EAST LIVERPOOL – City council Monday named a new president pro tem.

With a motion by council member Brian Kerr, a second by council member Tom Clark and an all-in-favor vote, John Mercer was named the new president pro tem for council for a two-year term ending Dec. 31, 2027. Mercer abstained from the vote.

Mercer steps into the role previously held by former council member Fred Rayl.

The role of the president pro tem is to fill in as the council president if the presiding council president is unable to fulfill his duties at any time during his term.

Council members also voted in favor of council clerk Pat Scafide retaining his position for another two-year term which also ends on Dec. 31, 2027.

While just a nomination and a vote was needed for president pro tem, council had to open the clerk position up for any applicants. Scafide was the only applicant for the position.

In his annual report to council, Fire Chief Antony Cumo said that 2025 was an incredible year for the East Liverpool Fire Department, with the biggest accomplishment being named a recipient of the SAFER Grant, which allows the department to add four more firefighters.

“Today we swore in a new firefighter, bringing us to 16 members, a level we haven’t reached in years,” Cumo said. “And on Jan. 16, we will swear in three more, bringing us to 19 – staffing levels we haven’t seen since 2005. That’s not luck, that’s progress.”

Cumo also said that the department answered 1,936 calls for service in 2025.

Safety Service Director Bill Jones said it was a rough week last week for the street and garbage departments, with trucks breaking down.

Jones told council the garbage department is now going to two shifts due to being down trucks. The current day shift will continue to run as usual, and an afternoon shift will begin at 2 p.m.

Jones asked motorists to be mindful of the trucks out on the road after dark and noted the job is difficult in the daytime and even more difficult after dark.

Jones commended Cumo on his success with the fire department over the past year and welcomed the new council members, Andrew Arcuragi and Debra Danver.

Mayor Bobby Smith echoed Jones’s comments regarding the street, road and fire departments, and welcoming the new council members. He also noted that he received a text message asking how much money was still needed for the bike trail, and that there could a donation coming in for it.

Council approved with all-in-favor votes two ordinances – one, an ordinance passed every year to allocate the costs to the Water, Wastewater, Refuse and Recycling and Storm Water funds for indirect billing services and the other giving the authorization to establish a fund for the receipt of adult use cannabis funds once the city starts receiving those funds.

There is discussion of funds being used for the street and other departments for improvements and not toward any salaries.

Danver, chairperson for the Safety/Rules Committee, announced the committee will have a standing meeting to be held on the second Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m.

Brian Kerr, chairperson, Finance/Labor Committee, has called a committee meeting for Jan. 27 at 3 p.m.

Tom Beagle, chairperson, Planning/Expansion Committee, said his committee will meet on the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m.

Mercer, chairperson, Licensing/Economic Development Committee, said his committee will meet on the third Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m.

The East Liverpool City Council meets the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m.

While not officially confirmed yet, council is considering calling a special meeting Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. to vote on an ordinance for the Board of Utilities to order chemicals and other needed supplies for the Water Plant.

All meetings will take place in council chambers at East Liverpool City Hall.

kgarabrandt@mojonews.com