Village Businessman Thom Edgell Named Village Administrator

Tuesday – January 3: Wellsville Village Council held their first meeting of the new year Tuesday evening with a new mayor and some new council members. With Mayor Susan Haugh officiating council members present was Don Brown, John Morrow, Diane Dinch and Tony Cataldo. Also attending was Legal Advisor Andy Beech, Fiscal Officer Dale Davis, Zoning Administrator Rick Williams and Fire Chief Bill Smith. First Christian Youth Pastor Brandon Russell offered the opening prayer. With the snow & slippery conditions Councilwoman Rosie Goss was excused. Goss is recuperating from recent knee surgery.

Council agreed to postpone until the January 17 meeting to name a replacement to fill Mayor Haugh's unexpired council seat. Anyone interested in applying to fill the seat is asked to submit a letter of application to Fiscal Officer Dale Davis. The letters can be sent to Wellsville Village Hall, 1200 Main St., Wellsville, OH 43968 – Attention Mr. Dale Davis. The deadline for applying is Thursday, January 12. The Member of Council term expires December 31, 2013.

Councilman Don Brown nominated Rosie Goss for Council President Pro-tem for the year 2012. The vote was unanimous in favor of that appointment. The Pro-tem serves in the Mayor's absence and also assigns Council Committees for the year. Those Committees are expected to be announced at the January 17 meeting.

Mr. Willie Murray of 10th Street asked Council why it cost $1,088 to return Christmas decorations that were the wrong size. Mayor Haugh replied it did not cost that much to return those decorations and advised Murray he would have to direct his inquiry to the Christmas Beautification Committee when he asked what it actually did cost. The Christmas Beautification Committee is an independent group of volunteers spearheaded by Councilwoman Rosie Goss. They solicited donations for Christmas decorations. Wreathes originally ordered for Broadway Park were too large for the park's lamp posts. They had to be returned and replaced.

Although she didn't have the exact figures in front of her Mrs. Goss confirmed this morning the shipping fee to return those wreathes was no where near what Mr. Murray contended. Goss also advised that absolutely no Village funds were used for the decorations. All costs were paid with donations given to them. Mrs. Goss advised there was a restocking fee accessed on the returns but has since been told that fee will be refunded to the Committee.

Council unanimously approved the Mayor's reappointment of Dale Davis as the Village Fiscal Officer and her appointment of village businessman Mr. Thomas Edgell as the Village Administrator. This will be Edgell's second time as Village Administrator. Shown above being sworn in by Mayor Haugh following the meeting, he originally had served as former Mayor Joe Surace's administrator beginning in 2004. He resigned that position in 2005 or 2006 when he accepted the job of Director of the Columbiana County Board of Elections. Shown holding the bible in the picture is Mrs. Lou Anne Edgell with their granddaughter Emilie Blissenbach looking on.

Wrapping up the Mayor's Report, Haugh publicly thanked Councilwoman Rosie Goss for organizing the swearing -in ceremony for her and the Council members. That took place December 30 at Village Hall. Haugh also thanked her “moving crew” of Dave Adkins, John Morrow, Dave Butcher and her husband Jeff for all the work they have done.

The meeting adjourned at 6:10 PM. The next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, January 17, at 6 PM in Village Hall, 1200 Main St.

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