A vote to pass an income tax credit for East Ohio Hospital, LLC never materialized during Wednesday’s Martins Ferry City Council meeting.
The first reading was held, but no motion was made to vote in favor of waiving the three-reading rule to pass the legislation immediately. City law director Paul Stecker earlier advised council he thought best to hold off and have all three readings.This way, citizens can digest the information and ask any questions they may have about the motion, which will return ¾ of the 1-percent income tax collected by hospital employees to the hospital.
“The law director wanted to give the citizens time to hear the ordinance and answer any questions,” said Councilman Jack Regis Sr. “I asked (Chief Operating Officer Bernie) Albertini at the beginning if that would cause them any problems, and he said no and that they sort of expected it.”
Regis made the original motion at the last meeting to bring forth the ordinance and he had planned to move to waive the three-reading rule.
Stecker, though, advised against it, and Albertini saw no issue with the delays, so the two additional delays will be held.
“We made sure to be here in case anyone had any questions and for the first reading,” Albertini said. “We expected this, but everything is progressing nicely as far as the city goes.”
Regis said he didn’t feel it was necessary, but decided to go along with the move. He knows the importance of reopening the hospital, as do the citizens of Martins Ferry and all involved.
Work Underway
Whether the ordinance passed by emergency or the full three readings, it didn’t derail East Ohio Hospital, LLC’s plans.
The city made its commitment public, and the new owners followed in kind.
Inspections are being ordered, tests being conducted, and certifications sought. The hospital will open. It’s just a question of when.
Equally as certain is the passage of the ordinance.
“Everything is rolling,” Regis said. “They are coming to every meeting just to make sure there are no catches, but I don’t really expect any.
“We all want to see the ordinance pass and get it moving. It’s everybody’s priority.”
Conditional Employment Numbers
Councilwoman Susan Armstrong asked how many employees East Ohio Hospital, LLC needed to have in order for the tax rebate to become active.
Stecker stated that the facility needs to have 200 employees by the end of the year, and, if that number is met, the rebate will be retroactively effective to when the first employees began working.
Armstrong then asked if that 200 total could include part-time employees and also if the tax rebate applied to part-time workers.
Stecker answered no on both accounts.
“Assuming they have 200 employees at the end of the year, it would relate to payroll for the full year until the end of this year,” Stecker said of the tax credit.
“It begins technically now, once the ordinance is passed.”
