Council deadlocks on fast-tracked vote for Chagrin Valley dispatch agreement; ordinance placed on third reading

A motion to suspend the rules and fast-track Ordinance 25-134 — which would authorize the city to enter a new member participation agreement with the Chagrin Valley Dispatch Council for public-safety dispatch services — failed on a 3-3 roll call at the North Royalton City Council meeting Sept. 16. Council President Paul Marnecheck, Councilman John Nickell and Councilwoman Linda Barath voted to suspend; Councilwomen Joanne Krejci, Mary Gorjanc and Heidi Webber voted no.

The outcome means the ordinance will remain on Third Reading rather than being adopted immediately. Law Director Tom Kelly told the council earlier he found no legal conflict of interest with President Marnecheck voting on the dispatch ordinance despite Marnecheck’s employment at the City of Brook Park, which is evaluating similar dispatch options. Kelly said the decision whether to abstain was Marnecheck’s personal discretion.

Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz said he remains open to further discussion but warned that the city’s options are narrowing as the timeline advances toward February. The mayor and council discussed operational challenges if North Royalton were to operate its own dispatch center: Antoskiewicz said staffing and recruitment are significant hurdles, noting dispatch is a 24/7 operation and that the city would need multiple dispatchers per shift plus IT support to run an in-house operation.

Council did not adopt Ordinance 25-134 at the meeting; the ordinance was placed on Third Reading for future consideration. No formal vote on the underlying member-participation agreement occurred this evening.

What happens next: Council retains the ordinance on the calendar for additional debate and possible future votes. The mayor asked council members to bring suggestions for alternatives or next steps before the city’s decision deadline approaches.