Zanesfield Village Council appointed a council member and mayor to fill vacancies during Monday evening’s reorganizational meeting.
Council appointed Councilman Jason Deal to fulfill the vacant mayor’s position expiring Dec. 31, 2021 and resident Mark Berkfield to fulfill the then-vacant council position.
Heather Clapsaddle, clerk and treasurer, said council had to appoint a mayor because it had been past the 30-day mark or advertise that a mayor was still needed.
Councilwoman Glenna Theis asked Deal how he would continue to move Zanesfield forward.
“We’ve come a long, long ways and I know there have been issues before and we don’t want that to happen again,” she said.
Deal said he has a good relationship with outgoing mayor Justin “Bo” Johns.
“I’m not going to be left in a position with no help,” Deal said. “I have on person I can directly speak with and another person willing to advise. I don’t want the village to end up where we don’t want it to be. I want to continue on in improvements … I’ll do my best to continue on.”
Councilman Jonathan Superchi thanked Deal for stepping up into the mayoral position.
“I’m looking forward to your leadership,” he said to Deal.
Councilwoman Heidi Schultz made the motion to appoint Berkfield for the vacant council position.
“He has been diligent these last three meetings,” she said.
In addition, council selected Schultz to fulfill the council president role for 2020.
Council agreed the meeting dates will remain the first Monday of each month with the exception of Labor Day in which the September meeting will be Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Council also approved:
• continuing to be a part of the LUC, the Logan-Union-Champion Regional Planning Commission, for a $550 annual fee;
• contracting with Jefferson Township for street plowing and salting for a total annual cost of $561.70;
• and putting out for bid phases three and four of a drainage project.
The next meeting will be Feb. 3 at 7 p.m.