Moraine City Council approves multiple emergency appropriations, confirms law director and green-lights Safe Streets grant application

Moraine — The Moraine City Council on Feb. 26 adopted a package of emergency ordinances and resolutions that moved money for city operations, replaced the city’s ordinance regulating massage establishments, confirmed the law director, and authorized staff to apply for a federal Safe Streets and Roads for All grant that would require a 20% city match ($30,000).

The council convened at 6:00 p.m. and, after routine reports, the city’s Director asked the council to add five items to the agenda, including Ordinance 2225-26 to repeal and replace chapter 7.61 of the Moraine Codified Ordinances so the zoning department could process pending massage-establishment applications as soon as possible. “We would like to get this in place so that they can process those applications as soon as possible,” the Director said before the council voted to add the item.

Councilmembers then considered and approved a series of emergency supplemental-appropriation ordinances to address items including health-insurance reserve claims and law-enforcement equipment, and to reappropriate funds for capital projects such as splash-pad design and demolition of former marine buildings. The council also approved Ordinance 2226-26, which shifts $109,792 from contractual services to payroll-related accounts to support the law director’s payroll costs for March–December 2026.

The council adopted Ordinance 2225-26, replacing chapter 7.61 governing massage establishments, after suspending the usual rules to allow first and second readings at the same meeting.

On personnel matters, the council adopted Resolution 8219-26 approving an annual base-salary adjustment for the city manager to $186,742.46, effective Feb. 14, 2026. It also confirmed Martina M. Dillon, Esquire, as law director and approved a compensation adjustment tied to a revised engagement letter under Resolution 8220-26.

The council approved Resolution 8221-26 authorizing the city manager and city engineer to submit an application for a Safe Streets and Roads for All grant and to pay the 20% city share if awarded; the Director told the council the city’s 20% share of the project would be 20% of $150,000, or $30,000, and that the application deadline falls before the next council meeting.

Votes at a glance
Ordinance 2219-26 (certify unpaid mowing/weed charges of $17,695.97): adopted (roll call: Mrs. Allen, Mr. Miller, Mr. Doherty, Miss Marcus, Mr. Delf, Mrs. Witt, Mayor Murphy — yes).
Ordinance 2223-26 (supplemental appropriations for health-insurance reserve claims and federal law-enforcement fund): adopted (roll call recorded affirmative votes).
Ordinance 2224-26 (reappropriation: $242,000 splash pad design; $100,000 demolition): adopted.
Ordinance 2225-26 (replace chapter 7.61 — massage establishments): adopted (emergency suspension of rules and adoption same night).
Ordinance 2226-26 (move $109,792 for law director payroll costs): adopted.
Resolution 8217-26 (EMS billing rates): adopted.
Resolution 8218-26 (declare surplus and authorize disposal via GovDeals/donation/trade-in): adopted.
Resolution 8219-26 (city manager base-salary adjustment to $186,742.46, effective 02/14/2026): adopted.
Resolution 8220-26 (confirm Martina M. Dillon, Esquire, as law director; compensation adjustment per engagement letter): adopted.
Resolution 8221-26 (authorize Safe Streets & Roads for All grant application; 20% city match if awarded — city share $30,000): adopted.

Council members who voted in favor were recorded on roll calls for each item. Several items were presented as emergency legislation so they could be read and adopted at the same meeting.

In other business, department heads reported no major items; the city planner thanked council for passage of the massage-ordinance change. The clerk reminded residents of open seats on several boards and commissions and encouraged applications. The meeting was adjourned at 6:23 p.m. and the Committee of the Whole met afterward.