Republicans will take control of Salem City Council

By D.a. Wilkinson

SALEM — Mickey Weaver, the new president of Salem’s city council, says council is preparing for a pro-active start to deal with issues facing the city.

First up, however, is assigning council members to various committees.

The November elections put Republicans Brian Whitehill and Joseph Radin on council as new at-large members.

Rita O’Leary, who is now on council for the 3rd Ward, is a Republican, and David Nestic, who represents the 1st Ward, has described himself as an independent on some issues and a Republican on others.

The changes will give Republicans a greater voice than in recent years, when Democrats had control of council.

Weaver said recently that she is working on assignments for committees for the coming year.

The city’s rules call for one person from each party on the three-member committees.

Based on the conversations with council members, Weaver said she is approaching the appointments regardless, “of whether they are independent, Republican or Democrat.”

She added, “I see a council that is very serious, and a council that is really looking to work together as much as possible.”

Weaver is still working on the committee assignments. “I’m really excited about it,” she said.

Some council members she has talked have told her that they want to work on a particular issue.

Mayor Jerry Wolford said he wants to work with all council members, regardless of committee assignments.

The new council-at-large members and Weaver will be sworn-in 6:30 p.m. today in the mayor’s office.

The council committee assignments will be announced Jan. 5.

Weaver said Judi Allio, the council clerk, has announced she will be resigning the position after 14 years. Weaver said she has a candidate in mind for the job.

Several years ago, Wolford, then a Perry Township trustee, favored combining the city and township fire departments into a fire district, but the State Employment Relations Board ruled against the plan. A majority of Democrat councilmen also opposed his plan.

Recently, council voted to put a measure the mayor wanted on the November ballot to add a 0.5 percent sales tax to the current 1 percent tax. It was defeated.

wilkinson@vindy.com