Mayor says he'll veto legislation that contains domestic partner benefits

Mayor Mike Bell said he will veto legislation to provide health-care benefits to domestic partners of city employees because it includes an amendment regarding union negotiations.

Toledo City Council this afternoon voted 9-3 to offer the benefits to city employees in relationships with members of the same sex, or unmarried heterosexual partners. The board rejected 8-4 an attempt to restrict the legislation to same-sex couples only.

Councilmen George Sarantou, Tom Waniewski and Rob Ludeman voted against the domestic partner benefits proposal.

The legislation would allow partners of city employees in same-sex or unmarried heterosexual relationships to apply for health care, dental, life insurance and other benefits through the city.

But at the meeting, Mayor Mike Bell indicated he will veto the legislation because it includes an amendment that reopens city negotiations with Local 92 firefighters, something that he said the city law director believes is illegal.

Also at today's meeting, council members approved licensing fees for Internet sweepstakes cafes. Under the legislation, they would have to pay the city $5,000-a-year for an operating fee.

They also agreed to a program that city leaders believe will help them deal with overgrown lots of grass throughout the city.