Geneva-on-the-Lake council unanimously approves solicitor retention, seeks certification for 4.75-mill fire levy

The Geneva-on-the-Lake Village Council voted unanimously on Jan. 19 to retain Christopher M. Newcomb, Esq., as the village solicitor for a two-year term and to seek Ashtabula County Auditor certification for a proposed 4.75-mill fire department tax levy over five years.

Council read Ordinance 2026-2, which would retain Christopher M. Newcomb as solicitor from Jan. 1, 2026 through Dec. 31, 2027. Council member Matt Caudill moved to declare an emergency and Cynthia Dudeck seconded; roll call recorded B.J. McMullan, Matt Caudill, Ryan Colby, Cynthia Dudeck and Angela Long voting yes. Caudill then moved to waive the three-reading rule; McMullan seconded and the waiver passed by roll call.

Council then read Resolution 2026-3, a resolution requesting certification from the Ashtabula County Auditor under Ohio Revised Code §5705.03 and §5705.19(I) for a proposed 4.75-mill levy for the fire department for five years and declared an emergency. Matt Caudill moved for emergency consideration and B.J. McMullan seconded; subsequent roll calls to consider and to waive the three-reading rule recorded Ryan Colby, Cynthia Dudeck, Angela Long, B.J. McMullan and Matt Caudill voting yes.

Routine procedural business also passed: Caudill moved and B.J. McMullan seconded a motion to excuse Council member P.J. Macchia for a planned vacation (unanimous roll call), the Jan. 12, 2026 minutes were accepted (motion by Caudill; second McMullan; unanimous roll call), and a motion to pay the bills carried (motion by Caudill; second McMullan; unanimous roll call).

The transcript includes motions referring to "Ordinance 2026-3" when the record also shows the reading of "Resolution 2026-3"; that appears to be a transcript labeling inconsistency. The council’s recorded votes on the items listed above were unanimous among those voting.

Next steps: the resolution asking for county auditor certification initiates the statutory process for placing a levy before voters; the council scheduled a special meeting on Jan. 26 to address fire-levy legislation. The record does not contain further details about levy projection revenue or specific expenditures tied to the levy.