Martins Ferry City Council Meeting Minutes of June 17, 2026
Posted on: July 2, 2026
The Martins Ferry City Council met in Regular Session on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 5:30 p.m., in the Donald Myers Council Chambers. The meeting was called to order by Council President Phil Wallace with the Pledge of Allegiance recited by those present in chamber, followed by a prayer by the Clerk. Answering Roll Call were Spencer Echemann, Second Ward Council Member; Andrew Smay, Third Ward Council Member; Gus Harris, James Agnew and Jim Schramm, Council at Large Members. Excused: Bob Hunker, First Ward Council Member and Ryan Robey, Fourth Ward Council Member.
Minutes: Minutes of the June 3, 2026 Regular Council Meeting were approved after the correct spelling of Sadie Absalom’s last name was noted. She spoke regarding concerns about the Flock Cameras.
Correspondence: A letter was received from Vanessa Berhalter regarding property she owns on 4th Street that might be considered for a new city building.
Reports of Officers of the City:
Mayor: Mayor Davies reported there have been many infrastructure challenges in the last two weeks including fallen trees, broken sewers and water line breaks.
Weather permitting, work will begin on 5th Street tomorrow. Chief West was asked to close Short Street while work is being done on a Catch Basin. Fifth Street will be closed to traffic during working hours, except for United Dairy traffic. The Contractor is hopefully the project will be finished by July 4.
Service Director: The city has received $90,000 from Accent for lease property in the Crawford Heights area. This money was deposited in the General Fund. Mr. Sutak would like it put in the Permanent Improvement Fund to possibly help fund projects such as the slip on 6th Street or the City Building roof.
The City Building Roof has been leaking into the Police Department’s Evidence Room. Mansuetto Roofing has been contacted to find the leak and prepare a temporary patch. A quote of $2,150 per crew, per day (not to exceed $10,000) was received. Money will come from the Building and Grounds line item. Mr. Sutak asked Council for permission to move forward on this contract.
Beretta Road Project – Crews have been working on reconfiguring the storm sewers.
North Ridge/Overlook Drive – The city has received over $800,000 in mitigation funds from FEMA for this road slippage. This project will be advertised for bid on June 25 – July 2. Bids will be opened on July 14 and the Engineering Company will then make a recommendation to the city.
A sanitary storm sewer erupted creating a major sink hole last Sunday near the Broadway Gardens Apartments. Repair costs will come from the Capital Projects – Sewer line item.
Sixth Street Project – The City’s Engineer is working on getting the application for emergency funding completed for this project. As requested by Mr. Sutak, a Service Committee Meeting was set for Monday, June 22 at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers. The Finance Committee will meet following this meeting.
City crews are clearing brush and catching up on grass cutting.
Last year, the Administration requested that 1% of the income tax money be placed into the Recreation Fund so a Director could be hired for the pool and Recreation Center. This issue will be brought to the attention of the Finance Committee which will be meeting after the Service Committee Meeting on June 22.
Auditor: A Payroll Summary, New Hire/Termination/Retirement Report, and a Statement of Cash Position was distributed to Council Members. Mr. Regis reported that the Auditors from Perry and Associates were in the office today and finished the “in house” information. It will take a couple of weeks to get the final report.
Law Director: No report.
Police Department: Chief West thanked Mr. Sutak for his quick response to the roof problem. To date, there have been 383 calls to the department this month. Because the department has been busy and employees have been on vacation, there hasn’t been an officer patrolling the park. The Chief spoke about the importance of the Motorized Bike and Scooter Ordinance. If it passes, he would like to hold an informational meeting in the Park to inspect bikes and scooters and assign each a license/identification number. This could help to locate a missing or stolen bike.
Fire Department: No report.
Code Administrator: No report.
Park District: No report.
Water Department: No report.
Reports of Committees of Council:
Finance and Audit: No report.
Street: No report.
Ordinance: No report.
Sewer/Sidewalk: No report.
Safety: No report.
Service: No report.
Cemetery: No report.
Public Relations: Mr. Echemann thanked everyone involved in the Strawberry Festival. Although the weather wasn’t great, it was a very nice event.
Code Administration: No report.
Real Estate/Building and Grounds: No report.
Utility: No report.
Income Tax: No report.
Citizens To Be Heard: President Wallace reminded citizens to limit their speaking to 5 minutes.
Richard Hord, 915 Virginia Street, also complimented everyone involved with the Strawberry Festival. Regarding the Parking Meters, the city doesn’t have the manpower to enforce the 2-hour customer parking rule. Council has not discussed buying property for a new city building which would probably cost around 2-3 million dollars. Mr. Harris suggested starting the process for increasing the income tax so the city could look into constructing a new city building. No updates were available regarding the former East Ohio Regional Hospital Building or the former Staffilino property. Mr. Hord asked the Mayor to consider giving a proclamation to the Deluxe Toy and Hobby store for being in business for over 70 years and having a positive impact on the city.
Ordinances and Resolutions:
An Ordinance Providing For Assessments To Be Levied And Authorizing The Service Director To Certify Those Assessments To The Belmont County Auditor And Declaring An Emergency.
This Ordinance was given a second reading. This Ordinance will go to a third reading.
Motion was made by Mr. Echemann and seconded by Mr. Schramm to suspend the 72 Hour Rule for reading this Ordinance. A roll call vote was heard with Echemann, Smay, Harris, Agnew and Schramm voting yes. The motion carried and the Ordinance was given a first reading.
An Ordinance Regulating The Operation Of Electric Bicycles, Motorized Bicycles, Motorized Scooters, And Other Low-Speed Micro-Mobility Devices Within The City Of Martins Ferry, Ohio And Providing For Safety Requirements, Operational Restrictions, Penalties, Impoundment And Enforcement.
This Ordinance will go to a second reading.
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF MARTINS
FERRY TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR THE ZANE
HIGHWAY 12” WATERLINE CONNECTION TO AETNA
STREET BOOSTER STATION AND DECLARING AN
EMERGENC
Miscellaneous Business:
Motion was made by Mr. Schramm and seconded by Mr. Harris to allow the Service Director to enter into a contract with Mansuetto Roofing to find the leaks in the roof of the city building and prepare a temporary patch. Funding, capped at $10,000, will come from the Building and Grounds line item. A roll call vote was heard with Schramm, Echemann, Smay, Harris, and Agnew voting yes. The motion carried.
Mr. Smay made a motion and Mr. Schramm seconded to excuse Mr. Robey and Mr. Hunker from tonight’s meeting. After an affirmative voice vote, the motion passed.
Mr. Schramm made a motion and Rev. Agnew seconded to move the $90,000 of lease money from the General Fund into the Permanent Improvement Fund. A roll call vote was heard with Schramm, Echemann, Smay, Harris, and Agnew voting yes. The motion carried.
The Mayor reminded Council that the Celebration in the Park will be on Friday, July 3, 12:00 noon until the fireworks (sponsored by Unified Bank). There will be a free swim, entertainment and food vendors. A banner and billboard will be purchased to advertise this event. Donations are being sought to help cover the cost of the fireworks. Fifteen U.S.A. flags have been displayed in the city and more have been ordered to be displayed in the City Park.
Mr. Schramm made a motion and Mr. Harris seconded to re-apply 1% of the income tax into the Recreation Fund in order to fund a Park and Pool Director. A roll call vote was heard with Schramm, Echemann, Smay, Harris, and Agnew voting yes. The motion carried.
Mr. Schramm made a motion to reflect Council has received reports from the Officers and Management, and to incorporate these reports into the minutes. Motion was seconded by Rev. Agnew. After an affirmative voice vote, the motion passed.
Mr. Echemann made a motion and Rev. Agnew seconded to note that Council has received and reviewed the Statement of Cash Position, New Hire/Termination/Retirement/Change Report, and the Payroll Summary from the Auditor. A roll call vote was heard with Echemann, Smay, Harris, Agnew and Schramm voting yes. The motion carried.
Mr. Echemann moved to adjourn, which was seconded by Mr. Smay. After an affirmative voice vote, the meeting was adjourned at 6:20 p.m. with a salute to the flag.
The next meeting of the Martins Ferry Council will be on Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers.
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Kay H. McFarlan, Clerk of Council Phil Wallace, Council President
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