mayor's statement on social‑media threats prompts call for expanded mental‑health response in Bexley
Summary
The mayor's written statement reported that police threat assessments found no imminent danger after disruptive social‑media posts targeting schools, and encouraged expanded mental‑health resources. Council members discussed forming a Franklin County Community Health Action Team and a potential budget request for crisis‑stabilization services.
Council leadership read a statement from Mayor Kessler reporting that Bexley Police and school leaders have monitored a series of disruptive social media posts and used threat-assessment techniques that "have not to date indicated an imminent threat." The mayor's statement said police are providing additional patrols near schools and that positive interactions between officers and school communities have increased while the extra coverage is in place.
The statement also noted ongoing mayoral work to expand social and mental-health services in Bexley and referenced prior searches for grant funding and peer-city visits to identify appropriate local models for 2026 budget proposals.
Following the mayor's statement, Council member Hurley outlined plans to propose an ordinance creating a Community Health Action Team (CHAT) in partnership with Franklin County Public Health. Hurley said the CHAT would focus on behavioral-health outreach and resource navigation and could also leverage volunteer professionals in Bexley to provide community support and information.
Hurley additionally said he is exploring a parallel budget request for crisis-stabilization services or contracted resources so mental-health professionals could respond to acute incidents (for example, threatening social media posts or individuals in crisis) alongside police. He said the proposal would be designed with input from the mayor and other council members and may take a contracting approach rather than hiring full-time staff.
No vote or formal direction to create a CHAT was taken at the meeting; council members asked staff to continue collaboration with Franklin County Public Health and the mayor's office to refine the concept and potential budget implications.
Direct quotes from the mayor's statement and from council discussion were read into the record. Council members signaled interest in including program design and funding requests in the 2026 budget process.
