CADIZ — Cadiz police officers have been seeking a pay raise for the past three years and on Thursday, Lt. Ron Carter walked out of the meeting and took two other officers with him.

The issue arose when Councilman Eric Miller broached the subject of giving police a raise and noted that other officers in the area are starting out at $18 to $19 per hour. Miller reminded council that Cadiz officers are making $16.50 per hour, which Carter confirmed after the meeting.

“I think we need to look into trying to get at least a dollar an hour raise for our officers,” Miller said.

Carter and Officers Brandon Groves and Todd Walker were present for the discussion. Village Solicitor Costa D. Mastros suggested they discuss the matter with the finance committee and see what the village could afford.

Councilman John Vermillion said the cost to the village wouldn’t be just a dollar per hour per officer, but everything else that is paid into their compensation, which includes insurance for example. He also suggested looking at the other cities and villages that are paying more and looking at how much income tax is being taken in. After Treasurer Amy Ossman said Chief Ryan McCann was applying for a grant that might help, Carter spoke up.

“So are we tabling this again?” he asked. “How long is this table? It’s been tabled for two years.”

He told council the village will lose officers if they do not get more money.

He also said later that village leaders were incorrect if they felt if they gave officers a raise then they would have to give the street department employees a raise.

He said those two jobs are not the same.

“You guys want to bring an addict house in and putting it in these people’s backyards, you’re not going to have officers to watch them,” Carter said, drawing loud applause from the group in attendance regarding rezoning to bring in a rehabilitation housing unit, which Carter was referring to.

Positive comments and applause lingered and several members of the group, after the meeting, thanked Carter for speaking up.

Carter stood up and said, “We’re out,” then left with Groves and Walker following.

That rezoning issue for Meagan’s Point Development to be located at the corner of North and Ohio streets in Cadiz was addressed earlier in the meeting.

Diane Jones, who resides in that neighborhood, spoke for the large group in attendance. She began by asking specifics regarding the zoning for the Ohio Revised Code.

“Like how much of a timely manner was this supposed to have been advertised in the newspaper and also letters going out to, you know, the people surrounding this property?” Jones asked.

The zoning meeting Jones was referring to occurred on Jan. 18 with notices delivered on Jan. 15. When she reminded council that it provided only three days’ notice, Mastros said neither council nor he give out legal opinions.

Jones acknowledged that but told council that according to the ORC, 30 days’ notice is required. After the meeting, Village Administrator Brandon Ludwig said that only a 24-hour notice is required for a “special meeting,” referring to the Jan. 15 zoning meeting.

“I’m the lawyer for them,” Mastros said of council. “I give them opinions. We don’t give legal opinions to the audience, or to the public. You have to hire your own lawyer for that.”

Several people in the crowd, though, could be heard saying that Jones wasn’t asking for legal advice.

“I appreciate what you’re saying and I appreciate what you’re doing, it’s an absolute right, but if you’re going to keep saying, ‘Well, isn’t the law this or someone tell me what the law is,’ I’m going to tell you they’re not going to answer that and I’m not going to either, because I can’t and I’m not allowed,” Mastros told her.

Jones proceeded to read what the Harrison Metropolitan Housing Authority’s plans are for the property, as well as the procedures to go forward. The plans call for 38 multi-housing, low-income family units to be used as a rehabilitation clinic for substance abuse patients and individuals facing separation from their families, as well as homelessness.

When she finished, Mayor John Migliore told Jones the issue was basically being tabled until the May 5 meeting, when the village has set aside an entire hour for debate from 6-7 p.m., just prior to the regular council meeting.

Two readings of Ordinance 2022-06 have already taken place with the third scheduled for council’s May 5 meeting, which will be held inside the EMS building at 254 E. Market Street.