NEWTON FALLS, Ohio - Newton Falls council has voted unanimously to end Pamela Priddy's time as city manager.

According to Interim Law Director Jeff Limbian, Priddy is terminated effective February 26, 2024. For the time being, Priddy is suspended with pay for 30 days effective immediately.

Thursday afternoon, 21 News reported that a controversial ordinance that would have increased Priddy's salary was rejected by the Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas.

According to court documents, the rejection of the ordinance was due in part to the circumstances when it was introduced.

Back in September of 2023, a regularly scheduled council meeting was abruptly adjourned before council could address all items on the agenda.

One of those items included Ordinance 2023-36, which would have increased Priddy's salary by $30,000 a year with six weeks of paid vacation time. 

The following week, on September 11, Council held a special meeting with the exact same items on the agenda as the regularly scheduled meeting. An act that former Mayor Kenneth Kline declared illegal before announcing his resignation as mayor.

In November, Village Councilwoman Julie Stimpert filed a temporary restraining order against the ordinance with the court ruling in Stimpert's favor on Thursday.

According to court documents, because the ordinance was initially discussed in a meeting found to be illegal, it and any other new business discussed at the meeting would be null and void.