Trustees enter executive session on bargaining at Norwich Township special meeting

Norwich Township Board of Trustees convened a special meeting April 16, 2026, called to order at 4:00 p.m. by Trustee Trish Barker. Barker moved at 4:01 p.m. to enter an executive session under Ohio Revised Code 121.22(G)(4) "for preparing for, conducting, or reviewing negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees concerning their compensation or other terms and conditions of their employment." The motion was seconded by Trustee Brian Rothenberg and passed unanimously (Barker-Yes; Hykes-Yes; Rothenberg-Yes).

Chair Kelli Arthur Hykes was listed as present at 4:10 p.m.; Vice-Chair Brian Rothenberg and Trustee Trish Barker were present at the start. Also listed as present were Fire Chief Dave Baird, Assistant Fire Chief Jake Wells and representatives from Local Union 1723. The minutes do not record substantive details of the bargaining discussion, consistent with the executive-session citation in the motion.

Trustee Barker moved to adjourn the executive session at 5:15 p.m.; Rothenberg seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Barker then moved to adjourn the special meeting at 5:16 p.m.; the motion was seconded by Rothenberg and approved unanimously. The meeting minutes bear the names Kelli Arthur Hykes, Chair, and Omar Tarazi, Fiscal Officer, as signatories.

No formal public votes on policy or ordinance adoption were recorded during the public portions of the meeting. The board cited ORC 121.22(G)(4) for the closed deliberations on labor negotiations; the minutes do not specify next steps or any public follow-up timeline.