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Salem council adopts IT department ordinance, emergency cybersecurity resolution and housing-code updates
Summary
The Salem City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance to create an Information Technology department, approved a cybersecurity program with an emergency clause citing state law, and passed amendments to the city housing code. Councilors agreed to research bonding or insurance for the new IT post.
The Salem City Council voted unanimously to create a municipal Information Technology department, adopt a citywide cybersecurity program under a state statute, and amend the housing code during its meeting.
Councilor Jeff Stockman moved to suspend rules so ordinance 260106-01 — "creating and adopting chapter 170 of part one, title 5 of the codified ordinances of the city of Salem regarding information technology department" — could be read and considered the same night. The clerk pro tem read the ordinance title aloud; after a brief exchange about whether an IT director position should be bonded, council voted yes on the suspension and passage.
The clerk pro tem read resolution 260106-02 by title as "being a resolution adopting a cyber security program and establishing policies and procedures for the city of Salem, Ohio, pursuant to the requirements of Ohio Revised Code section 9.64 and declaring an emergency." There was no further discussion and the council approved the resolution on a unanimous roll call.
Councilors also suspended rules to permit immediate consideration and passage of ordinance 260106-03, which makes targeted changes to chapter 1309 of the codified ordinances regarding the housing code. The measure passed on a unanimous roll call.
During discussion of the IT ordinance, council members raised questions about bonding and whether the city’s existing fidelity bonds — which the auditor described as covering certain officers at $10,000 and one position at $30,000 — would extend to a newly created IT director post. Council agreed to establish the department now and to research bonding and insurance options before filling or expanding the position.
All recorded roll-call votes on the three measures were affirmative from the council members present: Mrs. Bear, Mrs. Bricker, Mr. Harrington, Mr. Stockman, Mr. Ty, Mr. Weir and Mr. Zeers.
The meeting also included routine organizational business: the council confirmed committee and liaison appointments and swore in Debbie Bricker as council clerk before taking up the ordinances and resolution.
The council adjourned the public portion of the meeting and went into executive session on a later motion regarding a legal matter.
