Independence — At its organizational meeting on Friday, Jan. 2, the Independence City Council administered oaths of office to newly seated councilmembers and confirmed a clerk of council, then adopted rules of order and approved a series of appointments to boards, commissions and committees.

Presiding official opened the meeting, called the roll and said, “This is a very special occasion — the swearing in of council members and a clerk of council.” Judge DeGeronimo administered the oath to councilmembers and Sergio de Jong repeated the oath to assume his duties as councilperson. Judge DeCastro then administered the clerk’s oath for Amanda Scheer (the transcript later uses the variant “Amanda Scherer”).

The council proceeded through a sequence of resolutions largely by motions to suspend the rules followed by adoption. Among the actions the council announced as adopted were:

- Resolution 2026‑1: Affirming the appointment of Amanda Scheer as Clerk of Council for 2026–2027 (adopted).
- Resolution 2026‑2: Adoption of rules of order for council for 2026–2027 (adopted).
- Resolution 2026‑3: Appointment of Anthony Tagliati as council member to the Planning Commission for 2026–2027 (adopted).
- Resolution 2026‑4: Appointment of Dale Biverca as council member to the Board of Zoning Appeals for 2026–2027 (adopted).
- Resolution 2026‑5: Designation of council membership on standing committees for 2026–2027 (adopted).
- Resolution 2026‑6: Appointment of Kevin Day as council member to the Healthcare Review Committee for 2026–2027 (adopted).
- Resolution 2026‑7: Appointment of Stephanie Rodriguez as council member to the Tree Commission (adopted).
- Resolution 2026‑8: Appointment of Rebecca Somnitz to the Beautification Committee for 2026–2027 (adopted).
- Resolution 2026‑9: Appointment of Matthew Binkner as council member to the Hemlock Trail Committee for 2026–2027 (adopted).
- Resolution 2026‑10: Confirmation of Mayor’s appointment of Cheryl Chase as a citizen member of the Planning Commission for 2026–2031 (adopted).
- Resolution 2026‑11: Confirmation of Mayor’s appointment of Peter Nelson as a citizen member to the Veil Service Commission for 2026–2031 (adopted).

For each resolution the record shows motions to suspend the rules and then to adopt followed by roll-call responses of "Yes" and the presiding official’s announcement that the resolution was adopted. The transcript records councilmembers answering during roll calls but does not provide a full, explicit individual tally for every resolution in the text.

During the meeting Pastor Lisa Thomas of the United Methodist Church offered an invocation. The council also recorded no objection to a proposed D‑23 liquor‑license transfer for a business listed at 149 S. High St.; the clerk noted there was "no objection" for the record.

Before adjourning to closed session, the presiding official thanked new members and family members for attending and said there was "a lot of work to do" in the coming term. The council then voted to adjourn to executive session to prepare for and conduct collective bargaining strategy under Ohio Revised Code §121.22(G)(4); the presiding official said there would be no action after the executive session.

The meeting proceeded as an organizational session focused on swearing-in and appointments; no legislative debates or policy votes beyond the appointments and rules of order were recorded in the transcript.