Personnel committee approves IAFF Local 109 employment agreement, sends measure to full council

The Newark City Council personnel committee approved an ordinance adopting an employment agreement between the City of Newark, Ohio, and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 109, and referred the measure to the full council for consideration at 7:00 p.m.

The ordinance, as read into the record, "approv[es], accept[s], ratif[ies], [and] adopt[s] an employment agreement between the city of Newark, Ohio and the International Association of Firefighters, Local 109," with an effective term of Aug. 1, 2025, through July 31, 2028. The text presented to the committee also stated it would abolish the current employment agreement (effective on execution through July 31, 2025), repeal ordinances and resolutions in conflict with the new agreement, and declare an emergency.

A motion to approve the ordinance was made by Council Member Shoots and seconded by Council Member Labutis. Committee members voted in favor by voice; the chair announced the motion passed "5 to 0." Earlier in the meeting the committee moved out of an executive session by voice vote. A speaker stated, "nothing was decided in executive session, and we're still in the committee." The transcript did not record a roll-call vote naming each member's vote for the ordinance.

The measure will be considered by the full Newark City Council at its 7:00 p.m. meeting. The record provided to the committee included the effective dates and the emergency clause; no further details about specific changes to wages, benefits or other contract provisions were specified in the excerpt provided.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance adopting employment agreement with IAFF Local 109 — motion by Shoots; second by Labutis; committee outcome: approved 5–0; referral: full council at 7:00 p.m.