Service committee updates city code, authorizes indigent-defense reimbursement contract for 2026

The Newark City Council service committee advanced two administrative items: Ordinance 25‑34, the annual codification and update of the city’s certified ordinances, and Resolution 25‑71, which authorizes the director of public service to execute a contract for reimbursement of legal representation for indigent persons for calendar year 2026 with the Licking County Board of Commissioners.

Staff explained that Ordinance 25‑34 is the routine yearly update performed by AM Legal to add new matter, remove repealed ordinances and keep the city’s online code current. The committee moved and seconded the ordinance; the motion carried in committee (the transcript excerpt does not provide a definitive numeric roll‑call tally for that vote).

Miss Small, speaking for staff on Resolution 25‑71, said the legislation ensures individuals who request a court‑appointed attorney can receive representation and that the related fees can be paid, and noted the item aligns with a county resolution. The resolution authorizes the director of public service to execute the reimbursement contract with Licking County for calendar year 2026. The motion on the resolution was seconded (the transcript identifies a second by “Billy” in the excerpt); the committee recorded the motion as passing, though an explicit numeric tally is not clearly legible in the provided excerpt.

Both items were considered routine, described by staff as annual or aligning with county practice; the committee concluded its meeting and noted regular session would resume later in the evening.

Where the transcript excerpt did not specify vote tallies or full first names, this article records the ordinance and resolution numbers exactly as given in the public transcript and notes when numeric vote details were not specified.