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Record of Proceedings

Vandalia City Council Organization Meeting - January 2, 2024

City Council — Tuesday, January 2, 2024
BodyVandalia, Ohio
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, January 2, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 14:10

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0:06

The organization organizational meeting for Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024 is now called to order.

0:12

We'll start with a moment of reflection, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

0:20

Please stand for the pledge.

0:30

And to the Republic for which it stands.

0:34

Under our individual authority and justice for all.

0:42

All right, the first item on the agenda is the oath of office, and we'll begin with uh the mayor.

0:48

So, Jerry, if you can join me down front.

1:11

Which is your good side.

1:12

I don't have a good side.

1:13

Okay.

1:14

Are you ready?

1:15

Let's do it.

1:16

Okay.

1:17

Raise your uh right hand.

1:19

There you go.

1:20

Repeat after me, please.

1:21

I Richard Herbst.

1:23

I Richard Herbst.

1:24

Solemnly swear.

1:25

Solemnly swear.

1:26

That I will support the Constitution.

1:28

That I will support the Constitution and will obey the laws and will obey the laws of the United States.

1:33

Of the United States, and the State of Ohio.

1:35

And the State of Ohio.

1:37

That I will in all respects and that I will in all respects observe the provisions.

1:41

Observe the provisions of the charter and ordinances of the charter and ordinances.

1:46

Of the City of Vandalia.

1:47

Of the City of Vandalia.

1:49

And will faithfully discharge.

1:50

And will faithfully discharge the duties of the Office of Mayor.

1:54

The duties of the Office of Mayor.

1:57

Thank you.

2:00

I'm sorry.

2:04

All right.

2:05

Next, uh I'd like to invite uh Amber Avo Avalotus Weaver down.

2:21

Stand on the start.

2:22

Would you want her on this side?

2:24

You stand over.

2:25

Mom went you over there.

2:29

Like that.

2:32

Okay.

2:34

I state your name solemnly swear.

2:36

I, Amber Apollonus Feaver, solemnly swear.

2:40

That I will support the Constitution.

2:41

That I will support the Constitution.

2:43

And we'll obey the laws of the United States.

2:46

And we'll obey the laws of the United States.

2:49

And the State of Ohio.

2:50

And the State of Ohio.

2:52

That I will, in all respects.

2:53

That I will in all respects.

2:55

Observe the provisions of the Charter.

2:57

Observe the provisions of the Charter.

3:00

And the ordinances of the City of Vandalia.

3:02

And the ordinances of the City of Vandalia.

3:05

And we'll faithfully discharge the duties of the Office of Council person.

3:13

Okay, what?

3:15

Okay.

3:16

And we'll faithfully discharge the duties of the Office of Council member.

3:23

All right.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████74%
Community Engagement█████████14%
Personnel Matters███████12%
Summary of Proceedings

Vandalia City Council Organization Meeting - January 2, 2024

The Vandalia City Council convened its organizational meeting on January 2, 2024, to administer oaths of office, elect a Vice-Mayor, appoint councilmembers to committees, and set the regular meeting schedule for the next two years. The meeting opened with a moment of reflection and the Pledge of Allegiance. All formal actions were approved unanimously.

Oath of Office

  • Oaths of office were administered to Mayor Richard Herbst and councilmembers Amber Aivalotis-Weaver, Cindy Doogan, and Corey Follick.
  • Councilmember Aivalotis-Weaver was briefly handed the Vice-Mayor's oath script by mistake, but the oath was completed successfully.

Nominations and Election of Vice-Mayor

  • Councilmember Michael Blakesley was nominated for Vice-Mayor by Councilmember Farst, with a second by Councilmember Follick.
  • The roll call vote carried 7–0, and Blakesley was then sworn in as Vice-Mayor.

Committee Appointments

  • Golf Advisory Board: Councilmember Lewis agreed to continue serving.
  • Parks and Recreation Advisory Board: Councilmember Follick agreed to continue serving.
  • Vandalia Arts Council: Councilmember Farst agreed to continue serving.
  • Vandalia Development Corporation: Councilmember Amber Aivalotis-Weaver, who accepted the nomination at the December 18 study session, was appointed by acclamation.
  • Council voted by acclamation; the motion carried 7–0.

Setting of Meetings

  • Council discussed continuing its past practice of meeting on the first and third Monday of each month, with summer meetings on the third Monday in June, July, and August, as allowed under Charter Section 3.4.
  • Councilmember Blakesley moved to accept the meeting schedule, seconded by Councilmember Follick.
  • The motion carried 7–0.

Council Comments

  • Councilmembers congratulated newly elected and re-elected members and expressed enthusiasm for the coming year.
  • Councilmember Aivalotis-Weaver thanked voters and said she was excited to serve.
  • Vice-Mayor Blakesley thanked the council for the nomination and said the city had many goals to accomplish in 2024.
  • Mayor Herbst echoed the comments, noting that Vandalia has a lot of exciting things ahead.

Adjournment

  • The council noted that the organizational meeting would be followed by a study session and the regularly scheduled council meeting at 7 p.m.
  • The meeting was then adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

The organization organizational meeting for Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024 is now called to order. We'll start with a moment of reflection, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Please stand for the pledge. And to the Republic for which it stands. Under our individual authority and justice for all. All right, the first item on the agenda is the oath of office, and we'll begin with uh the mayor. So, Jerry, if you can join me down front. Which is your good side. I don't have a good side. Okay. Are you ready? Let's do it. Okay. Raise your uh right hand. There you go. Repeat after me, please. I Richard Herbst. I Richard Herbst. Solemnly swear. Solemnly swear. That I will support the Constitution. That I will support the Constitution and will obey the laws and will obey the laws of the United States. Of the United States, and the State of Ohio. And the State of Ohio. That I will in all respects and that I will in all respects observe the provisions. Observe the provisions of the charter and ordinances of the charter and ordinances. Of the City of Vandalia. Of the City of Vandalia. And will faithfully discharge. And will faithfully discharge the duties of the Office of Mayor. The duties of the Office of Mayor. Thank you. I'm sorry. All right. Next, uh I'd like to invite uh Amber Avo Avalotus Weaver down. Stand on the start. Would you want her on this side? You stand over. Mom went you over there. Like that. Okay. I state your name solemnly swear. I, Amber Apollonus Feaver, solemnly swear. That I will support the Constitution. That I will support the Constitution. And we'll obey the laws of the United States. And we'll obey the laws of the United States. And the State of Ohio. And the State of Ohio. That I will, in all respects.

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