Cortland City Council on Dec. 1 approved several ordinances and resolutions spanning personnel policy, senior services funding, cybersecurity, infrastructure bid authorizations and emergency utility purchases.

Council adopted Ordinance O-65-25, a policy prohibiting nepotism and conflicts of interest in city employment. The second reading concluded with a roll call yielding affirmative responses from council members in attendance.

Ordinance O-66-25, authorizing funding to Scope, Inc. to support Cortland Senior Center services, likewise completed its second reading and passed on roll call.

Resolution R-47-25, adopting a citywide cybersecurity policy, was presented by staff. A staff speaker identified it as a response to a new state law requiring governmental entities to adopt a cybersecurity policy by Jan. 1 and implement it by July 1; council approved the resolution and designated the finance director to lead committee work on training and implementation.

The council authorized advertising for bids on several capital projects: Resolution R-48-25 to advertise for a salt storage bin demolition and base construction at Willow Park (staff noted roughly $75,000 was available); Resolution R-49-25 to advertise for West Main/Mosquito Creek Place improvement plans (staff said $404,000 is budgeted for capital construction); and Resolution R-50-25 to apply to the Ohio Public Works Commission for 2027 asphalt resurfacing funding.

The council also fixed a date for the recall election (Resolution R-51-25). The Board of Elections requested Feb. 3 to align staffing and early voting; the roll call produced mainly affirmative votes though Chip Conklin recorded a 'No' vote during that roll call.

On utility and operational matters, council approved emergency ordinances O-68-25 and O-69-25. The finance director told council the existing meter-reading equipment had failed, that a loaner unit was in use and that continuing to use a loaner would incur rental costs; the council authorized an emergency purchase of new meter-reading software/equipment from Buckeye State Pipe & Supply Co. Council also approved an emergency purchase of cellular water/sewer meters and a service plan from Metron-Farnier Smartwater Systems because the city reported a low inventory of replacement meters.

Ordinance O-70-25, an emergency amendment to the annual appropriation to increase police department funding, was presented and passed on roll call as part of routine end-of-year adjustments.

Most items were approved by roll call votes recorded in the meeting; a handful of items generated discussion but the principal procedural outcome across the agenda was passage of the listed resolutions and ordinances or, in the case of the refuse removal contract ordinance, withdrawal for re-bid.