East Canton council adopts emergency ordinances to hire two part‑time officers; speed camera program on track for March

The Village of East Canton council adopted emergency ordinances authorizing two part‑time hires for the East Canton Police Department and reviewed a year‑end report from the police chief.

Ordinance 202601 appoints Dylan Ucaldejeff (name as read in the record) as a part‑time police officer at an hourly rate of $20, effective upon passing required drug testing and subject to the department’s policies and a one‑year probationary period. The ordinance was presented and declared an emergency measure "necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, convenience, and welfare of the village," and council moved to suspend the rules and adopt the ordinance during the meeting.

Similarly, Ordinance 202602 appoints Michael Sorella (name variants appear in the transcript) as a part‑time police officer at $20 per hour, effective upon prerequisite clearance and with a one‑year probation. That ordinance likewise carried an emergency declaration and was adopted after suspension of the rules.

Police Chief (unspecified) delivered a report highlighting operational changes over the past year: building and evidence‑room upgrades, creation of a sergeant’s office and an additional officer workstation, updated forms to meet Honeycutt standards, and a field training program for new hires. The chief said the department processed more than 2,500 calls for service in the year and reported a 95% case completion rate. On the speed camera program, the chief said vendor work remains on schedule and that the program is expected to “go live in March,” with utilities marking and equipment installation underway.

Votes on the ordinances were recorded by roll call during the meeting transcript; council members recorded affirmative responses when called. The ordinances authorize the fiscal officer to draw warrants for wages and related payments upon hire.