(Photo by Gwen Sour) From left, Marietta City Council President Susan Vessels listens as City Law Director Paul Bertram explains amendments made to Ordinance 192 during Thursday’s meeting.

Marietta City Council approved several key pieces of legislation this week, including ordinances to set salaries for elected officials and allow expanded outdoor dining downtown, along with the city’s 2026 tax budget.

Ordinance 144, which establishes the salaries of certain elected officials of the City of Marietta effective Jan. 1, 2026, passed with a 6-1 vote, with Councilman Jon Grimm voting against it. The measure formalizes compensation adjustments for various municipal positions.

Council also adopted Ordinance 192, authorizing the director of public safety and service to execute an Exclusive Revocable License Agreement with PICO Associates LLC, the property owner, and Luis J. Salas, owner of Tampico Mexican Restaurant Inc. The agreement permits limited use of the public sidewalk at 221 Second Street for outdoor dining. It also waives enforcement of Section 529.08(b)(3) of the city code, which prohibits open containers of alcohol in public places, for the licensed area.

Grimm recused himself from voting on Ordinance 192 due to a potential conflict of interest.

“I submitted a letter of objection to the Ethics Commission on their original finding,” he explained during the meeting. “They upheld their decision, so I will be recusing myself from this vote.”

Before its passage, the ordinance was amended to update Exhibit A, the legal agreement detailing the terms of use and site boundaries.

Council unanimously adopted Resolution 59, the city’s 2026 tax budget, which now heads to the Washington County Auditor.

“This is a routine part of our financial planning,” Councilman Michael Scales said, adding that the budget process will begin later this month.

Ordinance 197 passed and had its second and third readings suspended. The ordinance is to appropriate and transfer funds. Scales stated that the ordinance was to help fund the Stabilization Fund.

“We’re getting close to our goal, but we need this in the bookkeeping so that we can comply with all the audit rules and regulations,” Scales said.

Ordinance 203, which is an ordinance to appropriate and or transfer funds, had its second and third readings suspended, and the ordinance was adopted unanimously. Scales explained that $8,435 will be transferred to the Law Enforcement Trust Fund for equipment.

“It takes the pressure off the general fund because they can use it to buy some of their equipment,” said Scales.

The next regularly scheduled Marietta City Council meeting will take place June 18 in The Armory at 7:30 p.m.