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Hiram council passes sign-code amendments, holiday rule and appropriations; approves sale of old light plant
Summary
At its March 17 meeting Hiram Village Council amended and approved a sign ordinance, passed a holiday policy and appropriations ordinance, and authorized sale of the old light plant for $53,001; several other ordinances advanced through first or second readings.
The Hiram Village Council approved several ordinances and motions on March 17, passing major items by 6-0 votes and advancing other policy items into later readings.
Council amended and adopted Ordinance 2026-02 (Signs) after incorporating three amendments recommended at the March 15 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. Ed Frato-Sweeney moved to adopt the amendments with Chris Szell seconding; the council then voted to pass the ordinance as amended on a 6-0 roll call following a motion to pass by J. Fernandez and a second from Suzann Bennett. Council discussion included references to free-speech considerations during the sign-code debate.
The council also approved Ordinance 2026-05 (Employee Handbook, Section 5.3 — "Holidays") on its third reading after a motion from J. Fernandez, seconded by Chris Perme (6-0). Council held a second reading for Ordinance 2026-10 (prohibited standing or parking places) and first readings for several other measures: Ordinance 2026-13 (merchant services agreement with TSYS/Global Payments for credit card processing), Ordinance 2026-14 (social media policy and code of conduct), Ordinance 2026-15 (public park rental policy), and Ordinance 2026-16 (amendment to fire department overtime calculation). Discussion on first readings focused on applicability and operational impacts, for example clarifying that the proposed social media policy's "agents" would not include Hiram College.
Council also moved and passed Ordinance 2026-11, amending appropriations across multiple funds (General Fund 1000; EMS Fund 2901; Water Fund 5101; Sewer Fund 5201; Capital Fund 4901) and declaring an emergency. Council voted to suspend the rules (motion by Chris Szell; second by J. Fernandez) and then passed the ordinance (motion by C. Szell; second by C. Perme) by a 6-0 vote. Separately, Council approved Ordinance 2026-12 authorizing the mayor to enter a real estate purchase agreement with Maxim Latimer LL for sale of the old light plant for $53,001 and declared an emergency; the council suspended rules and approved that ordinance 6-0.
The meeting also recorded a bank reconciliation approval (6-0), and Resolution 2026-02 (requesting the Portage County Auditor certify tax valuation and estimate revenue from a renewal levy) was introduced as a first reading and emergency resolution. Public comment during the ordinance discussion included questions from Elijah Gilman about whether the social media policy agents would include Hiram College (they would not) and whether college students qualify as residents (only if registered to vote in the village). An unnamed participant asked about overtime pay timing and how new chief roles would affect compensation.
The meeting adjourned at 8:54 p.m.
