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Council refers 1500 West Galbraith abatement plan to Budget & Finance after debate over ARPA timing
Summary
North College Hill council debated Resolution 18-2025, which authorizes asbestos and mold abatement at 1500 West Galbraith Road and an RFP for third‑party inspections. After discussing ARPA deadlines and process, council unanimously referred the measure to the Budget & Finance Committee for review.
North College Hill’s City Council spent the evening debating Resolution 18-2025, a proposal that would authorize asbestos and mold abatement at 1500 West Galbraith Road and direct the administration to issue an RFP for a qualified architectural and environmental engineering firm to provide on-site third‑party observations.
Mary Jo Zorbb, serving as president pro tem, told the council “the asbestos has to be done” and said the measure would allow administration to begin asbestos remediation so the city could meet fund‑use timing. That timing was central to the discussion: several councilmembers and speakers warned the project must start before Dec. 31 to preserve eligibility for ARPA funds.
Councilmember Joy Chichester argued the legislation had not been vetted in committee and moved to remove the item from the agenda so committee members could review it. Chichester said council needed time for discussion, while proponents said a first reading could occur without final action. Councilmember Alexander asked for clarification that the resolution would hire a third party only to review options, not to decide demolition.
After debate, an initial motion to remove Resolution 18-2025 from the agenda failed on a 4-2 roll call. Council then voted 6-0 to refer the resolution to the Budget & Finance Committee for more detailed review and scheduling. Councilmembers noted the committee’s October calendar is heavily loaded and suggested either a longer meeting or a special meeting to give the item adequate time.
The resolution’s text read aloud by staff instructs the city administrator to direct RWBC Inc. to proceed with asbestos and mold abatement at the address in question and to seek a third‑party architectural/environmental firm to issue inspection reports to administration and council; it also references potential demolition of the west side of the existing building and restoration of the east wing, including council chambers.
What happens next: the Budget & Finance Committee will review the RFP scope, the applicability of ARPA funds and a timeline for potential abatement work before the council takes further readings or final action.
