Council swears in, reorganizes for new year

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Pictured are Dorcas Morrow (left) with new council members Josh Ford and Julie Strawser. (Photos by Trish Bennett)

Pictured (from left) are Gary Kenworthy, law director; Don McIlroy, mayor; and Gayle Spangler, auditor.

Pictured (from left) are Tammy Bowers and Dorcas Morrow.

Judge Gary Dumm, Circleville Municipal Court, administers the oath of office to city officials and council members on Tuesday.

Josh Ford takes his seat for the first time representing the city’s third ward.

David M. Crawford, council president, discusses business at Tuesday’s meeting.

Julie Strawser now represents the city’s first ward after being sworn in at Tuesday’s council meeting.

Teresa Cramer recently rejoined city administration as the director of human resources.

CIRCLEVILLE – City officials were sworn in for their new terms in office Tuesday in city council chambers prior to the first council meeting of 2016.

Taking their oaths of office before Judge Gary Dumm of Circleville Municipal Court were Don McIlroy, mayor; Gayle Spangler, auditor; and Gary Kenworthy, law director; along with council members Tammy Bowers, Dorcas Morrow, Tom Spring, Julie Strawser, Barry Keller, Josh Ford and Monica Justinger and council president David M. Crawford.

Dumm took a moment before the ceremony to talk about the honor of serving in an elected position within city government.

“I always enjoy swearing in the officers and council folks of the city of Circleville,” Dumm said. “It’s an honor, I think, for each of you to be serving in these capacities. I think all of the folks that voted for you were folks who thought long and hard about who to vote for. They made choices based on knowing who you are. This isn’t one of those things where soundbites did the trick here. They picked people they know who they are and what they are capable of doing, and that should be something you all appreciate very much.”

Strawser and Ford are beginning their first terms on city council, with Strawser replacing Mike Logan representing the first ward and Ford replacing Todd Brady representing the third ward. The remaining officials have a number of years in their various capacities within the city.

Crawford said he did some math earlier in the day and determined there was more than 125 years of elected service between all the officials being sworn in at Tuesday’s ceremony.

“That’s something to be said for a community of this size, to have such a contingent of volunteers in some cases and also paid personnel leading the city the next two to four years,” Crawford said.

Dumm also reminded the elected officials they should continue to strive for mutual cooperation and respect in their duties for the benefit of the people of Circleville.

“That’s what the people expect of us, that we do the right thing by cooperating with one another,” he said.

As council took their seats for the first meeting of their new terms, they passed just one piece of legislation, which reappointed Linda Chauncey as council clerk.

As part of his report to council, Mayor Don McIlroy reintroduced Teresa Cramer, a former administration employee who has been rehired as director of human resources for the city.

He also reminded residents that Christmas tree pick-up will run through Jan. 15, and residents are urged to place their trees, free of decorations or debris, at the curb for collection.

During the new business portion of Tuesday’s meeting, council took the opportunity to reorganize committee roles for the new year.

Barry Keller will serve as chair of the Finance Committee, which meets at 7 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month. Council members Tammy Bowers and Dorcas Morrow will serve as members of the committee.

Dorcas Morrow will serve as chair of the Safety Committee, which meets at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month. Josh Ford and Tom Spring will serve as members of the committee.

Sister Monica Justinger will serve as chair of the Judicial Committee, which also meets at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month. Dorcas Morrow and Julie Strawser will serve as members of the committee.

Tammy Bowers will serve as chair of the Service Committee, which meets at 7 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month. Sister Monica Justinger and Barry Keller will serve as members of the committee.

Tom Spring will chair the Long Range Strategic Planning Committee, which meets at 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month. Josh Ford and Julie Strawser will serve as members of the committee, along with the Planning & Zoning chair and mayor as additional non-voting members.

David M. Crawford will head the Committee of the Whole, on which the entire city council serves as members. This committee meets on an as-needed basis.

Committee meetings scheduled for the same night will alternate start times. Circleville City Council meets at 7 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of each month.