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South Bloomfield council adopts Ohio code, hires part-time lieutenant and OKs two cruisers in emergency votes
Summary
The South Bloomfield council on Jan. 8 unanimously adopted the 2025 Ohio Basic Code and passed three emergency resolutions, including hiring John Wells as part-time administrative police lieutenant and authorizing two new police cruisers; the council also appointed Tom Ramsay president pro tem.
The Village of South Bloomfield council on Jan. 8 adopted the 2025 Ohio Basic Code and approved three emergency resolutions related to its police department, voting unanimously on each final passage after waiving additional readings.
Mayor Aaron Thomas presided over the meeting at village hall. Council approved Ordinance 2025-01 to adopt the 2025 Ohio Basic Code; Tom Ramsay moved first reading and Ken Everts seconded. The council then voted to waive the second and third readings and adopt the ordinance as an emergency.
Council also advanced Resolution 2025-01 to hire John Wells as a part-time administrative police lieutenant. Lisa McDorman moved the first reading, Amber Murphy seconded; the council waived further readings and passed the resolution as an emergency. Mayor Thomas administered the oath to Lieutenant John Wells following the vote.
Resolution 2025-02 to authorize purchase of two new police cruisers similarly was advanced and then adopted as an emergency. Amber Murphy moved the first reading; Woody Blanton seconded. A subsequent motion, moved by Lisa McDorman and seconded by Woody Blanton, waived additional readings and carried. All three measures passed with unanimous recorded votes.
Separately, Amber Murphy nominated Tom Ramsay to serve as council president pro tem for 2025; Ken Everts seconded. Ramsay accepted the nomination with the caveat that he could not serve as mayor. The motion carried with Ramsay abstaining and all other members voting yes.
The council also voted unanimously to support the Ohio Municipal League's efforts to oppose an AT&T tariff proposal that would pass costs for moving lines to municipalities; Mayor Thomas said a formal resolution on that matter will be prepared for the next meeting.
The council entered an executive session later in the evening to consider the appointment of a public employee, exited the session and approved payment of bills before adjourning at 8:36 p.m.
What this means: The ordinance adoption updates the village's codified regulations to the 2025 Ohio Basic Code. The emergency resolutions put a newly hired part-time lieutenant on the roster and authorize purchases intended to increase patrol capacity; details about funding sources and delivery timelines were not specified at the meeting.
