JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown City Council will have its first meeting of 2018 when it convenes Monday, Jan. 8 at city hall.
A highlight of the meeting will be the appointment of a new council president. The new president will replace former council president Greg Rabb, who did not win reelection last November.
With Democrats on the council holding a slight 5 to 4 majority, council members will likely select another Democrat to serve as the new president. Among the Democrats who could be selected are councilwoman Marie Carrubba (ward 4), councilwoman Maria Jones (ward 5), councilwoman Vicki James (ward 3), councilman Tom Nelson (ward 6), or councilwoman Vanessa Weinert (at large) – who is the newest member of the group following her election win in the November.
Meanwhile, the longest serving council members are in the group of four Republicans and could also be in the mix for appointment to lead the council. They are councilman Tony Dolce (ward 2) – who also chairs the city’s finance committee, along with councilwoman Kim Ecklund (at large). The other two republicans to round out the list of council members are Brent Sheldon (ward 1) and Andrew Liuzzo (at large) – who also won election in November and is beginning his first term on the council.
Council to Review and Act on Mayoral Appointments
In addition to appointing a new president, the council will also review and act on a series of appointments to several city agency boards and positions brought forward by Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi. Among those appointments are membership to the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities – where five out of the nine seats will be up for appointment.
Rabb was one of the two city council members appointed to the BPU, but because he lost his bid for reelection last year, his seat will be vacated and will have to filled by another council member.
The four other BPU members whose term expires at the end of 2017 and would have to be reappointed or replaced Monday night are:
- BPU Chairman Chuck Cornell (appointed to BPU to fill a vacated seat in June 2014);
- City Councilwoman Maria Jones;
- Ralph Wallace (appointed to BPU in January 2016);
- and Martha Zenns (appointed to BPU in January 2014).
The city website has not posted any of the appointments that will be acted on during Monday’s meeting, so it’s not publicly known who any of Teresi’s nominations are for any of the agencies or positions that have seats up for appointment, including the BPU. However, the mayor has indicated to WRFA that it’s likely all four of those individuals currently on the BPU will be reappointed to new terms during the meeting.
Besides appointing a new council president and approving appointments from the mayor, the council members will also take their oath of office and will assign committee chairs for the new term.
Monday’s meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the city council chambers and is open to the public.
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