Fairfield City Council Regular Meeting - January 26, 2026

The Fairfield City Council held its regular meeting at 7:00 PM on Monday, January 26, 2026, at 5350 Pleasant Avenue, Fairfield, Ohio. Six members were present; Councilmember Gwen Brill was excused. The Council approved the Patterson Place PUD, an America250-Ohio support resolution, and five finance/personnel ordinances, all by 6-0 votes. No citizen comments or public hearings were held. The Council recessed to executive session at 7:18 PM and adjourned at 7:50 PM.

Opening, Roll Call, and Minutes

• Mayor Steve Miller called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM; Councilmember Debbie Pennington led the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.
• Present: Leslie Besl, Dale Paullus, Debbie Pennington, Adam Kraft, Tim Meyers, and Matt Davidson. Councilmember Gwen Brill was excused by a 6-0 motion.
• A roll call motion for executive session regarding personnel, property sale, and economic development confidential information carried 6-0.
• No agenda modifications, special presentations, citizen comments, or public hearings occurred.
• The January 12, 2026 Regular Meeting Minutes were approved as written and submitted.

Council Reports and Snow Response Discussion

• Councilmember Kraft reported that snow response has cleared public parking lots at fire stations, police stations, libraries, community arts center, and parks, with paved trails to be cleared as the week progresses. He also announced Fairfield received the 31st Tree City Award and the 8th growth award from the Arbor Day Foundation.
• Councilmember Meyers reminded residents to report water main breaks to non-emergency dispatch; he noted six water main breaks already this year due to freezing and thawing, and provided the 24/7 public utilities number (513-858-7775).
• Councilmember Besl asked what could legally be done about street-parked cars during a Level 2 snow emergency. Police Chief Maynard responded that ticketing does not change behavior, towing large numbers would be impractical, and enforcement is generally limited to vehicles creating roadway hazards; police can run plates and ask owners to move vehicles if needed.
• Mayor Miller suggested a social media campaign urging residents to be considerate. Public Works Director Ben Mann stated the City already posts such reminders and compliance was somewhat better in the last snow event.

Old Business

Patterson Place Planned Unit Development

• Councilmember Meyers presented the third reading of an ordinance approving the revised concept plan and final development plan for the Patterson Place PUD and amending the Zoning Map in Section 1130.01(B)(2). The ordinance was adopted 6-0 as Ordinance No. 8-26.
• Councilmember Meyers thanked the Minnick family for their commitment to Fairfield. Fred Minnick thanked the City for its work through the lengthy process, noting this was the fourth time they had appeared before Council.

Sidewalk Repair Resolution

• Councilmember Pennington presented the second reading of a resolution declaring the necessity of repairing sidewalks, including aprons; no vote was taken. She thanked Public Works crews for working since Saturday afternoon through the weekend snow event, with 12-16 inches of snow reported and Fairfield/Middletown recording the region's highest totals.

New Business

• Council voted 6-0 to read all new business by title only.

America250-Ohio Resolution

• Councilmember Kraft presented Resolution No. 3-26 designating Fairfield as one of 250 official America 250 Communities in Ohio, supporting the United States Semiquincentennial in 2026 through educational, cultural, and civic activities. Council suspended second and third readings and adopted it 6-0.

Finance & Budget Ordinances

• Councilmember Besl presented five ordinances, all adopted 6-0 after suspension of second and third readings.

Ordinance No. 9-26 - Salaries and Hourly Rates

• Implements the settled FOP patrol/supervisor collective bargaining agreement: 3.6% base wage increase effective 4/1/2025, 2.5% effective 4/1/2026, and 2.5% effective 4/1/2027, plus negotiated lump-sum amounts each year.
• Also incorporates Ohio's minimum wage increase to $11.00 per hour effective January 1, 2026.

Ordinance No. 10-26 - Unclassified Service Pay Plan

• Adjusts minimum and maximum salaries in the Unclassified Service Pay Plan/Position List based on the 2026 review; adds Chief of Staff to the position list with no requested funding. Notes the 2023 update compressed pay grades from 14 to 7.

Ordinance No. 11-26 - Health Club Reimbursement

• Amends Sections 163.19 and 163.20 to address the health club membership reimbursement that has not kept up with costs. The current $250 cap prevents the intended 50% reimbursement; example: YMCA membership costs $57.52/month including tax ($690.24/year), and other local clubs average about $65/month.
• Note: the raw transcript says this reimbursement has not been modified since 2008, while the minutes state the current provisions became effective in 2018 and 2019.

Ordinance No. 12-26 - Paid Parental Leave

• Adds new Section 163.21 providing paid parental leave. No federal or state mandate exists, and 15 Ohio municipalities/counties provide some form; benefits elsewhere range from 2 to 12 weeks. The City expects improved retention, job satisfaction, productivity, and competitiveness in attracting talent.

Ordinance No. 13-26 - Appropriation for Speed Detection Equipment

• Adds $12,733 in non-contractual appropriations for Police Department speed detection equipment. Adopted 6-0.
• Note: the raw transcript refers to $12,007 for this appropriation, while the agenda and approved minutes both state $12,733; the final ordinance records $12,733.

Key Outcomes

• Adopted Ordinance No. 8-26 (Patterson Place PUD) 6-0.
• Adopted Resolution No. 3-26 (America250-Ohio) 6-0.
• Adopted Ordinances 9-26, 10-26, 11-26, 12-26, and 13-26, each 6-0.
• The sidewalk repair resolution remains at second reading.
• Meeting recessed to executive session at 7:18 PM; regular meeting adjourned at 7:50 PM.