The Ashland Board of City Commissioners approved a slate of ordinances, grant agreements and a tourism board appointment at its Dec. 12, 2025 recess meeting.

The actions included final adoption of an ordinance repealing Order No. 13, Series of 1939, which had prohibited palmistry, phrenology and fortune telling within the city. Speaker 2 read the ordinance on second reading; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote, with one recorded "no." "All in favor, say aye," Speaker 1 called during the roll, and members responded in the affirmative.

Commissioners authorized a $148,792 Community Development Block Grant agreement with Hope's Place for roof replacement and approved a $158,116 contract with Cosby Construction LLC for a sidewalk project on Ferry Street and Palmer Road, both to be paid from CDBG funds. The board also adopted Amendment No. 1 to the U.S. Department of Transportation FY2022 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant agreement to extend the project timeline by eight months and designate the mayor as the official project representative.

An ordinance in title amended Part 6 (benefits, holidays and vacation leave) of the city's policies and procedures, compensation and classification plan as adopted by Ordinance No. 51, Series of 2017. The board also authorized a five-year operational control agreement with A P 3 LLC for the Paramount Arts Center beginning Jan. 1, 2026, at $10,000 per month.

A consent-resolution adopting the course of action presented by the city manager for items on the Dec. 12, 2025 recess meeting consent agenda was approved by voice vote. The mayor's appointment of Joe Abden to the tourism board, replacing Sergio Garcia (term exp. 08/26/2026), was moved, seconded and approved after Speaker 1 noted Abden is a manager at Longhorn and resides on Blackburn Avenue.

The board entered a brief executive session to discuss an individual personnel matter and returned to open session with Speaker 1 reporting that no action had been taken.

The meeting adjourned after routine business and seasonal greetings.

What happens next: several measures require administrative steps (contract execution, grant administration and onboarding of the tourism board appointee); no further public hearings for the listed ordinances were recorded at this meeting.