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Franklin Council adopts COVID-19 policies and authorizes emergency hires; unanimously approves six resolutions
Summary
The Franklin City Council on April 6, 2020 adopted COVID-19 policies to comply with state and federal mandates, authorized temporary emergency hires for police and fire, and approved several infrastructure and administrative resolutions in unanimous votes.
Franklin, Ohio — The Franklin City Council on Monday adopted a package of measures aimed at managing city operations during the COVID-19 emergency, including a set of city COVID-19 policies and a resolution authorizing emergency hires for the Fire and Police divisions.
Law Director and Acting Clerk Lynnette Dinkler told the council the COVID-19 policies, forms and notices bring the city into compliance with federal and state mandates and clarified the measure’s fiscal language, saying the 20% clause “permits the City to affirmatively seek grants to offset anticipated increased expenses and that it is not a raise of current salaries or hazard pay.” Council adopted Resolution 2020-18 unanimously.
The council also adopted Resolution 2020-19 to allow emergency hires for Fire and Police as temporary, intermittent employees-at-will for the declared emergency period. Dinkler described the hires as an emergency staffing measure and City Manager Sonny Lewis said the city will consider applicants on civil service lists but is not using those lists as a mandatory step during the emergency. The motion passed with all members voting yes.
The municipal court’s operational changes during the pandemic were reported to council. Lynnette Dinkler, delivering a report at the request of Judge Ruppert, said the court handled 9,659 cases in 2019 (8,815 traffic/criminal; 767 civil; 77 small claims) and has implemented temporary procedures since mid-March, is using video hearings where practicable and has applied for Ohio Supreme Court grant funds to improve remote capability.
City Manager Lewis said the city has designated a fund line item to account for unexpected COVID-19 needs, is tracking pandemic-related spending for FEMA reimbursement and has arranged a contract with Battelle to sanitize personal protective equipment on a 24-hour cycle, which he described as "very positive news." Council members repeatedly urged careful tracking of COVID-related expenditures and encouraged community support for local businesses.
Votes at a glance • Resolution 2020-15 — Appointment of Amber Copenhaver and Lynnette Dinkler as Acting Clerks of Council: adopted unanimously (motion: Mr. Ruppert; second: Mr. Wilcher). • Resolution 2020-16 — Final resolution for the ODOT Great Miami River Trail Extension Project, PID 100188: adopted unanimously. • Resolution 2020-17 — Let joint grant project to replace SCBA out for bid: adopted unanimously. • Resolution 2020-18 — Adopting COVID-19 policies, forms and notices: adopted unanimously. • Resolution 2020-19 — Emergency hires for Fire and Police / suspend Civil Service rules for emergency hires: adopted unanimously. • Resolution 2020-20 — Declaring the necessity of improving city streets by lighting for 2021: adopted unanimously.
Council adjourned at 7:05 p.m.; all resolutions were approved without recorded dissent. The acting clerks were sworn in by Mayor Brent Centers during the meeting.
