Sharonville council approves employee pay increase, appropriations, brownfield support and property purchase

Sharonville City Council unanimously approved a package of emergency actions on Nov. 18 that included a 3% cost-of-living increase, discretionary employee bonuses, appropriations for vehicle replacements and budget adjustments, support for a brownfield remediation grant application, and the purchase of a piece of real property.

In a roll-call vote the council approved Emergency Ordinance 2025-48E, authorizing a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for full-time and permanent part-time employees and a discretionary bonus scheduled for December 2025. The ordinance specifies a discretionary bonus of 40 hours pay for full-time employees and 24 hours prorated for part-time employees. The motion was moved by Councilmember Knight and seconded by Councilmember Lovett; all present councilmembers voted "Yes." (Councilmember Ed Cunningham was absent with notice.)

Council then approved Emergency Ordinance 2025-49E, an amendment to 2025 appropriations that authorizes the Safety Service Director to place orders for replacement vehicles under the enterprise lease program, rolls over certain proceeds, and addresses identified shortages in the fire fund. The motion was moved by Councilmember Sharpshire and seconded by Councilmember Cook; roll call was unanimous among those present.

The council also approved Emergency Resolution 2025 R14E, a resolution of support to reapply for Ohio Department of Development brownfield remediation grant funds intended to help remediate commercially contaminated properties. City staff said the state has reconfigured scoring for the program and staff believe the application could be competitive. The motion to approve the resolution was moved by Councilmember Knight and seconded by Councilmember Cox; roll call was unanimous among those present.

Later in the meeting the council approved Emergency Ordinance 2025-51E by roll call, authorizing the Safety Service Director to execute documents to purchase real property at 11959 Tramway Drive (Parcel 6080027020000) and amending capital-fund appropriations accordingly. The motion was moved by Councilmember Cook and seconded by Councilmember Sharpshire; all present voted "Yes."

Procedural motions earlier in the meeting allowed first-and-only readings for the above ordinances and resolutions so they could be considered under emergency rules. In a separate voice vote the council also approved extending the Christmas-on-the-loop hours to Dec. 13.

The mayor and staff noted two executive sessions were planned: one under Ohio Revised Code 121.22(G)(2) to consider the purchase of property and a second under 121.22(G)(8) to consider confidential economic development information. The council indicated there would be no action after the second executive session.

Votes at a glance: - Emergency Ordinance 2025-48E (COLA and discretionary bonus): mover Miss Knight; seconder Mister Lovett; outcome: approved; roll call: all present voted Yes. - Emergency Ordinance 2025-49E (appropriations and vehicle orders): mover Miss Sharpshire; seconder Mister Cook; outcome: approved; roll call: all present voted Yes. - Emergency Resolution 2025 R14E (brownfield grant support): mover Miss Knight; seconder Mister Cox; outcome: approved; roll call: all present voted Yes. - Emergency Ordinance 2025-51E (purchase of 11959 Tramway Drive): mover Mister Cook; seconder Miss Sharpshire; outcome: approved; roll call: all present voted Yes. - Voice vote extending Christmas-on-the-loop hours to Dec. 13: outcome: passed.

Next steps noted by staff include continuing public outreach on downtown redevelopment and any required follow-up reporting tied to the newly approved appropriations and property purchase.