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Council approves budget amendment, fund transfers and grant acceptance with emergency clauses
Summary
Council adopted Ordinance 20 26‑9 amending 2026 appropriations (including ASME wage increases, ambulance reappropriation and park master plan carryover), Resolution 20 26‑10 authorizing fund transfers, and Ordinance 20 26‑12 accepting NOPEC grants; emergency clauses were added to all for timely funding and contract needs.
North Ridgeville City Council on Feb. 2 approved a package of financial measures, adopting Ordinance 20 26‑9 (amending 2026 appropriations), Resolution 20 26‑10 (authorizing fund transfers) and Ordinance 20 26‑12 (accepting NOPEC energized community grants). Council added emergency clauses to each measure to allow immediate appropriation or receipt of funds.
Finance Director April Wilkerson (identified in correspondence and memo) told council the amendment in 20 26‑9 covers salary and fringe increases for ASME union members following a contract adoption, health-care election changes after open enrollment, reappropriation of funds for an ambulance purchase previously authorized in ordinance 20 25‑149 but delayed, and moving the Park & Recreation master plan appropriation into 2026 to allow additional time for firm selection. Wilkerson said some line items (including council salary adjustments, clothing allowance, pension benefits and custodial/grounds maintenance contracts) require appropriation to avoid contractual or payroll interruptions.
Council members asked whether the items could wait for a later meeting to avoid emergency-clause use; Wilkerson said the items are presented in collected batches and delaying would risk contractual or payroll issues. Council adopted 20 26‑9, with roll-call votes recorded in the transcript.
Resolution 20 26‑10 formalizes fund transfers between existing accounts (not increasing the budget) to cover payroll reserves, debt service and capital projects; council adopted it and added the emergency clause to avoid early-quarter zero balances. Ordinance 20 26‑12 authorizes acceptance of NOPEC grants (used historically for roundabout projects and limited LED lighting) and was adopted with the emergency clause so the city can receive grant funds promptly.
Clerk recorded roll-call votes for each adopted measure. Council said the emergency clauses are requested to ensure the city can meet contractual obligations, avoid missed payroll and receive incoming grant funds in a timely manner.
