Plain City Council has extended a Declaration of Emergency in the village due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During Monday’s council meeting, which was held online via Zoom, council members voted to extend the state of emergency, although not unanimously.
Council member Frank Reed said he doesn’t feel a state of emergency is necessary as the state is beginning to reopen.
“I’m against this resolution just like I was the original resolution – probably even more so,” Reed said.
He said he was always opposed to the legislation and feels it “completely cuts out council.”
However, Village Administrator Nathan Cahall and Solicitor Paul La Fayette shared why they feel the resolution is in the best interest of the village.
Cahall said the legislation will ensure Plain City is eligible for federal and state assistance as it becomes available.
Additionally, he said it allows the village to suspend certain provisions of the personnel policy manual. For instance, as the pandemic unfolded, Cahall said the village suspended all staff leave and vacation but allowed vacation balances to carry over.
The state of emergency also allowed staff to split their work schedules and create teams that alternated working from home to decrease contact between employees in the building, Cahall explained.
He said the resolution demonstrates to the state auditor the potential need for interfund transfers, if unexpected expenses arise.
It also creates legal provisions that allow for administrative orders, Cahall said. Because of the initial resolution, he said the village was able to decrease fees at the campground so first responders can self-isolate there.
“It allows us some flexibility to do common sense things in response to the current emergency,” Cahall explained.
What it does not do, he added, is give staff “carte blanche authority” to do things unrelated to the pandemic.
La Fayette also noted that the resolution’s time frame is limited to 60 days or Gov. Mike DeWine’s cessation of the statewide emergency.
The village resolution allows staff to react to “things we just don’t know we may have to respond to” at the direction of the state or the Emergency Management Agency, he said.
Reed said he was still opposed to the legislation.
He said he felt a state of emergency was unnecessary because, “we can have a council meeting on a day’s notice and have a quorum easily.”
Reed asked to add an amendment that would require staff to consult with Council President Pro-Tem Jody Carney when making decisions related to the pandemic.
Carney, though, said she agreed with the need for an extension of the state of emergency.
“I think any amendment to the resolution is a moot point,” she said.
Council ultimately voted 5-1 to waive three readings of the resolution and to pass it as an emergency, with Reed dissenting.
In other business:
– Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution that authorizes Cahall to submit an application to participate in the Ohio Public Works Commission State Capital Improvement and Local Transportation Improvement Programs.
Cahall said this will ensure the village is eligible to receive state grant funding for capital improvement projects.
– Council briefly discussed budget and capital improvement plan updates, in light of the pandemic.
Cahall said the village is anticipating a 20% reduction in income tax collection this year.
He asked council to consider how much carryover they would like to maintain in the general fund and capital improvement fund.
He said, prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, the general fund was expected to have about 11 months’ worth of carryover with the capital improvement fund balance “slightly higher.”
Cahall asked council to consider reducing the general fund to between seven and a half and eight months’ worth of carryover.
He said the zoning code rewrite and Uptown parking project are two major expenses council should also think about “tapping the brakes” on.
Council will continue the budget discussion during Wednesday’s work session, which will also be held virtually via Zoom.