Committee recommends broader donation ordinance allowing gifts of money and property

The North Royalton Finance Committee recommended that City Council approve an amended donation ordinance intended to give the city a clear, general authority to accept unsolicited gifts of money, property or bequests.

Law Director Tom Kelly told the committee the ordinance would provide a "broad‑brush" authority for residents or nonresidents to donate to the city so long as the gifts have no binding strings attached. "Whomever has it in mind to become a doner, to give the city whatever they would like to give us, as long as it is just a donation and does not have any strings attached," Kelly said.

Finance Director Jenny Esarey said event‑specific donation mechanisms — such as those used for community events, senior center funds, or recreational programs — will remain in place and separate from the general donation authority. She cited past examples of residents who offered money for Pickle Ball programming that the city has had to decline under existing rules.

Council Member John Nickell asked whether property left to the city in a will would be covered; Kelly said such bequests would fall within the broad ordinance. Council Member Mary Gorjanc asked whether a donor could designate a department; Kelly said donors may point to a department or fund but the city would not accept legally binding conditions that require a specific purchase or improvement (for example, mandating the purchase of a fire truck with the donated funds).

Clerk of Council Helen Dunlap read the proposed amendments removing two $2,000 thresholds from the ordinance and revising minor wording in Sections (b) and (c). The committee voted 2–0 (Wos excused) to recommend Ordinance 25‑117 to council as amended.

If council approves the ordinance, the city’s law department will evaluate incoming gifts to ensure they are unconditional and administratively manageable.