The Columbus City Council has approved $4.7 million in contracts with nonprofit groups to provide services for those in need, with some of the money going to agencies that employ current and former council members. The contracts were approved as the Ohio Ethics Commission investigates a complaint about how council members have approved grants for nonprofits that employ council members.

The Columbus City Council has approved $4.7 million in contracts with nonprofit groups to provide services for those in need, with some of the money going to agencies that employ current and former council members.

The contracts were approved as the Ohio Ethics Commission investigates a complaint about how council members have approved grants for nonprofits that employ council members.

During Monday's meeting, the City Council discussed the legislation and then had to undo a procedural fumble that almost caused the council to unanimously approve the contracts without allowing some members to abstain.

The contracts approved Monday include:

A $155,000 pact with St. Stephens Community House, which provides help to families, including with food, education and guidance. Former councilwoman Michelle M. Mills is director of the nonprofit. Mills resigned in August after she became subject of an FBI investigation into whether she had accepted gifts. Mills has refused comment on the investigation and has referred questions about her departure to her attorney.A $184,400 contract with the Mid-Ohio Foodbank, which employs Council President Zach Klein as an attorney.A $196,505 contract with Alvis House, a nonprofit that offers employment and other help to ex-felons who are trying to turn their lives around. Councilwoman Priscilla R. Tyson is a program director at Alvis House.

The state ethics commission has released opinions in the past that suggested elected officials should abstain from voting on public contracts that involve their employers. Records show council members have abstained from voting in those situations since 2011.

But Monday that almost didn�t happen.

The ordinances for the Alvis House and Mid-Ohio Foodbank contracts were on the council�s consent agenda. That is the portion of the agenda in which members pass multiple pieces of legislation with one vote and little discussion.

Five of the seven council members voted yes on the consent items before Tyson paused and looked at Klein. Klein stopped the vote and asked for a motion to reconsider the votes already tallied.

Council backed out of the approval and then called for a voice vote of the consent agenda. Klein abstained from a vote on the Mid-Ohio Foodbank contract and Tyson passed up voting on Alvis House.

Democrats at City Hall have called the ethics commission investigation a politically motivated witch hunt by a board that is missing two board members who are supposed to be Democrats. The board is supposed to have six members � three Republicans and three Democrats.

Gov. John Kasich appoints the commission board members, but has left the two Democratic seats vacant for more than a year, leaving three Republicans in control.

There are about 30 nonprofits that will receive the remaining bulk of the money approved Monday by the City Council.

The three largest contracts,part of the $4.7 million, were for Godman Guild Association to help with job placement for $426,704; Lifecare Alliance and the Meals on Wheels program for a total $285,055; and for employment services provided by the Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services for $276,600.

George Walker, who leads the South Linden Area Commission, said that public dollars to groups such as St. Stephens is vital to neighborhoods in the Linden area.

�Our community has to have it,� he said.

lsullivan@dispatch.com

@DispatchSully