OCIC Advocates for the Creation of an Economic Development Coordinator
Oberlin Community Improvement Corporation representatives Jill Sawyer and Tyrone Wicks gave a presentation to City Council discussing the importance of creating an Economic Development Coordinator position, arguing that it would bring more businesses to the downtown area and increase the residential population. Wicks explained the Economic Development Coordinator would ideally be someone who would proactively lobby Ohio companies to relocate to Oberlin. This development is part of the five-year plan commissioned by OCIC to attract businesses to downtown Oberlin.
Councilmembers Condemn Misinformation Against Haitian Residents of Springfield
Councilmember Libni López condemned the spreading of misinformation about Haitian immigrants. López emphasized that Oberlin community members who are immigrants had registered their complaints with him. Councilmember Ray English and Council President Eboni Johnson similarly condemned the libel spread about Haitian residents by former President Donald Trump and Senator J.D Vance of Ohio.
Council Discusses Altering Budgetary Process
The Budget Committee, consisting of Finance Director Beth Cross, Interim City Manager and City Legal Head Jon Clark, and Public Works Director Jeff Baumann, will meet to discuss the spring 2025 budget. While the budgetary process will take place between the first week of November and the beginning of December, the Committee will start meeting at the end of September. English asked if the Council could present a list of its budgetary priorities as the Committee will not meet with the Council prior to the start of the budgetary process. In response, Clark explained that the Budget Committee sought to streamline the process and that the discussion should be limited to discussing last year’s budget. Eventually Council and the Committee tentatively agreed to hold one pre-budgetary process meeting mid-October.
Council Approves Pay Raise for Interim City Manager
Council voted unanimously to approve a raise for Interim Oberlin City Manager and Head of City Legal Council Jon Clark. Prior to approval of the resolution, the City Council voted to waive the rule requiring three readings. The resolution will pay Clark an additional $2,400 biweekly until a new city manager is hired. Council President Eboni Johnson observed that Clark had requested a relatively modest pay increase in relation to his workload.
Council Appoints Kross as New Finance Director, OCIC Member
The Council voted unanimously to appoint Beth Kross as the Oberlin financial director. It also voted unanimously to waive the rule requiring three readings to pass an ordinance. Earlier in the meeting, the Council also appointed Kross as a public member of the board of OCIC.
Council Approves Pay Raise for Clerk of Council
City Council unanimously approved a pay raise for the Office of the City Clerk Belinda Anderson as well as waived the rule requiring three readings. Clark clarified that a previous resolution increasing the city clerk’s pay was inadequate. In addition to her duties as clerk of council, Anderson is also responsible for the duties held by the previous city treasurer.
Council Appoints Officials to Oversee the Payment of Oberlin Property Taxes
Council voted unanimously to appoint Financial Director Beth Kross and Clerk of Council Belinda Anderson to oversee the payment of Oberlin property taxes, waiving the rule requiring three readings. Kross and Anderson were appointed to create instructions for the electronic ACH payment of property taxes with the City’s banking information for the Lorain County auditor and treasurer. This is to ensure that the City of Oberlin will receive tax payment information electronically from Lorain County in a timely manner.
