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Adams named new city solicitor

CHESTER — A new city solicitor, two members for the city park board and its longtime fire chief were among appointments approved Monday by Chester City Council.

Following a 15-minute executive session to begin the meeting, council unanimously approved the appointment of Michael A. Adams to serve as the village’s next solicitor, made at the recommendation of Mayor Rex Cowey.

According to Cowey, Adams — who will succeed April Raines, who had served under previous mayor Larry Forsythe but opted not to renew her services to the city — will be paid $750 per month for up to five hours of legal services, and then will receive $195 per hour for any additional services. Adams also will serve a three-month probationary period.

Adams initially was considered for the solicitor position at the July 2 meeting, but the motion was tabled at Cowey’s recommendation the city advertise for the position to see if any others would apply.

A partner in the law firm Hinerman and Associates, PLLC., and co-owner of Market Street Pharmacy in Steubenville, Adams has 22 years of experience in practicing law in Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Jefferson and Belmont counties, and served as an assistant county prosecutor in Hancock County from 2010-11.

A member of the board of directors for the Public Defender Corporation of the First Judicial Court, Adams is a former commissioner of the West Virginia Lottery and a Municipal Court Judge for the city of Weirton.

Meanwhile, council also approved the appointments of councilman Ed Wedgewood and retired police chief Ken Thorn to a pair of open seats on the Chester City Park board.

Woodward will fill the opening left by former councilman Mike Dotson, who did not seek re-election in the June special city elections, thus vacating his seat. Thorn, meanwhile, served 25 years with the Chester Police Department, including two decades as the city’s police chief.

In addition, council also approved the reappointment of John Hissam as chief for the Chester Volunteer Fire Department.

“I think this is nothing but a procedure,” Cowey said.

Hissam, who has been with the Chester Volunteer Fire Department for more than four decades, was sworn in by Cowey following Monday’s meeting.

In other business:

— Council approved the general fund and building fund activities for business conducted between July 1 and Aug. 4. In the general fund, receipts amounted to $110,830.84 and bills $67,708.99. The building fund’s receipts amounted to $4,145 with bills totaling $23,897.07.

— Council approved a motion to return a blacktop machine to original owner Frank Six, whom Cowey said was willing to donate it to the city if needed. Councilman Steve Shuman said he believed because the machine belonged to Six it should go back to him.

— Councilman John Woodruff reported more damage to the city’s overlook, and stated about five to six slats need replaced, at a cost of around $100. Council approved the repair.

Woodruff said information will be sought on surveillance cameras for the area, and added a $1,000 reward will be offered for the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) who did the damage to the area.

— Council tabled several motions, including bonds for city employees, an ethics class by the state, and price quotes for a laptop computer for the mayor’s office.

In relation to the bonds, which consist of $10,000 for the mayor and city clerk and $20,000 for the assistant city clerks, City Clerk Marlene Fleming explained because she oversees all money handled, she’s bonded for $10,000. However, councilman Ken Morris believed that because of her responsibilities, her bond should be of a higher value. Council will study the issue further before making a decision.

Regarding the ethics class, Cowey said he is looking to schedule a day when all city departments would be available.

As for the computer, Cowey provided two quotes — one from Staples and another from Best Buy — but also stated Wedgewood has been working on getting an older computer working for Cowey to use, and thus asked council to delay a vote.

The next regular meeting is scheduled 5 p.m. Sept. 10 at Chester City Building. Normally held the first Monday of each month and originally scheduled Sept. 3, council approved a motion to move the meeting in observance of Labor Day.

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