North Baltimore council approves ambulance purchase, rejects suspension for Axon equipment; several emergency measures passed

The Village of North Baltimore Council approved several emergency measures and routine business at a Nov. 4 special meeting, including authorization to buy an ambulance and adoption of property/liability insurance renewal, while declining to suspend readings for a police equipment contract with Axon Enterprise, Inc.

Council member Mr. Cook moved to suspend second and third readings for RESOLUTION NO. 32-2025, which would have authorized the mayor to execute a quote with Axon Enterprise, Inc. for body-worn cameras, Tasers, in-car video systems and related equipment and services; the motion (seconded by Mr. Engard) failed on a recorded vote: Mr. Richmond yes; Mr. Cook yes; Ms. Hefner no; Mr. Engard yes; Mr. Sweat yes; Ms. Beaupry no (4 yeas, 2 nays). Because the suspension motion failed, the resolution did not proceed to emergency adoption that night.

On emergency purchasing, Council member Mr. Cook moved to suspend readings for RESOLUTION NO. 33-2025, approving the purchase of an ambulance; the suspension motion (seconded by Ms. Hefner) passed with all six council members present voting yes. Council member Ms. Beaupry then moved to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 33-2025 as an emergency (seconded by Mr. Richmond); that motion passed unanimously among the council members recorded, enabling the village to proceed with the ambulance procurement immediately.

The council also introduced RESOLUTION NO. 34-2025, authorizing the mayor to execute an emergency medical services agreement with Jackson Township; that item was presented as a first reading and no final adoption was recorded in the minutes excerpt provided.

On insurance, Council considered RESOLUTION NO. 35-2025 to renew village property and liability insurance with the Public Entities Pool of Ohio at a cost not to exceed $115,106.00. A motion to suspend the second and third readings (moved by Ms. Hefner and seconded by Mr. Sweat) and the subsequent motion to adopt the resolution as an emergency (moved by Mr. Cook and seconded by Ms. Beaupry) were approved by the council members recorded, allowing the renewal to proceed under emergency provisions.

Separately, the council took up RESOLUTION NO. 31-2025, which accepts amounts and rates as determined by the budget commission and authorizes necessary tax levies under ORC 5705.34 and 5705.35. Council member Mr. Cook moved to suspend the second and third readings of Resolution 31-2025 (seconded by Mr. Richmond); the suspension and subsequent motion by Mr. Richmond to adopt Resolution 31-2025 as an emergency were approved by the council members recorded.

In land-use business, the council adopted ORDINANCE NO. 2025-20 to vacate a portion of the unimproved right-of-way known as Oak Street and convey it to Leslie Lindquist and Richard A. & Mary E. Capelle after a motion by Ms. Beaupry, seconded by Mr. Richmond; the adoption was approved by the council members present.

The council voted unanimously to enter executive session at 6:44 p.m. under Ohio Revised Code 121.22(G)(1) (personnel), (G)(2) (purchase of property for public purposes) and (G)(3) (attorney consultation regarding pending or imminent litigation); the minutes record the council returned to regular session at 7:35 p.m. The minutes note "***with potential action to follow***" but do not specify any formal action taken immediately after the executive session within the provided excerpt.

On routine finance business, Council member Mr. Cook moved to pay bills totaling $484,237.66 (seconded by Mr. Engard); the motion carried on a recorded unanimous approval. The meeting was then adjourned on a motion by Mr. Richmond, seconded by Ms. Hefner, with all recorded yes votes.

The actions taken at the meeting will allow the village to proceed with the ambulance purchase and the listed emergency renewals and levy certifications; RESOLUTION 32-2025 (Axon contract) did not move forward because the council declined to suspend readings. The minutes supplied do not show final contract documents or purchase orders; those would normally follow administrative processing.

Meeting details: special meeting convened Nov. 4, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.; minutes show the meeting was formally approved on Nov. 12, 2025. The minutes record attendees as Mayor Patterson and council members Mr. Richmond, Mr. Cook, Ms. Hefner (president), Mr. Engard, Mr. Sweat and Ms. Beaupry.