Northfield council approves emergency pay rates, temporary budget and tax-levy advance

The Village of Northfield Council on Nov. 8 adopted a package of emergency resolutions that, together, advance tax‑levy proceeds and set pay and temporary budgets for early 2024.

Council suspended the three‑reading rule and approved Resolution No. 2023‑51, authorizing the Summit County Fiscal Officer to advance to the village monies expected from 2023 tax levies for use in 2024. The motion to adopt was made by Alan Hipps and seconded by Kevin Lewis; the roll call was recorded as Jesse Ferko-yes, Renell Noack-yes, Alan Hipps-yes and Kevin Lewis-yes.

The council then approved two measures setting 2024 pay rates for fire personnel: Resolution No. 2023‑52 (full‑time) and Resolution No. 2023‑53 (part‑time). Both measures were read by Law Director Brad Bryan, had the three‑reading rule suspended, and were adopted on unanimous roll call votes with Hipps and Lewis moving and seconding the respective motions.

Council also adopted Resolution No. 2023‑54, setting 2024 pay rates for certain non‑union employees, and Resolution No. 2023‑55, establishing temporary appropriations for Jan. 1–March 31, 2024. Both passed after motions to suspend the three readings and recorded roll‑call adop tions (Ferko-yes; Noack-yes; Hipps-yes; Lewis-yes).

The measures take immediate effect as emergency resolutions. Officials said the temporary appropriations will allow village operations to continue while the permanent 2024 budget is finalized, and the pay‑rate resolutions set compensation levels ahead of the new fiscal year.

Council adjourned at 8:18 p.m.; the next scheduled meeting is Dec. 13, 2023. No executive session was held.