Butler City Council on Thursday approved rezoning the proposed Ritts Historic and Architectural District to an R-1 zone for single-family homes.

Council members voted 4-1 in favor of rezoning the 12-block area in the North McKean Street area.

The vote came after several residents of the neighborhood told council at Tuesday’s forum meeting that they did not support the change and members of the planning and zoning commission unanimously voted against it.

Councilman Michael Walter cast the dissenting vote, saying he had mixed emotions about the rezoning but wasn’t necessarily against it.

The neighborhood was a mixture of R-1, R-2 medium-density, R-3 high-density and C-2 commercial districts.

Rezoning the neighborhood to R-1 prohibits converting homes into apartments or adding apartments to existing homes, but homeowners who currently have apartments in their homes can keep them.

The historic and architectural district, which has not yet been established, would require homeowners to maintain the Victorian and colonial revival exteriors of their homes. A review board would be formed to approve exterior changes.

Employee contract

In unrelated business, council unanimously approved a three-year contract with the 16 streets and parks department and city hall employees represented by the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, Local 757.

The contract begins retroactively from Jan. 1 and runs through Dec. 31, 2020, providing pay raises of 20 cents an hour for full-time workers and 10 cents for part-time workers this year and 0.75 percent in 2019 and 2020. Union members have approved the contract.

Liaison steps down

In other business, Councilman Jeff Smith stepped down as the liaison for the Shade Tree Commission and was replaced by Councilman Kenny Bonus.

The moves come after commission members complained about conflicts with Jeff Smith. Several commission members have quit including Diana Bowman, John Lex and Joe Paulisick.

Jeff Smith said there are some issues with the commission including a lack of records on bench donations, commemorative donations, not having a policy or plan to replace dead trees, failing to follow up on violations of the shade tree ordinance and possible Sunshine law violations by some members.

He said he and council will continue to monitor the commission.

Mayor Ben Smith appointed Pamela Taylor to the commission.

Police department

In police department matters, council approved the retirement of Lt. John Johnson following 19 years of service, promoted Sgt. Benjamin Spangler to lieutenant and hired Benjamin Rogers as a patrol officer. There remains one vacancy in the 23-person department.

Council approved an amendment to the civil service rules allowing patrolmen with two years experience to apply for open sergeant positions. The civil service commission has approved the change.

The years of service requirement was seven years in 2017. Previously, a patrolman had to have five years of service to apply for a sergeant’s job.

Fire, streets departments

For the fire department, council agreed to pay John Sly Grant Writing Services $2,500 to apply for a $100,000 Assistance to Firefighters Grant for rescue equipment. The city would have to match 5 percent of the grant.

Council also agreed to buy a new truck and leaf collector for the streets department through the state’s Costars cooperative purchasing program.

The 2019 Ford F-550 truck costs $46,920, a stainless steel dump body costs $14,375, hydraulic equipment costs $8,150 and a salt spreader costs $4,300.

The leaf collector costs $38,528 and two leaf collection boxes cost a total of $9,589.

Walter said the city is expecting to receive a $74,000 grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection to pay for the leaf collector, collection boxes and half of the cost of the truck chassis and dump bed.