London council adopts multiple personnel and surplus-property measures, schedules gas aggregation ballot question

The London City Council voted on a series of personnel, budgetary and surplus-property measures at its meeting, adopting rules and authorizations the council said will address staffing, equipment and municipal operations.

Key votes and actions

- Resolution 137-26 (sponsored by Andrew Hit) authorizes the chief of police to permit purchase of an officer's primary duty weapon upon retirement, disability or death for $1 and changes retirement eligibility for that program to 10 years. The council adopted the resolution; roll-call affirmative votes were recorded.

- Resolution 138-26 (sponsored by John Stall) allows the fire chief to gift a surplus helmet and badge upon retirement, disability or death. Council members noted turnout-gear lifespan and approved the resolution.

- Ordinance 139-26 (sponsored by Shannon Trainer) amends the city policy manual to clarify which job titles are subject to a residency requirement (police chief, police captain, detective, K-9 officer, fire chief, street superintendent and related positions, and parks and recreation director). The requirement specifies residency within Madison County or a contiguous county. Council adopted the ordinance.

- Ordinance 140-26 (sponsored by Shannon Trainer) authorizes the city to pursue a governmental natural-gas aggregation program with opt-out provisions pursuant to Section 4929.26 of the Ohio Revised Code and directs the Madison County Board of Elections to submit a ballot question to voters; a public hearing is scheduled for July 2.

- Ordinances 143-26 and 144-26 (sponsored by Lisa Jackman) amend appointment-age rules for original firefighter and police appointments so original appointment must occur prior to the 41st birthday (bringing city rules in line with state maximums for some positions). Council suspended the three-reading rule and adopted both ordinances on emergency votes.

- Resolution 141-26 increases appropriations to address long-standing sound-system issues in the council chambers and to add items (including cordless microphones) to make the room event-capable; council amended the funding source and moved the measure forward.

- Resolutions 146-26 and 147-26 authorize the advertisement for bids to sell a forfeited 2025 Ford Mustang GT convertible and a 2004 GMC Yukon as surplus property. Council amended the Mustang sale to include a $45,000 minimum bid and discussed vehicle condition for the Yukon (170,149 miles, significant rust). The Mustang amendment was confirmed with the city's law director present to confirm authority to set minimum bid.

Council recorded roll-call 'yes' votes for the listed items; where roll-call was performed, councilmembers Hayes, Boyd, Eids, Jackman, Hit, Trainer and others are recorded as voting yes during the meeting. Several items were passed on emergency suspensions when sponsors requested immediate adoption.

What's next: the gas-aggregation ordinance moves the ballot question to the election process with a public hearing set for July 2. Surplus-vehicle advertisements will proceed according to the amended resolutions; auction schedule and minimum-bid details will be published when the bids are advertised.

Attributions in this report are to sponsors and council members as they appear in the meeting record; quote excerpts and vote acknowledgements are taken directly from the transcript.