Parma Heights council rejects IAFF Local 1690 tentative agreement, citing incomplete articles and 'me to' clause concerns

Parma Heights City Council on Nov. 21 voted to reject a tentative agreement between the city and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), Local 1690, after Council President Tom Rounds raised procedural and financial concerns.

Remainder: The council meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. and, before addressing other agenda items, Rounds moved to reject the tentative agreement that had been transmitted to council on Oct. 27, 2022. Rounds said he was voting to reject the agreement for two reasons: "it appears to be a question on whether the tentative agreement has reached agreement on all articles that are a part of bargaining contract; so that's an unknown question for me" and because of "the economic and financial implications of the 'me to' clause that continues to be a part of this agreement." Councilman Haase seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (Aye: DeSouza, Durichko, Stavole, Rounds, Haase, Maruschak; Nay: None).

Nut graf: The vote formally refuses the tentative deal at council level and returns the matter to negotiating parties for further resolution; the agenda listed the statutory reference Revised Code 4117.10(b) in connection with the item.

Details: Council members did not record further debate or alternative amendments during the meeting minutes. The transcript does not record a city response from administration staff on the substance of the "me to" clause or whether unresolved articles can be clarified before a future vote. The motion and roll-call vote were recorded in the minutes as the council's formal action on the tentative agreement.

What happens next: The transcript does not specify follow-up steps or a timeline; the tentative agreement was rejected and the matter remains unresolved pending further bargaining or administrative action.

Ending: The council continued with other agenda items after the vote and adjourned at 7:08 p.m.