Whitehall City Council Agenda and Regular Meeting – January 6, 2026

Whitehall City Council met on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. The agenda listed a 7:00 p.m. regular meeting; the transcript opens with an agenda meeting that was to reconvene at 7:00 p.m., and the remainder reflects the regular session. President Thomas Potter presided, and Councilmembers Larry Morrison, Amy Harcar, Brian McCann, Mike Adkins, Gerald Dixon, Devin Brown, and Lori Elmore were present. The meeting opened with a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance. Council welcomed new members Adkins and McCann and unanimously adopted two emergency items after suspending rules.

Consent Calendar / Routine Business

• Approved the December 16, 2025 Agenda and Special Meeting Minutes and the December 16, 2025 Agenda and Regular Meeting Minutes (motion by Harcar, second by Elmore).
• Accepted committee appointments and elected a President Pro Tempore.
• Verified that each councilmember received copies of agenda legislation; the roll-call verification was unanimous.

Public Comments and Testimony

• One resident, not identified by name in the transcript, expressed strong support for Mayor Bivens and Councilmembers Elmore and Harcar, called Bivens one of the best mayors in the United States, criticized 'selective outrage' regarding the recall effort, and told the three leaders 'I got your back.'
• No one spoke during the second public comment period.

Communications, Petitions and Claims

• Council received notice from the Ohio Division of Liquor Control for a new C2 and D6 license application for Family Dollar Stores of Ohio, LLC, 5224 East Main Street, Whitehall, Ohio 43213. No action was taken.

Discussion Items

• Agenda and rules: City Attorney Nicodemus said the printed agenda did not comport with council rules because of the officials' report order and the inclusion of the economic development director. Council suspended its rules for the evening to use the agenda, with the order to be corrected later. A note was also made that the 'Poll Council' name order on the agenda was outdated because of a last-minute change.
• Ordinance 133-2025 (second reading): An ordinance amending Title Three legislative code prohibiting interference with council communications and declaring an emergency was read by title only. City Attorney Nicodemus said changes had been made since the first draft to address the mayor's concerns about overbreadth, and further committee review was expected with the two new councilmembers.
• Ordinance 001-2026: Authorized the mayor to execute a contract with Franklin County Public Health to provide health services and plumbing inspections for Whitehall and its residents, declaring an emergency. Council suspended rules and adopted it unanimously.
• Resolution 001-2026: Adopted the City of Whitehall Cybersecurity Program and authorized the mayor to designate a responsible person. The mayor explained that the program was required for the 2025 financial audit and that failure to pass it could result in an audit finding. Council suspended rules and adopted it unanimously; the IT director was identified as the likely designated person.

Officials' Reports

• Mayor Bivens: Acknowledged the recall petition effort, defended Councilmembers Harcar and Elmore, publicly asked petition circulators to remove them and put the petition on him, and said he was not afraid. He reported 2025 accomplishments: more than 35 new businesses; nearly 1,000 permits approved; The Enclave on Main opened with 102 dwelling units; 1,000 new residents; ground broken on Aries Lofts, expected to bring nearly 300 units; a new mobile app; paperless timesheets; $1.5 million toward a budget stabilization fund; a new Office on Neighborhoods; nearly 200 families receiving direct assistance; more than 200 receiving emergency food services; more than 100 receiving hygiene kits; nearly 8,000 people connected to employment opportunities; nearly 3,000 people receiving health care screenings; and the 'Whitehall Rise' development blueprint underway.
• Auditor Alexander: Reported general fund trends: a $7.7 million carryover in 2021; about $35 million in revenue and just under $37 million in expenses in 2022, with a $5.7 million carryover; financial strain in 2023 after payroll tax issues, noting that 88% of general fund revenue comes from income tax and roughly 45% to half of that is from DSEC; about $40 million in revenue and just over $36 million in expenses in 2024, with a $5.7 million carryover; and preliminary 2025 figures of about $40.7 million in revenue, $39.4 million in expenses, and a $6.9 million carryover, totaling about $7.4 million with the budget stabilization fund. He also said the estimated credit rating improved from single-A to double-A and, responding to being called a DEI hire, cited his record of being twice elected, unanimously appointed by council in 2022, paying his own way through college, graduating with honors, becoming a CPA, passing all four CPA exams on the first attempt with an average score of 91, and working at the fourth largest accounting firm in the world.
• City Attorney Nicodemus: Reported that from the second quarter through the end of 2025 the office handled over 2,100 municipal court cases, including over 420 victim-protection-eligible cases such as assault, domestic violence, telecommunications harassment, menacing, and aggravated menacing. He described the mayor's court diversion program with Mr. Owens as reducing recidivism and connecting people to employment, housing, and driver's licenses.
• Director of Public Service Rowlands: Distributed an infrastructure recap covering completed 2025 projects, ongoing projects, and 2026/2027 proposals, emphasizing that dates were tentative and estimated. She noted city infrastructure is over 60 years old, the city maintains 144 lane miles, and pothole patching is an ongoing 24/7/365 operation. In response to questions, she said projects can move between years depending on weather and funding.
• Economic Development Director Russell was not present. The treasurer position is vacant; applications are being accepted through January 23. Public Safety Director Gregg was not present.

Community Date Board

• Mayor Bivens announced the Martin Luther King Scholarship Breakfast on January 19 at the YMCA, with scholarship applicants eligible for up to $1,000 toward college education. Details were said to be on the city website.

Councilmember Statements (Poll of Council)

• Morrison thanked attendees, wished everyone a happy new year, and welcomed the new members.
• Harcar welcomed the new members and defended herself, Mayor Bivens, and Councilmember Elmore in response to recall efforts. She said recall should be grounded in objective violations of law or duty, not personal discomfort, selective outrage, or tone-policing, and criticized inconsistent accountability, adding that assessments of tone can be shaped by implicit bias. She said she would not align with anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQ, or anti-survivor positions and would serve all residents.
• McCann thanked staff, committed to finding common ground and uniting the city, and said he would make an effort to get to know all councilmembers.
• Adkins thanked the community for its support, noted he is a lifelong resident, and said he looked forward to working with everyone.
• Dixon congratulated the new members, defended Auditor Alexander as the best choice for treasurer and said DEI had nothing to do with his appointment, called for stricter adherence to Robert's Rules, and said that if he had remained at the December 16 meeting he would have voted no on the budget and on the Department of Neighborhoods. He also referenced the principle that one is innocent until proven guilty.
• Brown seconded the idea of upholding professionalism, thanked Director Rowlands, and reported on 2025 economic development work, including school engagement and community conversations. He said he respected due process but believed it was wildly inappropriate for Mr. Dixon to continue serving in a position of public trust and leadership. President Potter stopped him for naming a councilmember; Brown said he would continue to say it openly.
• Elmore welcomed the new members, asked for respect and adherence to council rules, noted more than 40 years in public service, and echoed Harcar and Brown in calling for unity and professionalism.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes approved; committee appointments accepted; President Pro Tempore elected.
• Rules were suspended to allow the printed agenda for the evening.
• Ordinance 001-2026 adopted unanimously (7-0).
• Resolution 001-2026 adopted unanimously (7-0).
• Ordinance 133-2025 remained in second reading for further review.
• Treasurer position remains vacant; applications accepted through January 23.
• Meeting adjourned at 8:01 p.m.