Council approves slate of budget, contract and program ordinances; retirement incentive moved to second reading

Lima City Council adopted Resolution 15-25 honoring Abe Ambrosio for his service as executive director of the Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center and approved a package of ordinances on first reading covering budget amendments, contracts, grant applications and equipment purchases.

Council moved quickly through ordinances authorizing the mayor to enter contracts and pursue grants, including: an amendment to the 2025 annual budget (Ordinance 2-27-25); a contract with Moto Media LLC for broadcasting production (Ordinance 2-28-25); a lease with Saint Charles Catholic School for police department space (Ordinance 2-30-25); an amendment to a contract with Peterson Construction Company (Ordinance 2-31-25); an application for the Johnny Appleseed Cooperative Parks Improvement Grant (CPIG) program (Ordinance 2-32-25); authorization to use govdeals.com to dispose of public-works items (Ordinance 2-33-25); support for Open Doors Academy27s ECHO program (Ordinance 2-34-25); amendments to licensing and contractor registration sections of the codified ordinances (Ordinances 2-35-25 and 2-36-25); and the purchase of a medium-duty dump truck from Rush Truck Centers for the public works department (Ordinance 2-37-25).

Most measures passed on first reading by unanimous roll-call votes recorded by the clerk. The lease with Saint Charles (Ordinance 2-30-25) passed with a recorded abstention and a 6to1 vote; all other listed ordinances were recorded as passing by a 7to0 vote.

Separately, council debated Ordinance 2-29-25, a voluntary early retirement incentive program. Initial motions to pass that ordinance on first reading were withdrawn and the ordinance was placed on second reading to allow staff to provide fiscal numbers and to permit further public and council review. The mayor noted the legislation includes a capped payout provision stating that the auditor shall not exceed a maximum compensation payout of $20,000 per eligible employee. Council scheduled a special meeting to consider the retirement program prior to the next regular meeting and asked the auditor and administration to provide cost estimates.

Votes at a glance (formal first-reading actions recorded in the meeting): - Resolution 15-25 (honoring Abe Ambrosio) 2d Adopted on first reading by roll-call vote 7to0. - Ordinance 2-27-25 (2025 annual budget amendment) 2d Passed on first reading, 7to0. - Ordinance 2-28-25 (contract with Moto Media LLC) 2d Passed on first reading, 7to0. - Ordinance 2-30-25 (lease with Saint Charles Catholic School) 2d Passed on first reading; recorded vote 6yes, 0no, 1abstain. - Ordinance 2-31-25 (amend Peterson Construction Company contract) 2d Passed on first reading, 7to0. - Ordinance 2-32-25 (Johnny Appleseed CPIG grant application) 2d Passed on first reading, 7to0. - Ordinance 2-33-25 (disposal via govdeals.com) 2d Passed on first reading, 7to0. - Ordinance 2-34-25 (contract with Open Doors Academy) 2d Passed on first reading, 7to0. - Ordinance 2-35-25 (amend license-required ordinance) 2d Passed on first reading, 7to0. - Ordinance 2-36-25 (building contractor registration amendment) 2d Passed on first reading, 7to0. - Ordinance 2-37-25 (purchase medium-duty dump truck) 2d Passed on first reading, 7to0.

The council recorded no further substantive amendments to the listed ordinances during the meeting. Council directed staff to prepare additional fiscal detail on the voluntary early retirement incentive program for the special meeting called before the next regular session.

Ending: The council adjourned and set its next regular meeting for Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers.