Salem council suspends rules, adopts emergency appropriations and reductions ordinances

The Salem City Council suspended its rules and unanimously approved two emergency ordinances at its Dec. 2 meeting, moving budget items forward after procedural confusion over packet numbering.

Council member Mister Naul moved to suspend council rules so Ordinance 251202‑69, described by the clerk as “an ordinance authorizing and transfers as set forth below and declaring an emergency,” could be introduced and advanced with all three readings. The motion was seconded and passed on a roll‑call vote with Missus Bair, Miss Bricker, Mister Harrington, Mister Noll, Mister Stockman and Mister Zellers recorded as voting yes.

Mister Noll later moved to waive statutory rules to allow Ordinance 251202‑70, described as “an ordinance authorizing reductions and appropriations as set forth below and declaring an emergency,” to receive all three readings and be considered the same evening. That motion also passed on a recorded roll call; the clerk recorded unanimous affirmative votes. The council then ordered the clerk to read each ordinance by title only and passed them.

During the meeting the council acknowledged earlier packet inconsistencies that led to confusion over item numbers. The president confirmed that Ordinances 67 and 71 (including the wage ordinance and a budget ordinance in some packet versions) were tabled to allow the law director time to review last‑minute markup and to permit committee follow‑up.

The measures approved Dec. 2 took effect with the emergency clauses included in the text of the ordinances as read by title. No amendments to the ordinances were recorded on the floor during the meeting, and no dissenting votes were registered.