Council approves two mental‑health memoranda of understanding; two members abstain

The Lima City Council voted on April 7 to pass on first reading two memoranda of understanding with the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Allen, Auglaize and Hardin Counties to support a peer center and a juvenile court dedicated intervention specialist.

Ordinance 88‑25 — a memorandum of understanding to support the Allen‑Auglaize‑Hardin County Peer Center — passed its first reading by a vote recorded as six in favor, zero opposed and two abstentions. Ordinance 89‑25, authorizing an MOU for a juvenile court dedicated intervention specialist, passed its first reading by the same tally: 6 yes, 2 abstain.

Tammy Colon, identified in the meeting as executive director of the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, addressed council and urged continued collaboration among local government and state funding partners. “Partnering with the Allen County Commissioners… and the mayor and the city, with funding also by 1 Ohio, which is where the primary funding is coming from,” Colon said, “we're hoping to really engage and provide good services efficiently and effectively into the community.”

Councilor Wilkerson moved the motions on both ordinances. The clerk recorded Councilor Glenn and Councilor Dixon as abstaining on both votes; the minutes do not list a recorded reason for those abstentions at the roll call. Councilor Thompson later noted that council members with related professional involvements sometimes abstain; the meeting record shows only the abstentions themselves.

What happens next: Both measures passed their first readings; next steps are the standard legislative process for Lima ordinances (subsequent reading(s) and formal adoption at a later meeting). The MOUs secure cooperation and local match for programs funded in part by state grant sources, according to remarks from the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board.