Fostoria City Council December 2nd 2025

Opening and Roll Call

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by the presiding officer, with a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance. All seven council members were present: Layman, Podc, Cassidy, Baker, Grime, Mendoza, and Lake.​

Approval of Previous Minutes

A motion was made by Mendoza and seconded by Baker to approve the video minutes from the prior meeting. The clerk called the roll, and all members voted “yes,” so the minutes were approved.​

Committee Reports

• Finance Committee: No new items to report; the next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers.​

• Public Affairs Committee: A detailed update was given on upcoming holiday events in downtown Fostoria, including:

  • Christmas window decorating contest (entries due by Dec. 12 at 9:00 a.m., with online voting).​

  • Annual Christmas tree lighting on the municipal lawn on Friday, December 5, at 7:00 p.m..​

  • Holiday activities on Saturday, December 6, including:

    • Breakfast with Santa at the Masonic Center (9:30 a.m.–noon), with proceeds benefiting “A Christmas for Every Child” and a request to bring a new, unwrapped toy.​

    • Fostoria Holiday Sip & Shop at the Fostoria Learning Center (10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.).​

    • Public Affairs Committee’s fourth quarter COMBOs meeting at Kimosabi’s Elbow Room at 11:00 a.m..​

    • Fostoria Rotary Christmas Parade and Santa’s Sidekicks Toy Express at 1:30 p.m., with officers handing out gifts and photo opportunities afterward.​

    • Children’s gingerbread house decorating at Calico Charlie’s Candy and More at 2:00 p.m..​

    • Santa and Mrs. Claus visits at Bougie on a Budget from 2:00–6:00 p.m..​

  • On Saturday, December 13, the Fostoria Community Arts Council will host a free children’s Christmas workshop (10:00 a.m.–noon at 125 S. Main St.) for 1st–5th graders to make a craft.​

  • Santa at the Depot (historic Lake Erie & Western Depot, 128 W. North St.) will be open Tuesdays & Thursdays 5–7 p.m. and Saturdays noon–2 p.m., with a suggested $5 per family donation to support the Fostoria Rail Preservation Society.​

• Law and Ordinance Committee: No new report; next meeting is Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 5:15 p.m. in council chambers.​

Reports of Officers

• Public Service & Safety Director:

  • Residents should have received a letter from Archer Energy about the gas aggregation program with Columbia Gas, offering at least 2% off the Standard Choice rate for those using Columbia as both supplier and transporter.​

  • Residents under contract with another supplier will not receive the letter; those who wish to opt out must follow the instructions on the front page (mail or call).​

  • The project team reconvened and identified two additional items to include in next year’s budget:

    • A 5‑year lease for a vector (used for hydro excavation and other precise work), costing roughly $50,000 per year split between water and sewer.​

    • A $29,000 study for the Sterns Road lift station, which has aging infrastructure and needs evaluation.​

  • These items will be added to the existing budget plan, but the overall direction is not expected to change significantly.​

  • The street sweeper that was damaged is being evaluated; engineers from another state have inspected it, and the city is now waiting for the insurance adjuster and a forensic “audit” to determine what went wrong.​

  • The director praised the crews for their work during a recent snowstorm, noting they did a “pretty fantastic job” without needing the sweeper.​

• Law Director: No report given that evening.​

Public Comment

• Deb Tyson:

  • Thanked the community for contributing to make Fostoria a better place.​

  • Commented that the gas aggregation opt‑out deadline is not always clear in the letter, and suggested the city could do more to highlight that cutoff date so residents don’t miss it.​

  • Noted that many state and federal decisions are currently on hold, making it difficult for local governments to finalize plans, and praised council for doing an “awesome job” under those conditions.​

• Rebecca Kimble:

  • Followed up on a prior request to name an alley after her daughter and to address a large, old tree in the boulevard (city right‑of‑way) near her property.​

  • Said city workers had previously marked the tree for trimming but had not yet done any work, and questioned why they bothered to spray‑paint it if nothing was going to be done.​

  • Expressed concern that the tree’s branches are very old and break easily in the wind, posing a hazard to vehicles and people; she felt the city was not taking this seriously.​

  • Complained that her front yard is covered in leaves from that tree, which she must clean up even though the tree is on city property.​

  • Also mentioned a neighbor who blew leaves from his yard and a vacant lot into her yard, and said this did not justify the city’s inaction on the tree.​

No other members of the public spoke.​

Old Business

1. Resolution 2025‑81 – Fund Carryover Balance Policy

   • A resolution establishing a fund carryover balance policy and declaring an emergency was adopted by a motion of Cassidy, seconded by Baker.​

   • All members voted “yes,” so it passed and became Resolution 2025‑81.​

2. Ordinance 2025‑82 – EMS Contract with Seneca County Joint Ambulance District

   • An ordinance authorizing the director of public service and safety to negotiate and enter into a contract with the Seneca County Joint Ambulance District for emergency medical services, and declaring an emergency, was adopted by a motion of Podc, seconded by Grime.​

   • All members voted “yes,” so it passed and became Ordinance 2025‑82.​

3. Ordinance 2025‑83 – Fiscal Year 2026 Permanent Appropriations

   • A motion by Layman, seconded by Cassidy, replaced the original ordinance with the revised version dated November 26, 2025 (which includes the new vector lease).​

   • The three‑reading rule was suspended by a motion of Layman, seconded by Lake, and then the ordinance was adopted by a motion of Lake, seconded by Baker.​

   • All members voted “yes,” so it passed and became Ordinance 2025‑83.​

4. Ordinance 2025‑84 – Amendment to Financial Recovery Plan

   • A motion by Layman, seconded by Cassidy, adopted the revised version of the financial recovery plan ordinance dated November 26, 2025 (updated to reflect the new vector lease).​

   • The three‑reading rule was again suspended by a motion of Layman, seconded by Podc, and the ordinance was adopted by a motion of Mendoza, seconded by Lake.​

   • All members voted “yes,” so it passed and became Ordinance 2025‑84.​

New Business

Several items received their first reading:

• Ordinance 2025‑85 – Appropriations Amendment (2025 Permanent Appropriations)

  • An ordinance amending the 2025 permanent appropriations by appropriating from unappropriated funds, transferring appropriations in the general fund, and transferring funds from the general fund to the pension fund, with an emergency declared.​

  • The three‑reading rule was suspended by a motion of Layman, seconded by Mendoza, and the ordinance was adopted by a motion of Cassidy, seconded by Lake.​

  • All members voted “yes,” so it passed and became Ordinance 2025‑85.​

• Ordinance – City of Fostoria’s Safe Routes to School Fund 228

  • An ordinance establishing the Safe Routes to School Fund 228, with an emergency declared; this was the first reading.​

• Ordinance – City of Fostoria’s TID Grant Fund 432

  • An ordinance establishing the TID Grant Fund 432, with an emergency declared; this was the first reading.​

• Ordinance – Cyber Security Program

  • An ordinance to adopt a cyber security program and declare an emergency; this was the first reading.​

• Resolution – ODOT Airport Improvement Program Grant Application (SFY 2026)

  • A resolution authorizing the director of public service and safety to apply to the Ohio Department of Transportation, Office of Aviation, for an Ohio Airport Improvement Program grant for State Fiscal Year 2026, with an emergency declared; this was the first reading.​

• Ordinance – Amendment to Sewer Rates (Codified Ordinance 941.03)

  • An ordinance amending section 941.03 of the codified ordinances relating to sewer rates, with an emergency declared; this was the first reading.​

Adjournment

There was no need to go into executive session, and no miscellaneous business was raised. A motion to adjourn was made by Cassidy, seconded by Baker, and all members voted “yes,” so the meeting adjourned at 6:21 p.m..