EAST LIVERPOOL — Immediately following a special finance committee meeting on Monday, the East Liverpool City Council held a special meeting to vote on time-sensitive legislation.

Council members unanimously approved five ordinances, passing them by emergency measure.

The ordinances passed included amending the budget ordinance; authorizing the auditor to pay a vendor; authorizing the city to enter into an agreement with the Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) to sell property; authorizing the mayor to use funds from the Community Development Block Grant Loan Fund for sidewalk repair and authorizing the mayor and safety service director to execute an agreement for the fire department.

According to City Auditor Marilyn Bosco, the ordinances to amend appropriations and pay vendors are a result of the city having to switch insurance companies for the city’s liability insurance. The company they previously had which they paid premiums to quarterly dropped them due to the lawsuits against the city. The city has found a new insurance company, but the company requires the annual premiums to be paid in one payment. So, the appropriations ordinance needed amended to reflect the change in payments and the ordinance to pay vendors was to authorize Bosco to make the premium payment.

Council member Fred Rayl said they would like to offer the property at 331 Norton St., which contains four parcels, to the to the CIC. He said they do not have to accept the property, but he would like the option to transfer it to them and let them decide

Safety Service Director Bill Jones said the funds for the sidewalk repair in the amount of $23,585 would go toward repairing the sidewalk in front of City Hall from the parking lot to the alleyway and to fix a couple sections of the sidewalk across the street from city hall. He is hopeful that soon after the sidewalk repairs are completed, the front doors to city hall will be able to be open to the public again.

The agreement for the fire department is a contract with the Fire Fighters’ Union Local 24 concerning compensation and benefits.

East Liverpool City Council meets the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in council chambers at East Liverpool City Hall. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Nov. 4.