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Council ratifies three full‑time fire hires and authorizes future hiring amid calls for clearer approval language
Summary
Council adopted municipal order 2026‑3 ratifying three full‑time hires by the Crescent Villa Hills Fire Authority and authorizing future hires as part of the budget process; an amendment to require explicit council approval for any additional hires failed on a 3‑3 tie and the mayor cast the deciding vote.
On March 23 the Crescent Springs City Council ratified municipal order 2026‑3, which authorizes the Crescent Villa Hills Fire Authority to hire full‑time staff and expressly ratifies three hires made since a prior municipal order. Council members debated whether the municipal order mirrors Villa Hills’ language and whether future hires require prior council approval.
Councilwoman Janine Bell Smith moved an amendment to restrict future hires so that any additional full‑time staff must be approved by Crescent Springs City Council; the motion produced a 3‑3 tie and failed when Mayor Dougherty voted to keep the municipal order as written. Supporters of the amendment argued the change was necessary for transparency and local oversight; opponents said the budget process already provides council review and that hiring decisions are tied to recruitment difficulties.
One council member noted next year’s draft budget already includes staffing projections (11 full‑time employees) and that the budget submission would provide additional detail. A council motion to remove a paragraph describing hiring difficulties likewise resulted in a tie and remained in the municipal order.
The municipal order now authorizes the Fire Authority to hire additional staff as may be authorized in future years as part of the budget process and ratifies the three already‑hired full‑time employees. Council directed staff and the Fire Authority to provide clearer budget breakout and to communicate future hires through the budget approval cycle.
