Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Government topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Brooklyn City Council honors long‑serving clerk Mary Joe Banish, adopts tax budget and multiple ordinances
Summary
The council presented a proclamation and adopted Resolution 2025-17 honoring Clerk of Council Mary Joe Banish on her retirement. Members also adopted the tax budget for FY2026 and moved several ordinances and resolutions (employee compensation; fireworks rules; ODOT ramp agreement; youth committee age change; opposition to House Bill 335).
The Brooklyn City Council opened its meeting with a framed proclamation and a resolution honoring Mary Joe Banish, who the council said has worked for the city since 1977 and has served in clerk roles since 1986.
“Mary Joe, we love you. We wish you the absolute best in your retirement,” Mayor Van Kirk said while presenting a proclamation and a framed resolution. The council read Resolution 2025-17 in full, praising Banish’s role modernizing record retention, codifying ordinances and digitizing records dating back to 1923.
After the ceremonial presentation, council moved through several legislative items. On old business the council adopted Resolution 2025-13 (the tax budget for fiscal year 2026), confirming there will be no change in the city’s property tax rate, which was stated on the record as 5.9 mills. Council also adopted Ordinance 2025-11 updating the city’s animal regulations, Ordinance 2025-12 amending compensation in the non‑bargaining employee agreement (to accommodate a 2.5% wage increase), and Ordinance 2025-13 adjusting fireworks-related code provisions.
Under new business the council approved Resolution 2025-15 (amending the age requirement for the youth engagement and succession committee from 14 to 13), Resolution 2025-16 (a formal statement opposing House Bill 335 and urging the Ohio General Assembly to reject the bill), Resolution 2025-18 (authorizing the law director to amend the public records policy to permit charging for redaction time; see separate article), and Ordinance 2025-14 (an agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation authorizing replacement of I‑480 ramps at Ridge Road and declaring an emergency). Each item was introduced on first reading with a motion to suspend the rules and then adopted by recorded roll-call votes.
Finance Director Tom Reguz presented the city’s May general fund financial report, reporting overall revenues at 51% of the estimate and that a $932,000 increase in one‑time, non‑recurring revenue boosted collections. Reguz said RITA distributions for June totaled $1.854 million and that, on the pool renovation project, the city has a $14 million budget with a remaining funding gap of approximately $260,000 that the council plans to cover from general‑fund reserves or future non‑recurring income.
On House Bill 335 — the state measure that would eliminate inside millage and give county budget commissions authority to reduce future levies — council members voiced concern about local control and potential revenue impacts. Reguz said Brooklyn levies about 3.9 inside mills that equate to roughly $1.7 million in revenue; council members warned the county budget commission could have authority that would affect the city’s levy levels.
A single resident, Victor Ardo of Outlook Avenue, spoke during the second public session about voter decisions and safety advice for bicyclists and e‑bike riders. The meeting adjourned after a unanimous vote.
Votes at a glance: all listed measures below were adopted by recorded unanimous votes at this meeting. (Roll‑call voting details are in the official minutes.)
