The Bellefontaine City Council tackled a heavy legislative agenda, including passing a nepotism and social media use policy in its meeting Tuesday night.
Prior to the legislative flurry, Mayor David Crissman swore in two new firefighters, Ella Beelman and Caden Woodward. Woodward is a Certified Paramedic, and Beelman is pursuing that certification. The additions, including a firefighter sworn in last week, were offset by a recent resignation accepted by Chief Brian Wilson.
Service Safety Director Wes Dodds informed the council that there were four resolutions for their consideration tonight. One resolution would adopt a nepotism policy that discourages the hiring of an immediate family member who would be directly supervised by another family member. Dodds said that the policy would not prevent a family member from being employed by the city, but would prevent that employee from being supervised by a family member.
Dodds discusses the new policy:
Another resolution would enact a social media policy for all city employees.
Dodds discusses that resolution:
The third resolution, at the recommendation of a recent State audit, would create a whistleblower policy to ensure employees are treated fairly when they raise issues with supervisors.
The last resolution would adopt a travel reimbursement policy.
In his report, Fire Chief Brian Wilson stated that the department’s ladder truck returned from its scheduled service with a few issues, all under warranty and repaired.
Before the legislative agenda, one ordinance was added to the agenda after the 48-hour notice was waived by
14 ordinances received their first reading:
- 25-75 – An ordinance establishing and providing for compensation for the president of council, council members, clerk of council, mayor, law director, and auditor for 2026. Passed on first reading only.
- 25-76 – An ordinance establishing and providing for compensation for certain Bellefontaine Municipal Court employees. Passed on first reading only.
- 25-77 – An ordinance establishing and providing for compensation of the Bellefontaine Municipal Court Judge for 2026. Passed on first reading only.
- 25-78 – An ordinance establishing and providing for compensation for certain hourly employees of the City of Bellefontaine. Passed on first reading only.
- 25-79 – An ordinance establishing and providing for compensation for certain hourly employees of the City of Bellefontaine. Passed on first reading only.
- 25-80 – An ordinance establishing and providing for compensation for certain hourly employees of the City of Bellefontaine. (2026 Service Workers Pay ordinance) Passed on first reading only.
- 25-81 – An ordinance authorizing the purchase of miscellaneous supplies, equipment, and services for use in 2026. Passed on first reading only. Council member James abstained.
- 25-82 – An ordinance making temporary appropriations for current expenses and other expenditures during the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2026, and ending December 31, 2026. Passed on first reading only.
- 25-88 – An ordinance authorizing and creating the Chief Deputy Clerk position for Bellefontaine Municipal Court. Passed on first reading only.
- 25-89 – An ordinance authorizing and creating the Inspector/Locator position for the Bellefontaine Wastewater Department. Passed on first reading only.
- 25-90 – An ordinance authorizing and creating the Assistant Water Superintendent position for the Bellefontaine Water Department. Passed on first reading only.
- 25-91 – An ordinance authorizing and creating the Assistant Sewer Superintendent position for the Bellefontaine Wastewater Department. Passed on first reading only.
- 25-92 – An ordinance approving a contract for the purchase of certain real estate within the City of Bellefontaine for current/future needs. Three reading rule waived. Passed on first and final reading. Adopted.
- R25-83 – A resolution adopting an employment of relatives and personal relationships (nepotism) policy. Adopted.
- R25-84 – A resolution adopting a social media use policy. Adopted.
- R25-85 – A resolution adopting a whistleblower policy. Adopted.
- R25-87 – A resolution adopting a travel reimbursement policy. Adopted.
Two ordinances were adopted after their third and final reading:
- 25-68 – An ordinance making supplemental appropriations and amending the permanent appropriations ordinance for purposes of engineering, revolving loan, and insurance claims. Adopted.
- 25-71 – An ordinance amending certain section 351.05 manner of angle parking of the codified ordinances of the City of Bellefontaine, Ohio. Adopted.
Service Safety Director Dodds talks about the new angle parking ordinance:
The next meeting of the Bellefontaine City Council will be Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at 7:30 PM.
The meetings are open to the public.
