4 in Niles government plan exits

December 22, 2016 at 12:09a.m.

NILES

Robert Marino, council president since 2004 and a fixture on council for more than 20 years, shocked his fellow council members Wednesday by announcing he will not seek re-election next year.

Two other council members, Steve Papalas, D-at large, and Frank Pezzano, D-1st, immediately followed Marino’s statement by announcing that they will not run again in 2017.

In addition, longtime Law Director Terry Dull said he will retire next February.

The four revealed their plans at the conclusion of Wednesday’s council meeting.

“Job responsibilities are on my mind, but I will finish my term,” said Marino, who is assistant superintendent of the Trumbull County Educational Service Center.

Papalas, who has served on council for 38 years, said he does not plan to lose touch while the city comes to grips with its two-year-long fiscal emergency after his term ends next year.

“There’s still a lot I can do,” he said.

Pezzano will complete his second four-year term next year.

Dull has been law director for 30 years. He attributed his decision to undisclosed “health reasons.” He plans to keep his legal practice.