SALEM — City council held first readings on several pieces of legislation in its meeting Tuesday.

Council gave first readings to ordinances amending regulations for zoning permits and property rentals.

The ordinance updating the regulations for zoning permits would remove language that specifies a zoning permit is not required for interior construction “that does not involve load bearing walls, electrical or plumbing” unless a building permit would otherwise be required for the project. If approved the ordinance will read “a zoning permit is not required for interior construction, repairs, alterations, removal or demolition unless a building permit is required by the Salem Building Department, or their agent, and/or the State of Ohio Board of Building Standards.”

The proposed changes to the property rental ordinance would update the listed definition of lodging accommodations to include spas and short-term rental properties. It would also change the penalty for an initial violation of the ordinance from a first-degree misdemeanor to an unspecified misdemeanor and specifies that increased fines for subsequent offenses apply regardless of which of their properties within the city the violation occurred.

Council also held first readings on an ordinance appropriating $55,000 in the Developers Agency Fund’s contractual services inspection fees line item to cover a shortage in estimated expenditures, and another ordinance reducing appropriations in the Storm Water Management Fund’s contractual services storm water study and mapping line item by $10,352.16 to balance the fund’s current cash position with estimated expenditures.

During the reports of standing committees Councilwoman Jayne Bricker announced the downtown committee meeting will meet at 6 p.m. April 7. Councilman Jeff Stockman announced the rules and ordinances committee will meet next at 6 p.m. March 31.

Mayor Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey, City Law Director Brooke Zellers, City Auditor Sal Salvino, Councilmen Trent Tice, Ron Zellers, Stockman, Councilwoman Sara Baer, and Bricker all extended their sympathies and prayers to the families of Salem schools Superintendent Sean Kirkland and past superintendent Dr. Joe Shivers, both of whom recently passed away, and the students and staff of the Salem City School district who are also mourning them.

Council will meet next at 7 p.m. on April 7.