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Council adopts 2026 permanent appropriations after council member raises personnel-negotiations concern
Summary
On Feb. 17 the Village of Carey Council adopted Ordinance 2026-4 setting the village’s permanent appropriations for fiscal year 2026. The motion passed 5–1 after Councilmember Evaristo Hernandez voiced concerns about potential personnel negotiations possibly tied to the appropriations and the absence of the Solicitor.
The Village of Carey Council adopted Ordinance 2026-4 on Feb. 17, establishing permanent appropriations for the village’s fiscal year 2026 budget in a 5–1 roll-call vote.
During third reading of the ordinance, Councilmember Evaristo Hernandez raised concerns that the appropriations might be connected to ongoing personnel negotiations and questioned whether the council should hold an executive session to address personnel matters. He also noted that the Solicitor was not present to provide legal direction. Hernandez voted No. Councilmember Bob Styer moved to adopt the ordinance; the motion, seconded by Derek Puchta, passed with Styer, Puchta, Brent Bleam, Bill Conley and Stephanie Wade voting yes and Hernandez voting no.
The minutes record the roll-call vote and Hernandez’s stated concerns but do not provide additional detail about the alleged personnel negotiations, the Solicitor’s absence, or any specific line items tied to personnel. Later in the meeting the council entered an executive session at 7:14 p.m. under Ohio Revised Code for personnel matters that included the Mayor, Administrator and Fiscal Officer; the council exited executive session at 7:32 p.m. The minutes do not indicate any formal action taken as a result of that executive session.
The next regular council meeting is scheduled for March 2, 2026, at the Emergency Services Building.
