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Record of Proceedings

Vandalia Special Council Meeting: Oaths, Vice Mayor Election, VDC Appointment – August 17, 2026

City Council — Monday, August 17, 2026

BodyVandalia, Ohio

SessionCity Council

DateMonday, August 17, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 10:11

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0:03

All right, the Monday, August 17th, 2026 special council meeting is now called to order.

0:07

The first item on the agenda is the oath of office for our newest council members.

0:11

So at this time, I'd like to invite uh Mr.

0:14

Steve Clark to come to the podium for the swearing in.

0:30

Our wall.

0:32

We don't want to do it.

0:33

Is everybody's heart?

0:46

All right, raise your right hand and repeat after me.

0:48

I state your name.

0:49

I Steve Clark.

0:50

Solemnly swear.

0:51

Solemnly swear.

0:52

That I will support the Constitution.

0:54

That I will support the Constitution.

0:56

And will obey the laws of the United States.

1:00

And the state of Ohio.

1:03

That I will, in all respects.

1:04

That I will in all respects observe the provisions of the Charter.

1:08

Observe the provisions of the Charter.

1:10

And the ordinances of the City of Vandalia.

1:12

The ordinances of the City of Vandalia.

1:14

And will faithfully discharge the duties of the Office of Council Member.

1:19

And then faithfully discharge the duties of the Office of Council.

1:24

All right.

1:24

Thank you.

1:25

Congratulations.

1:34

All right.

1:43

My wife even came to see you guys warning.

2:02

Oh, that's true.

2:06

Happy.

2:18

Sign that.

2:24

All right.

2:26

Thank you.

2:27

Take your seat.

2:53

All right, next item on the agenda is the nominations for the election of our vice mayor.

2:59

So at this time I'd like to open the floor for anybody wishing to be considered our next vice mayor.

3:06

I'd like to make a discussion first.

3:08

Is that what I was supposed to say?

3:10

Okay.

3:11

So I know that there has already been some orchestrated moves behind the scenes already for this, but I wanted to just explain some things for our new council and for the city.

3:27

Um and why I have concerns for what this is happening.

3:33

For many years, uh the city has, and for the eight years that I sat in the seats out there and watched the uh moves for mayor, vice mayor happen.

3:46

The reason that we would have our new council members wait until they are off-year election to be nominated was because they needed to have experience going through everything from budget hearings, learning their positions, and getting to just kind of get their footing as a city council member.

4:11

I think that that was very smart.

4:14

Many council members and previous and current at that time sat me down and explained that.

4:39

So I just wanted to explain why I felt that way and why that things moving forward was the reason that I felt that.

5:00

It is just my reasoning for um why I think that people need to reconsider or think about what they were doing.

5:06

Thank you.

5:08

All right.

5:09

Anyone else have any comments or anything they'd like to add?

5:12

Uh just on my behalf, I would like to say um I serve at the pleasure of the residency of um Vandalia and for their benefit.

5:23

And if the council so chooses, I will serve the same way as vice mayor.

5:28

Um I will continue being a team player, whichever way it goes, it really doesn't matter to me.

5:35

So that that's kind of all I have to say.

5:38

All right, anyone else have any comments?

5:41

Anything you want to add?

5:42

No.

5:45

All right.

5:45

So at this time, can I have a motion?

5:48

I make a motion to appoint Rick Ford as Vice Mayor.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

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Economic Development██████████18%

Summary of Proceedings

Vandalia Special Council Meeting – August 17, 2026

The Vandalia City Council held a special meeting on Monday, August 17, 2026. The council swore in new Councilmember Steve Clark, elected and swore in Rick Ford as Vice Mayor, and appointed Steve Clark to the Vandalia Development Corporation.

Oath of Office

Mayor Herbst administered the oath of office to Steve Clark as a new council member. Clark swore to support the Constitution, obey the laws of the United States and the State of Ohio, observe the Vandalia Charter and ordinances, and faithfully discharge the duties of council member.

Vice Mayor Election

Before nominations, a council member expressed concern about what they described as orchestrated moves behind the scenes. They said the city's longstanding practice was for new council members to wait until the off-year election before being nominated so they could gain experience through budget hearings, learn their positions, and get their footing as council members. They asked the council to reconsider.
Another speaker said they serve at the pleasure of Vandalia residents, would serve the same way as vice mayor if chosen, and would continue being a team player either way.
Councilwoman Bradford moved to appoint Rick Ford as Vice Mayor, and Councilwoman Dugan seconded the motion.

Vandalia Development Corporation Appointment

The council considered appointing a council member to the Vandalia Development Corporation for even-numbered years. Councilwoman Bradford moved to appoint Steve Clark, and Councilmember Hathaway seconded the motion.

Key Outcomes

Rick Ford was elected Vice Mayor by a 6-1 roll call vote; Councilmember Avalotis Weaver cast the only no vote. Ford then took the oath of office for Vice Mayor.
Steve Clark was appointed to the Vandalia Development Corporation for even years by a 7-0 vote.
The meeting adjourned at 5:41.

Meeting Transcript

All right, the Monday, August 17th, 2026 special council meeting is now called to order. The first item on the agenda is the oath of office for our newest council members. So at this time, I'd like to invite uh Mr. Steve Clark to come to the podium for the swearing in. Our wall. We don't want to do it. Is everybody's heart? All right, raise your right hand and repeat after me. I state your name. I Steve Clark. Solemnly swear. Solemnly swear. That I will support the Constitution. That I will support the Constitution. And will obey the laws of the United States. And the state of Ohio. That I will, in all respects. That I will in all respects observe the provisions of the Charter. Observe the provisions of the Charter. And the ordinances of the City of Vandalia. The ordinances of the City of Vandalia. And will faithfully discharge the duties of the Office of Council Member. And then faithfully discharge the duties of the Office of Council. All right. Thank you. Congratulations. All right. My wife even came to see you guys warning. Oh, that's true. Happy. Sign that. All right. Thank you. Take your seat. All right, next item on the agenda is the nominations for the election of our vice mayor. So at this time I'd like to open the floor for anybody wishing to be considered our next vice mayor. I'd like to make a discussion first. Is that what I was supposed to say? Okay. So I know that there has already been some orchestrated moves behind the scenes already for this, but I wanted to just explain some things for our new council and for the city. Um and why I have concerns for what this is happening. For many years, uh the city has, and for the eight years that I sat in the seats out there and watched the uh moves for mayor, vice mayor happen. The reason that we would have our new council members wait until they are off-year election to be nominated was because they needed to have experience going through everything from budget hearings, learning their positions, and getting to just kind of get their footing as a city council member. I think that that was very smart. Many council members and previous and current at that time sat me down and explained that. So I just wanted to explain why I felt that way and why that things moving forward was the reason that I felt that. It is just my reasoning for um why I think that people need to reconsider or think about what they were doing. Thank you. All right. Anyone else have any comments or anything they'd like to add?

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