Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Mantua Police Agreement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hiram council approves Mantua police management agreement after amendment to allow automatic termination if former Mantua chief is reinstated
Summary
The Hiram Village Council on Dec. 10 approved Ordinance 2025-45 to enter a police management services agreement with the Village of Mantua, adding an amendment that would automatically terminate the agreement if Mantua's former Police Chief Urso is reinstated; the vote was 6-0 after suspension of the rules.
Hiram Village Council voted unanimously Dec. 10 to adopt Ordinance 2025-45, authorizing a police management services agreement with the Village of Mantua and declaring an emergency to allow immediate effect.
Mayor Anne Haynam described the proposed agreement as replacing the prior emergency aid contract and as structured to provide mutual benefit: Hiram would supply experience, staffing hours and equipment while received funds would be earmarked for police department needs including compensation and additional hours. Council approved a recommended salary increase for Police Chief Clemens earlier in the meeting.
During public comment, non-resident Linda Clark asked council not to suspend the rules so Mantua residents would have more time to review the legislation; Scott Gardner also expressed disapproval during the ordinance discussion. Despite those concerns, council members moved to amend and then fast-track the ordinance.
Council amended 2025-45 to add a clause in the termination section that the agreement "shall automatically terminate immediately if ordered by a court or if Mantua's former Police Chief Urso is reinstated to employment as Mantua Police Chief." The body also directed an addition in Exhibit A regarding staffing rank (minutes record the insertion of language beginning "a sergeant or officer of higher rank"), and reordered internal ordinance sections for clarity. The amendment passed 6-0.
Council then voted to suspend the rules and pass the ordinance as amended; the final passage was recorded 6-0. The ordinance was declared an emergency in the motion recorded by council, meaning it will take immediate effect per the terms described in the ordinance record.
Procedural details: Council member Graham Rubin moved to advance 2025-45 in the agenda; Chris Szell moved the amendment and the suspension of rules; Juan Fernandez is recorded as a frequent seconder during the votes. The minutes show public discussion and formal motions and include the amendment language described above.
The transcript does not include verbatim quotations for the debate; the preceding summary paraphrases speakers' remarks as recorded in the meeting minutes. The council's next steps are implementation of the agreement terms and any administrative steps required by the mayor's office and solicitor to finalize the contract.
