Wellsville Police Lt. Marsha Eisenhart is shown with the department’s new part-time officer Justus Black. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

WELLSVILLE — During Tuesday’s meeting of the Wellsville Village Council, Council President Bill Taft noted that with it being the first meeting of the new year, council members needed to select a president for the year.

Council member Karen Dash nominated Taft as president. Taft, who has served as council president for several years, said that since this was his last year he would like to see someone else take the position.

Council member Ryan Burgess then nominated council member Keith Thorn. All present council members voted on Thorn for president except for Thorn and Dash, who both abstained from the vote.

Thorn will begin presiding as council president at the next council meeting.

Taft noted that it would be up to Thorn to readjust the council’s standing committees and consider putting somebody in charge of the parks.

Mayor Bob Boley swore in Justus Black as a part-time police officer for the Wellsville Police Department. Black is already working with the department and riding along with other officers. Council approved his hiring and swearing in with an all-in-favor vote.

Fire Chief Barry Podwel said he would have the department’s year-end report for the next meeting.

Police Lt. Marsha Eisenhart said for the year the police department had approximately 70 arrests, one murder, one attempted murder, child pornography, 132 major case files and 180 traffic citations issued for the year. She also noted the department got all their training done.

Fiscal Officer Hoi Wah said she sent copies of the December bank reconciliation to council members and that the village expects to have a little more than $2 million to carry over into 2025 and she has begun closing the year out. She also noted that the village is predicting to carry almost $2 million into next year as well.

A motion to pay bills and invoices totaling $9,657.58, which includes a $900 training fee for Firefighter Cody Cole to participate in the West Point Fire Department Fire Safety Inspector Course, was approved with an all-in-favor vote.

Council unanimously passed one piece of legislation, an ordinance on third reading to modify sections six, seven, nine, 15 and 16 of ordinance NO. 19-08 which pertains to property upkeep, violations, offenses and punishments including misdemeanor charges.

The Wellsville Village Council meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in council chambers at Wellsville Village Hall. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Jan. 21.