GIRARD — City council on Monday voted to override Mayor Mark Zuppo’s veto of prior legislation that requires council approval for purchases of $20,000 or more.

The legislation, which council approved 6-0, requires that the mayor, safety service director and department heads need council’s approval on any purchase of $20,000 or more.

Mayor Mark Zuppo said the state threshold is approximately $78,000 for requiring a council’s approval and said $20,000 is a rather low amount to get approval on needed purchases with the costs of items today.

“If we have to get approval from council for everything over $20,000, it will slow us down,” Zuppo said.

He said he wishes members of council would have spoken with him or had a discussion before voting to override his veto.

Councilman Keith Schubert, D-1st Ward, a member of council’s finance committee, said members of council feel there needs to be a limit on any discretionary spending and for council to be more involved with spending decisions.

Schubert said council has been concerned with engineering costs in the past year, which he said were more than $160,000 higher than last year.

“Council wants to make sure the city is fiscally responsible with any discretionary spending. This is about transparency and fiscal responsibility,” he said.

Schubert said Warren, which is much larger than Girard, raised their spending limit for department heads from $20,000 to $25,000.

All six council members at Monday’s meeting approved the override of Zuppo’s veto.

Councilman Thomas Grumley, D-4th Ward, was absent.

WELLMAN THEATER

In other business, Zuppo and council discussed plans for the Wellman Theater on West Market Street.

Zuppo said the city has secured a $300,000 reimbursement grant from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission for the $2.7 million renovation at the theater.

American Rescue Plan funds also are being used for the project. Those funds have to be used by the end of the year.

Zuppo said plans are to next work on the exterior theater facade and the front portion of the roof. He said he is in contact with Joseph Asente with the Millennial Theater Company about use of the theater as a cultural center with theater programs and classes.

Zuppo said as a cultural center, KO Consulting will be able to seek grant funds from foundations. Safety Service Director Mark Ragozine said asbestos remediation inside the building has been completed.

Councilman John Moliterno, D-2nd Ward, said the city has no art gallery so an art area could be inside the theater and showcase local artwork, including from Girard school students.

Also, Ragozine said the company doing fiber optic work in the city has agreed to do all landscaping restoration work. Zuppo said restoration work needs to be done by May 1.

He said any resident not having restoration work can call the mayor’s office.