GIRARD — City council on Monday voted 6-1 on legislation that requires the safety-service director to live in Girard and will give Mark Ragozine one year to move from Howland.

Ragozine was hired earlier this year by Mayor Mark Zuppo.

Councilman Jeff Kay, D-3rd Ward, was the “no” vote on the residency requirement.

Council amended the ordinance, which originally had Ragozine needing to move to Girard by Jan. 1, 2026. He now has until June 1, 2026.

Councilman Mark Standohar, D-2nd Ward, requested an executive session on personnel with the seven members of council just prior to the vote. No other city officials were invited to the executive session. An executive session also took place at the June 9 meeting to discuss personnel.

At Monday’s meeting, Zuppo said council’s decision was “completely unfair.” He said council has gone into executive session twice at two meetings to discuss personnel and has not included him or Auditor Julie Coggins.

“Shame on you,” Zuppo said.

He said there are other employees who work for the city who do not live in Girard and are not required to live in Girard. Prior to council’s vote, residents at the meeting also gave their opinion on the residency requirement.

Patricia Rounds of Illinois Avenue said the safety-service director was appointed by the mayor and his salary is paid by the taxpayers, so he should live in the city.

“The safety service director represents our city and should live in the city. The Ohio Revised Code requires that the safety service director is generally required to become a resident of the city six months after the appointment by the mayor,” she said.

Rounds said if there is an emergency in Girard, how quickly will Ragozine be able to get to the city from Howland. Zuppo said fire and police personnel would be able to quickly respond to an emergency and notify Ragozine.

Jeffrey Hutchins of Plymouth Avenue said the safety-service director is a high-profile position and while council can waive the residency requirement, he feels since the taxpayers are paying Ragozine’s salary, he should reside in the city.

INCOME TAX COLLECTIONS

In other business, Coggins reported that income tax collections as of the end of May are $507,670, which includes an annual RITA fee reimbursement of $70,9543. She said income tax collections are down by $150,000 compared to 2024.

Coggins said funds from the police speed cameras were at $89,000 for May with year-to-date collections at $345,277. She said year-to-date collections include $158,827 to the general fund, which receives 46% of the speed camera revenue.

Coggins said the general fund ended May with a $2.8 million balance.

She said the Wellman Theater fund ended May with $43,645, ambulance service fund, $200,900; and the recreation fund, $158,270. Coggins said the part-time fire / paramedic employees will have their pay taken from the ambulance fund.

Coggins said the Wellman Theater fund has received $10,358 from the 3% allocation from the speed camera revenue so far and the bike trial has received $3,452 from the 1% allocation. Coggins said the city began paying a $20 fee per each speed camera ticket fine to Girard Municipal Court as of June 1.

She said starting July 1, Vienna and Liberty no longer will be contributing to the tickets since they will no longer be allowed to use speed cameras.

Councilman-at-Large John Moliterno, chairman of the finance committee, said no funds coming from Vienna and Liberty will begin to hurt the city financially.

“This will hurt us by the end of the year,” he said.