Northfield council adopts emergency ordinances, approves 2022–24 labor contracts; several pay resolutions moved to second reading

At its regular meeting on Jan. 12, 2022, the Village of Northfield council adopted a series of emergency ordinances and resolutions affecting department operations and personnel, unanimously approved new collective bargaining agreements for police, and deferred several pay-related resolutions to a later reading after an executive session on employee compensation.

Law Director Brad Bryan read Resolution No. 2022-01, an emergency renewal of the village's agreement with the Summit County Public Defender's Commission, and council suspended the three-reading rule and adopted the resolution by unanimous roll-call vote. Council also read and adopted Ordinance No. 2022-05 (amending administrative code section 246.065 on emergency squad service and additional fire department services), Ordinance No. 2022-06 (amending qualifications for original appointment to the fire department), and Ordinance No. 2022-07 (repealing the annual EMT and paramedic incentive bonuses). Each of those ordinances was adopted after suspension of the three-reading rule by unanimous recorded votes.

Counsel then read and adopted Resolution No. 2022-08, authorizing the director of finance to enter into agreements with MMO for employee medical coverage. Several other personnel-related resolutions — Resolutions 2022-02, 2022-03, 2022-04, 2022-09 and 2022-10 — were read by title but were advanced to a second reading following executive-session discussion on union and non-union employee employment, compensation and benefits.

After the executive session, council approved the 2022–2024 Patrolmen's and Sergeants' and the 2022–2024 Lieutenant's collective bargaining agreements that had been negotiated by the village negotiating committee and ratified by the OPBA union; the motion to approve the contracts passed by unanimous roll call.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of Dec. 8, 2021 minutes: motion passed (roll call: Ferko—abstain; Noack—yes; Vojtush—yes; Magistrelli—yes; Hipps—yes; Lewis—abstain) (4 yes, 0 no, 2 abstain). - Appointment of Council President Pro-Tem (Renell Noack): adopted (unanimous recorded vote). - Resolution 2022-01 (Public Defender agreement): adopted (unanimous recorded vote). - Ordinance 2022-05 (emergency squad service): adopted (unanimous recorded vote). - Ordinance 2022-06 (fire department appointment qualifications): adopted (unanimous recorded vote). - Ordinance 2022-07 (repeal of EMT/paramedic incentive bonuses): adopted (unanimous recorded vote). - Resolution 2022-08 (medical coverage agreements): adopted (unanimous recorded vote). - Collective bargaining agreements (2022–2024 Patrolmen's/Sergeants' and Lieutenants'): approved (unanimous recorded vote). - Resolutions 2022-02, 2022-03, 2022-04, 2022-09, 2022-10: advanced to second reading (no final vote recorded).

Council's actions followed standard procedure for emergency legislation: each ordinance/resolution was read by title, council moved to suspend the three-reading rule, and motions to adopt passed by roll call. Law Director Brad Bryan conducted the formal readings; movers and seconders for the motions are recorded in the minutes for each item. The meeting included an executive session on employee employment, compensation and benefits; after that session several pay-related resolutions were set for a later meeting as second readings.

The council adjourned at 10:13 p.m.