WELLSVILLE — It was a busy night Tuesday for Wellsville Village Council as members approved several pieces of legislation.

Among the key items passed was the village’s financial recovery plan, as prepared by Mayor Nancy Murray. It outlines the village’s goals for getting out of fiscal emergency, which it was placed in November.

The plan is to be submitted to Gov. John Kasich’s office today, and will be reviewed by the village’s Financial Planning and Supervision Commission during its next meeting scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday.

That plan is to include actions that will eliminate the fiscal emergency conditions as well as satisfy any debts, wipe away all deficits and balance the budget, provide authorization from local officials to take the described actions, and institute a timeline for completion of the plan.

The commission then will review the plan, and must approve it should all information follow state law and be expected to be in place within a reasonable timeframe. Once approved, all measures must remain consistent with the plan, or it will either be amended or thrown out for a new plan.

If rejected by the commission with explanation, council will then have to produce a revised plan within 30 days.

Prior to the fiscal emergency being declared by state auditor Dave Yost’s office, Murray stated in previous meetings the village started 2016 — when she took office — with a $300,000 deficit in the general fund, which has since been reduced.

Councilman John Morrow asked several questions regarding the plan, and after the meeting, was asked by some residents and members of council as to why so many questions were asked.

Morrow said council had received the plan last Friday, to which he said the mayor received the plan from the Local Government Services division of the state auditor’s office, and that he had reviewed the plan Monday evening to see what can be discussed.

“At the last Financial Emergency Commission meeting, I’m paraphrasing from memory, Quentin Potter (commission chairman) of the Governor’s office said ‘it is the mayor’s plan but it should be submitted to council and go through three readings, though some communities waive the rules and go straight to final reading. Three readings gives the public an opportunity to hear the plan and voice their opinion. Also three readings would give council the opportunity to make suggestions,'” Morrow said.

“I felt since there were no prior readings and no committee meetings to discuss the plan I wanted to ask my questions publicly, for the people to hear, not in a text, email or privately. I like the mayor’s plan and support the plan 100 percent.”

Following a brief executive session to discuss legal advice with solicitor Lynsey Lyle-Opalenik, however, council found itself short-handed as Rosie Gibson was excused for the remainder of the meeting due to work commitments, leaving council with only four members present. Under council rules, five members must be present to suspend normal three-reading rules for ordinances.

Council then took a five-minute recess as newly-appointed council member Pinky Gill was sworn in, which allowed her to cast a vote on the recovery plan. She voted in favor of the plan, as did fellow council members.

Gibson, meanwhile, was available for the five previous ordinances that also received unanimous approval.

Two of them dealt with the authorization of placing the half-percent income tax increase on the Nov. 7 ballot. If approved, a half-percent income tax increase will take affect for the village, and would also qualify residents for a tax credit for working outside village limits. Funds generated will go toward two accounts: one for paving expenses for its roads, and the other for police personnel and equipment expenses.

The tax increase was first tried in the May primary election, but was turned down by voters. Unlike the upcoming November election, the May primary request included the fire department’s personnel and equipment receiving money as well.

Also approved were two ordinances regarding wages. One ordinance was for the wages of part-time village police officers which will go to $12 per hour, while the other was for wages and conditions of employment for a hearing officer for the traffic cameras that will be utilized by the village through Blue Line Solutions. Both ordinances were clarified by council following questions by Broadway Avenue resident Mike Lynn during the meeting’s second public speaking period.

Meanwhile, council approved the second reading on the bulk materials fee ordinance. The fee is to be imposed on all bulk materials transferred, transported or shipped from within the village. The ordinance would also create a bulk materials transport fund to which a periodic review of the fee would take place, establish a manner for which the shipped materials are reported to the village, and also to establish penalties for failure to comply with the ordinance.

Council approved the first reading of the ordinance at the July 5 meeting, and the approval of a final reading will result in the ordinance’s passage. That reading could come at the next council meeting, scheduled for Aug. 1.