Ashtabula City Council Honors Retiring Pastor, Zonta Chapter and Advances Full Slate of Budget, Contract Votes

RELATED: Starting a business in Ashtabula? Your resources are here. ASHTABULA, Ohio – The Ashtabula City Council meeting on Dec. 15, 2025 opened with heartfelt tributes, then moved into a dense agenda of contracts, pay resolutions and budget votes that set the city’s financial course for 2026. Council Honors Rev. Peter W. Nielsen III On Retirement Council first adopted Resolution 2025‑209 , honoring Rev. Peter W. Nielsen III on his retirement from St. Peter Church after more than a decade serving the community. In brief remarks, Nielsen reflected on his 11 years in Ashtabula, calling the city a blessing and expressing confidence that the church will remain a blessing to the community under new leadership. Council members thanked him publicly and noted he will be missed. Zonta Club Of Ashtabula Recognized For 16 Days Of Activism Next, council turned to Resolution 2025‑210 , honoring the Ashtabula chapter of Zonta International during Zonta’s worldwide 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, held annually from Nov. 25 through Dec. 10. Councilor Jodi A. Mills welcomed local Zonta members, describing them as “a standing pillar in this community” whose members “are here, there and everywhere” volunteering year-round. Councilor Jane E. DiGiacomo read the full resolution, which credits the chapter for: Hosting the annual international fair trade holiday gift fair at Austinburg Town Hall. Making comfort pillows for breast cancer patients in Ashtabula. Sharing Zonta’s mission at the Ashtabula County District Library . Holding an annual spring luncheon fundraiser celebrating women. Completing a “lasagna love” service project delivering meals to local families and Home Safe. Organizing annual nut sales and other fundraisers. The resolution cites Zonta’s global mission to empower women through service and advocacy, notes the prevalence of domestic violence across all communities, and commends the local chapter for education, outreach, partnerships and visible advocacy to promote safety and dignity in Ashtabula and Ashtabula County. A Zonta representative told council the Ashtabula club will mark its 100th anniversary in 2027 , nearly a century of local service. Members thanked the city for its long-standing support of their work. Both resolutions — for Rev. Nielsen and for Zonta — passed unanimously on voice votes, later recorded as 6–0 . Minutes Approved From December 1 Sessions Council then approved and waived the full reading of three sets of minutes from Dec. 1, 2025 : A 5:30 p.m. public hearing A 6:30 p.m. organizational meeting A 7 p.m. regular council meeting All three motions to waive the readings and approve the minutes passed 6–0 . January 5 Work Session To Consider Agenda Changes Council President John S. Roskovics announced that the Jan. 5, 2026 meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a work session, including the city solicitor and other officers. The session will focus on modifying the council meeting format and agenda , a topic members have discussed previously. City Manager’s Report: Transit, APL, Chemicals, Cybersecurity And More City Manager James M. “Jim” Timonere presented a long list of legislative requests, all of which council agreed to add to the agenda by 6–0 votes: Public Transportation Agreements Ordinance 2025‑211 authorizes entering two agreements with the Ashtabula County Board of Commissioners in Jefferson for public transportation services and a lease for the operations center. City contributions will come from the General Fund (Fund 101) . Animal Protective League Contract Ordinance 2025‑212 authorizes an agreement with the Ashtabula County Animal Protective League to handle intake of animals for the city at a cost not to exceed $24,200 , paid from Fund 101. Water Treatment Chemicals Ordinance 2025‑216 : Contract with USALCO for sodium aluminate up to $133,000 , from Fund 503 (water/sewer). Ordinance 2025‑215 : Contract with Polydyne Inc. for Clarifloc (heard as “chlorofloc”) in an amount not to exceed $55,000 , also from Fund 503 . Cybersecurity Policy Ordinance 2025‑217 adopts a cybersecurity policy to comply with the recently updated Ohio Revised Code regarding municipal cyber standards. Ending City Pension “Pickup” Ordinances 2025‑218, 219 and 220 repeal 2012‑144, 2012‑145 and 2012‑171 , ending the city-paid 5% pension pickup for employees covered by: Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund (police and fire) Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) City officials discussed a minor exhibit mismatch between the new legislation and attachments from 2012 and directed staff to ensure the correct exhibits are on file. USA Waste Geneva Landfill Contracts Ordinance 2025‑221 authorizes three contracts with USA Waste Geneva Landfill, Inc. for: Receipt and treatment of leachate Sludge disposal Solid waste disposal The contracts run Jan. 1, 2026 to Dec. 31, 2030 (five years). Wastewater Treatment Pump Replacement Ordinance 2025‑223 approves a contract with Schultz Fluid Hand