NELSONVILLE, Ohio — During its regularly scheduled Monday meeting, Nelsonville City Council remained productive and relatively drama-free ahead of the long-anticipated date of Jan. 1, 2026.
But the form of government the city will have come New Year’s Day remains unknown, following the council’s August repeal of Issue 23 through Ordinance 54-25.
Issue 23 was an initiative overwhelmingly passed by Nelsonville voters in November 2024 that would have abolished the current form of government under the Nelsonville City Charter and returned the city to a form of government based on state statute.
The only way for Ordinance 54-25 to be revoked is through council action or a court ruling.
“I would like to remind everybody [Ordinance] 54-25 is the law of the land until such time as a court rules otherwise. And that is the position of this council, and will be until such time with that,” Council President Cameron Peck said during the meeting.
In the four months since council passed Ordinance 54-25, numerous court battles have transpired — none providing answers about the legality of the ordinance. But council member Cory Taylor filed another legal challenge regarding the issue Monday. He could not be reached in time for publication.
The filing seeks to stop recently elected statutory-based candidates from taking office. Under Issue 23, the candidates were supposed to take office Jan. 1, 2026.
The defendants in Taylor’s case are all statutory-based candidates who were on the ballot or were write-in candidates during this past election.
Taylor’s filing also includes a petition supporting his motion signed by 25 residents of Nelsonville. Signatories include current and former council members, and current and former members of the city administration.
City business
The council accepted Mary Moffat to serve as the council’s new clerk of council, following the resignation of Susan Harmony Nov. 30.
Moffat told the Independent she has a background working as a paralegal and wants to serve as clerk of council because “[the council] needs someone to do this job.”
Moffat will also be the secretary for the seven city council committees and the six boards and commissions.
The council heard from Nelsonville Police Chief Devon Tolliver, who reported that through November, the department conducted 20 traffic stops, had 267 calls for service, issued 50 citations and nine parking citations, responded to six traffic crashes, made 12 criminal arrests and six warrant arrests.
The council also heard from Code Officer Jason Kelley, who reported that since Nov. 10 the office issued 14 notices of code violations and two civil citations, had three complaint cases, condemned one property, issued 16 permits and sent 81 letters to landlords for rental registrations. The amount collected from issued fines was $125 and the amount collected from issued permits was $715, according to the report.
The council also went into executive session. Upon returning from session, council voted to suspend the rental registration section of Nelsonville City Code on vacant properties. Council intends to “rework” and “update” sections of the code.
In other business, the council passed five ordinances on emergency that:
- Approved a memorandum of understanding modifying the collective bargaining agreement between the city, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Ohio Council 8 and AFSCME Local #2845. The approved change classifies the police department’s mayor’s court clerk as a member of the bargaining agreement.
- Approved fund allocation for three payments to Robe Law Office for legal services on court cases. The payments total $12,525.
- Suspended use of two city-owned electric vehicle charging stations for maintenance and upgrades, and repealing a 2022 ordinance regarding the charging stations in order to allow the maintenance to occur.
- Authorized the execution of then-and-now certificates issued by auditor Nicholas Smith and payment for tree maintenance to city contractor Ryan Cunningham Services. The payment is for $10,000, according to council member Nic Joseph Saul.
- Amended the appropriations ordinance at the close of business Dec. 31 to match the actual expenditures and receipts at the end of the year.
The council also adopted three resolutions that:
- Authorized City Manager Fred Holmes to enter into a revised agreement for Law Director Jonathan Robe’s 2025 contract.
- Commended Trevor Boggs for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest possible rank in the Scouts BSA program in Scouting America.
- Declared the city’s policy to consent to transfer a liquor license to 701 Chestnut St.
Three ordinances were also heard on first reading by the council that would:
- Amend the Nelsonville zoning code to prohibit land usage for computer data centers.
- Amend Section 90.05 of the Nelsonville City Code to permit dogs to be unleashed while in the Nelsonville Dog Park.
- Appropriate $40,000 to install new roofs on the pool house and picnic shelter at the Nelsonville Aquatic Center.
Nelsonville City Council meets every other Monday of each month, at Nelsonville City Council Chambers, 211 Lake Hope Drive. Its next regular meeting will be Monday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. Meetings are live streamed on YouTube. Find more at cityofnelsonville.com.
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