The Hammond Common Council used its Dec. 22 meeting to clear year‑end business, approving the Dec. 8 minutes, a claims list and multiple ordinances by roll call.

Minutes and claims: Councilman Salinas moved approval of the Dec. 8 minutes and Councilman Emerson seconded; the motion carried by voice vote. Councilwoman Benaz moved approval of claims from Dec. 3 to Dec. 17 (claim numbers 11028 through 11396) totaling $12,161,709.77; the motion, seconded by Councilman Rakos, passed on roll call with eight in favor and one member absent.

Ordinances: The council voted to give final passage to a series of year‑end ordinances including:
• Ordinance 25‑33 (sponsored by Mayor McDermott) — fixes salaries for elected city officials effective 01/01/2026 and includes a 2% raise for the mayor, clerk and council members; motion passed per roll call (8 in favor, 1 absent).
• Ordinance 25‑34 (sponsored by Councilwoman Venez) — an appropriation described as an annual cleanup; passed on final reading.
• Ordinance 25‑35 (sponsored by Councilwoman Venez) — authorizes internal transfers within 2025 city budgets to reconcile line items at year end; passed on final reading.
• Ordinance 25‑36 (sponsored by Councilman Rakos) — ratifies Board of Public Works traffic regulations for 2025 (one‑way streets, resident‑only parking and prohibitions at listed blocks); passed on final reading.

Public hearings and communications: A public hearing on an ordinance to appropriate monies into the 2025 gaming fund was opened and, without speakers on the record for that item, closed. Council communications included thanks for holiday food giveaways and notices of upcoming community meetings.

What the record shows: Clerk Golick administered roll calls for motions requiring final passage; where recorded, votes were unanimous among present members and the official roll shows eight in favor with one absence for several items. No recorded ordinances failed on final passage during this session.

Provenance: motions to approve minutes and claims begin at SEG 531 and the ordinances on final passage conclude at SEG 817.