Waite Hill Council elects officers, adopts cybersecurity ordinance and multiple measures

Mayor Ryan W. Cox called the Waite Hill Village Council to order on Jan. 12, 2026. The Council elected Karl Scheucher as Council President and Abby Hiltsley as Council Vice-President during the organizational portion of the meeting; both elections were approved by roll call with the nominees abstaining when noted.

The Council moved quickly through several formal actions. Resolution No. 2026-1, “A Resolution authorizing and directing the payment of certain sums,” was adopted after a motion by Council member Stephanie Winterer and a second by Council member Karl Scheucher. The vote was unanimous.

Council adopted Ordinance No. 2025-18, which establishes a cybersecurity program under Ohio Revised Code Section 9.64, sets policies for protection of government data, incident response, training, and reporting, and includes an emergency clause. The Council suspended the normal three-reading rule and adopted the ordinance following a report from Police Chief Carl Dondorfer that the County had approved the draft program. The motion to adopt was made by Mr. Scheucher and seconded by Ms. Winterer; the roll call vote was unanimous.

The Council also adopted Ordinance No. 2026-1, authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with Stephen L. Byron and Singerman, Mills, Desberg & Kauntz Co., L.P.A., confirming Byron’s appointment as Law Director for calendar year 2026 and declaring an emergency. The Council suspended the three-reading requirement and approved the ordinance by unanimous roll call.

Ordinance No. 2026-2, confirming Richard J. Perez as Assistant Law Director and Prosecutor for calendar year 2026 and providing compensation, was read, the three-reading rule was suspended, and the ordinance was adopted by unanimous roll call following a motion by Mr. Scheucher and second by Ms. Winterer.

The Council approved Ordinance No. 2026-3, providing additional compensation for village employees for services rendered in 2025. Ms. Kerri Bowden moved to suspend the three-reading rule and Mr. Scheucher moved for adoption; the measure passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance:
- Approval of Dec. 8, 2025 minutes: Mover—K. Bowden; Second—S. Winterer; Vote—Yeas 5, Nays 0; Outcome—approved.
- Elect Karl Scheucher, Council President: Nominated—A. Hiltsley; Motion to close/approve—A. Hiltsley; Second—S. Winterer; Vote—Yeas 4, Abstain 1 (Scheucher); Outcome—elected.
- Elect Abby Hiltsley, Council Vice-President: Nominated—K. Scheucher; Motion to close/approve—K. Scheucher; Second—K. Bowden; Vote—Yeas 4, Abstain 1 (Hiltsley); Outcome—elected.
- Resolution No. 2026-1 (payment authorization): Mover—S. Winterer; Second—K. Scheucher; Vote—Yeas 5; Outcome—adopted.
- Ordinance No. 2025-18 (cybersecurity; emergency): Motion to suspend readings—K. Scheucher (second A. Hiltsley). Adoption: Mover—K. Scheucher; Second—S. Winterer; Vote—Yeas 5; Outcome—adopted.
- Ordinance No. 2026-1 (Law Director contract; emergency): Motion to suspend readings and adoption—K. Scheucher; Second—A. Hiltsley (suspension) / A. Hiltsley (adoption); Vote—Yeas 5; Outcome—adopted.
- Ordinance No. 2026-2 (Assistant Law Director): Motion to suspend readings—K. Scheucher (second K. Bowden). Adoption: Mover—K. Scheucher; Second—S. Winterer; Vote—Yeas 5; Outcome—adopted.
- Ordinance No. 2026-3 (employee compensation; emergency): Motion to suspend readings—K. Bowden (second K. Scheucher). Adoption: Mover—K. Scheucher; Second—S. Winterer; Vote—Yeas 5; Outcome—adopted.
- Confirmation of Gary Schuster to Planning & Zoning and ABR: Mover—S. Winterer; Second—A. Hiltsley; Vote—Yeas 5; Outcome—confirmed.
- Confirmation of Meg Hackett to Board of Zoning Appeals: Mover—A. Hiltsley; Second—S. Winterer; Vote—Yeas 5; Outcome—confirmed.

Why this matters: The cybersecurity ordinance implements a county-reviewed program to protect village government data and establishes required processes under state law. The legal service agreements and appointments secure counsel coverage for the village through calendar year 2026. The adopted employee compensation ordinance records additional pay for services rendered in 2025.

The Council recessed to executive session later in the meeting to discuss pending or imminent litigation and employee compensation and reconvened briefly before adjourning.