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Council advances attendance ordinance after heated debate, 6–1
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Summary
The Village of Saint Bernard council voted 6–1 to move Ordinance 19-2024 (attendance, salary reduction and vacation of office) to its third reading after an extended debate about whether the rule should apply only to council or all elected officials and how deductions are calculated.
Council voted to advance Ordinance 19-2024 to a third reading after a lengthy discussion about how the measure would penalize missed meetings and whom it should cover.
The ordinance, described during the meeting as an amendment to §121.01 of the Saint Bernard codified ordinances regarding council attendance, salary reduction and vacation of office, drew concerns from some members who said the language was unclear and too narrowly targeted. "I would like to see this tabled until we come up with a better solution for everybody," said Miss Hausfeld, who asked that the measure be broadened to cover other elected and appointed officials rather than only council members.
Mister Sholtemire, who led the ordinance through the laws, contracts and claims process, urged the body not to delay. "I would like to see it not tabled and that we complete this, and kinda get it off our plate," he said, adding that the committee had discussed the language and returned it in its current form.
Councilors focused in particular on how pay deductions and removal would be calculated. As discussed on the record, the ordinance ties a one‑third salary reduction to certain missed meetings: it was explained during debate that the one‑third reduction applies "for the meetings that are missed after that threshold" and is not compounded to reduce salary by multiple thirds. Councilors also discussed differences between consecutive-miss provisions (three consecutive meetings trigger a deduction) and an annual total-miss threshold (four regular meetings in a year leading to further deductions). Director of law Van Volkenberg referenced current codified language and Ohio Revised Code-based provisions when explaining the mechanics of readings and amendments.
Public comment on the ordinance’s timing came from Nicole Klungel, who told the council the process felt rushed: "Do y'all just read this thing? Because this has been in the works for over 2 months now... It makes it you look bad." After further clarifying discussion and procedural explanation from the president and the clerk, the council took a roll-call vote to move the ordinance to regular course for a third reading. The clerk recorded 6 ayes and 1 nay; the motion carried.
The council president said the ordinance will be placed on the Committee of the Whole agenda for further discussion before its final reading. No final adoption occurred at this meeting; the third-reading and any final amendments remain pending.
