A copy of the resolution, having been placed on the desks of each member of Council prior to introduction, was read by title.

Vice Mayor Byington explained that this is a resolution that also relates to federal CARES Act funding. CARES Act funding is generally intended to reimburse expenditures related to mitigating or responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, which can include a wide range of things from plexiglass barriers to video conferencing technology. Generally that money cannot be used to offset payroll expenses and benefits, but there is an exception for public safety employees.

Based on guidance from the US Department of the Treasury and from the Ohio Office of Budget and Management, there is a presumption that public safety employees – including police officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and support staff such as dispatchers – are substantially dedicated to mitigating or responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Oakwood’s Finance Director and Law Director have reviewed all available guidance to ensure that the presumption can be fairly applied in Oakwood. Council wishes to adopt this resolution, making a formal finding that the presumption applies to Oakwood Safety Department employees. Council believes that due to the unique nature of Oakwood’s consolidated Public Safety Department, where all officers are certified and serve as police officers, firefighters, and either paramedics or EMTs, Oakwood officers have been on the front lines of this pandemic and have been substantially dedicated to its mitigation and response.

It is important to note that CARES Act funding is limited, and we may not be able to apply that funding to offset all Safety Department payroll and benefit expenses. Industry standards require at least two officers every time we deploy an ambulance, and every crew is staffed with at least one paramedic, which is a higher level of medical certification than that of an EMT. For that reason, although the City is making the determination that all of Oakwood’s Public Safety employees are substantially dedicated to COVID-19 pandemic response, which is clearly the case, the City believes the employees most directly dedicated to pandemic response are one paramedic and one EMT per shift for the relevant March-December time period. Council is therefore authorizing the Finance Department to apply CARES Act funding, first, to offset the payroll and benefit expenses of those employees. Payroll and benefit expenses for other Public Safety Department employees will only be offset to the extent that additional CARES Act funding is available.

Thereupon, it was moved by Vice Mayor Byington and seconded by Mr. Stephens that the resolution be passed.

There being five (5) yea votes and no (0) nay votes thereon, said resolution was declared duly passed and it was so ordered.

A copy of the ordinance, having been placed on the desks of each member of Council prior to introduction, was read by title.

Mr. Stephens explained that each year, Council passes an annual house-keeping ordinance to align Oakwood’s local traffic and criminal ordinances with changes that have been made at the state level. This ordinance will adopt the 2020 replacement pages for the Traffic Code and the General Offenses Code.

This was a first reading of the ordinance, so Mr. Stephens made no motion.