Norton council adopts emergency ordinances including EMS reporting system and police vehicles

Norton City Council voted on April 20 to adopt multiple emergency ordinances, including a fire and EMS reporting system and purchases for the police department, taking the actions during the same meeting in which the items were introduced.

Ordinance 43-2026 authorized the purchase of a fire/EMS reporting system from ESO; council voted to waive the second and third readings and then to adopt the ordinance as an emergency measure. The materials in the meeting record the contract cost as $12,370.50 and reference an annual responsibility figure of $32,955.0 with the Cleveland Clinic expected to cover part of that ongoing cost and the city to seek reimbursement.

Ordinance 44-2026 authorized purchase of a 2025 GMC Terrain for the Norton Police Department from Fred Martin for $28,189; council waived additional readings and adopted the ordinance as an emergency measure, citing the need to replace vehicles with engine failures.

Across the evening the council also advanced or adopted other agenda items, including:

- Adoption of ordinance 36-2026 approving an agreement with the Summit County Building Department to perform building inspection services in Norton (adopted as emergency).
- Adoption of ordinance 28-2026 to contract with Raz's famous fireworks display for the summer concert series (adopted).
- Adoption of ordinance 29-2026 amending 2026 appropriations (adopted).
- Adoption of ordinance 33-2026 authorizing two portable traffic signal systems (adopted; cost not to exceed $58,000).

Votes at a glance (as recorded in the meeting):

- Ordinance 43-2026 (ESO fire/EMS reporting): vote recorded as five "yes" votes in roll call (present council members recorded as responding "yes").
- Ordinance 44-2026 (Police GMC Terrain): vote recorded as five "yes" votes in roll call.
- Ordinance 36-2026 (Summit County building inspections): vote recorded as five "yes" votes in roll call.
- Ordinance 28-2026 (fireworks contract): vote recorded as five "yes" votes in roll call.
- Ordinance 29-2026 (appropriations): vote recorded as five "yes" votes in roll call.
- Ordinance 33-2026 (portable traffic signals): vote recorded as five "yes" votes in roll call.

Council members cited timing or emergency language and operational needs (vehicle replacements, new reporting requirements) as reasons to waive additional readings and move quickly. No votes recorded in the transcript opposed the measures.

What comes next: ordinances adopted as emergency measures take immediate effect as specified in each ordinance; council will continue to address first-reading items at future meetings.