Conneaut Council unanimously approves emergency vendor payment, renames water facility and authorizes 27th pay

Conneaut City Council voted unanimously at its Jan. 26 regular meeting to pass three measures brought forward by staff. Council moved quickly to suspend the usual three-reading requirement and approve an emergency vendor payment, a facility renaming, and a special pay ordinance.

The most immediate action was the passage of Amended Ordinance No. 04-26, which authorizes payment to a named vendor pursuant to Section 5705.41(D)(1) of the Ohio Revised Code. Councilmember Mr. Castrilla moved to suspend the three-reading rule; Mr. Gaugh seconded. After the suspension and a motion to declare an emergency, the ordinance passed on a roll-call vote with Councilpersons Castrilla, Gaugh, Kozesky and Council President Moisio recorded as "Yea."

Council then acted on Resolution No. 08-26, approving the renaming of the Conneaut Water Reclamation Facility as the "Anthony V. Julio, Jr. Water Reclamation Facility." City Manager Mr. Sanford presented a proclamation in remembrance of Anthony "Bugsy" V. Julio Jr., and Mr. Julio was present to accept the recognition. Council suspended the three-reading rule for the resolution and approved it by unanimous roll call.

The meeting concluded with passage of Ordinance No. 09-26, authorizing a twenty-seventh pay in fiscal year 2026 for positions specified in Ordinance No. 07-26. Finance Director Mr. Williams explained this timing occurs about once every 10 years and that union employees automatically receive that payment; this measure applies to listed unclassified employees. Council again suspended the three-reading rule and approved the ordinance unanimously.

All three legislative actions were taken with the same motion pattern: suspension of the three-reading rule followed by an emergency declaration (where applicable) and a recorded roll-call vote of Castrilla, Gaugh, Kozesky and Moisio in favor.

What happens next: the ordinances and resolution were enacted in Council on unanimous votes; any administrative implementation (such as updating facility signage or processing vendor payment) will be handled by city staff under the direction of the City Manager and Finance Director.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance 04-26 (vendor payment) — Moved: Mr. Castrilla; Second: Mr. Gaugh; Outcome: Passed (Castrilla, Gaugh, Kozesky, Moisio — Yea). Authority cited: Ohio Revised Code Section 5705.41(D)(1). - Resolution 08-26 (rename Water Reclamation Facility for Anthony V. Julio, Jr.) — Moved: Mr. Castrilla; Second: Mr. Gaugh; Outcome: Passed (Castrilla, Gaugh, Kozesky, Moisio — Yea). - Ordinance 09-26 (twenty-seventh pay in 2026) — Moved: Mr. Castrilla; Second: Mr. Gaugh; Outcome: Passed (Castrilla, Gaugh, Kozesky, Moisio — Yea).