Council suspends rules to introduce motor-vehicle-license ordinance; approves $10,840 tourism marketing payment

Salem City Council voted on two procedural and spending items during its Oct. 7 regular meeting: council members suspended rules to allow the first reading of a revised motor vehicle license tax ordinance and approved an emergency resolution authorizing a tourism payment.

The council unanimously voted to suspend council rules so that Ordinance 251007-59, described as "an ordinance to replace ordinance number 250916-57 levying a motor vehicle license tax as authorized by the Ohio Revised Code for the city of Salem and Columbiana and Mahoning Counties," could be introduced by title only for its first reading. The suspension motion was made by Councilman Andrew Noll and seconded by Councilman Jeff Stockman; roll-call votes were recorded as yes from Mrs. Baer, Miss Bricker, Mr. Gano, Mr. Harrington, Mr. Noll, Mr. Stockman and Mr. Zellers.

Separately, the council passed Resolution 251007-60, authorizing the Salem Tourism Board to expend $10,840 from the municipal lodging tax fund "to pay for the use of Sustainable Opportunity Development Center for the production and printing of video material used to market the city of Salem to new businesses of all sizes," and declared the resolution an emergency so it could take effect immediately. Council members voted yes on the emergency resolution in a roll-call that the clerk recorded as unanimous among those present.

Why it matters: The ordinance introduction restarts a process to update the city—s motor vehicle license tax rules after an earlier version included an emergency clause that the Bureau of Motor Vehicles would not accept. The tourism payment directs municipal lodging-tax money to promotional materials intended to attract businesses.

Votes at a glance - Suspension of rules to introduce Ordinance 251007-59 (first reading by title): mover Andrew Noll; second Jeff Stockman; recorded roll-call: Mrs. Baer (yes), Miss Bricker (yes), Mr. Gano (yes), Mr. Harrington (yes), Mr. Noll (yes), Mr. Stockman (yes), Mr. Zellers (yes). Outcome: rules suspended; ordinance introduced by title only for first reading. - Resolution 251007-60, Salem Tourism Board payment of $10,840: mover Jake Gano (motion to introduce/passage with emergency clause recorded); second: Andrew Noll; roll-call: unanimous yes among members voting. Outcome: passed with emergency clause; funds authorized from municipal lodging tax.

Council procedure and next steps - Ordinance 251007-59 was read by title only and placed on first reading; further readings or actions will follow statutory requirements. - The tourism payment is effective immediately under the emergency clause. The tourism board will proceed with contracting Sustainable Opportunity Development Center for the described video production and printing work.

The meeting record shows no extended discussion on either item; council members asked no substantive follow-up questions before the votes were recorded.