Northfield council confirms four part‑time firefighters, accepts $20,000 ambulance grant and approves one‑time employee payments

The Village of Northfield Council on Sept. 27 unanimously confirmed four emergency part‑time fire department appointments, approved a $20,000 Ohio Ambulance Transportation Program grant and adopted a resolution authorizing one‑time lump‑sum payments to full‑time village employees.

Fire Chief Jason Buss told council that a number of part‑time firefighters have taken full‑time positions elsewhere and that the four hires on the evening’s agenda would return the department to a net‑zero staffing change. Law Director Brad Bryan read four emergency appointment resolutions (No. 2023‑42 through 2023‑45) by title; council suspended the three‑reading rule and adopted the confirmations by unanimous roll‑call vote. Dennis Gerlich and Jake Morad were introduced and were present at the meeting.

Council also adopted Resolution No. 2023‑46 to accept $20,000 from the Ohio Office of Budget and Management’s Ambulance Transportation Program. Chief Buss said the village intends to use the funds consistent with the program’s rules to provide premium pay for firefighters who worked for the village between March 2020 and March 2021; the grant would amount to roughly $0.82 per hour for eligible hours worked. Bryan read the resolution by title, council suspended the three‑reading rule and voted to approve it unanimously.

Later in the agenda, council approved Resolution No. 2023‑47, an emergency measure authorizing one‑time, lump‑sum payments to all full‑time village employees and authorizing the mayor to execute memoranda of understanding with the village unions. Bryan read the resolution by title, and the measure passed on a unanimous roll‑call vote.

On municipal operations, Service Department Superintendent Jason Walters reported that a newly purchased Ford F‑600 to replace a 2010 dump truck has arrived; insurance paid $37,000 for the damaged 2010 vehicle (original purchase price $45,000). Walters recommended replacing the 2006 F‑35 dump truck this year; he presented a purchase quote of $104,254 from Classic Ford and asked council to authorize purchase and list the old truck for sale on gov.deals. Councilperson Gary Vojtush moved to authorize the purchase; the motion was seconded and adopted by unanimous roll‑call vote. Law Director Bryan said he will draft formal legislation to authorize the purchase at the next council meeting for audit purposes.

During public comment, Ben Robenalt, treasurer of a condominium association at 242 Steeplechase Run, complained that Kimble delivered 96‑gallon trash containers to their condo units and that the containers will not fit in their garages. Bryan told council the contract allows customers to request 64‑gallon containers, and Mayor Jenn Domzalski said she believed Kimble likely relied on Waste Management billing information when delivering the larger cans.

Chief Buss also reported on the fire station construction timeline, noting a six‑week delay caused by a Cleveland Water permit issue and a current completion target of May–June next year. He said he had applied for a separate $15,000 BWC exhaust‑system grant and briefly described a recent small house fire limited to kitchen damage.

Walters said crews have started the crack‑filling and sealing program and scheduled tree‑root removal for the Sagamore Road sewer project at an estimated cost of $10,000. He also said two additional portable speed signs have been ordered and that the Village is obtaining an appraisal on the old bank building property after inquiries from interested parties.

The meeting included routine reports from the mayor, finance director/ clerk and department heads, a Recreation Board announcement about an Oct. 7 Harvest Festival at Smith Park and brief acknowledgements. A motion to adjourn passed on a unanimous roll call and the meeting ended at 8:17 p.m.

Actions recorded at the meeting include unanimous approvals of four part‑time firefighter appointments (Res. 2023‑42 through 2023‑45), acceptance of a $20,000 ambulance transportation grant (Res. 2023‑46), adoption of a one‑time employee payment program (Res. 2023‑47), and authorization to purchase a replacement dump truck (motion; formal ordinance to follow).