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Originally published Aug. 27, 2024
BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio – The weather wasn’t the only thing heating up in Shadyside Monday evening.
Tempers flared and the debate became heated when Shadyside council members met in executive session concerning a personnel matter for more than one hour.
Only council members, Mayor Bob Newhart and attorneys were permitted inside the executive session, but even people outside the building and on the street could hear council members yelling at one another from inside the meeting room.
The meeting began at 6 p.m., then council and the mayor went into executive session at 6:05 p.m. with attorneys Michael Shaheen and Diane Senakievich of the Shaheen Law Group. Council met with the attorneys for nearly one hour, but remained in executive session approximately another 15 minutes after the attorneys left the meeting.
The regular meeting then reconvened and council voted to retain the Shaheen Law Group regarding a personnel matter.
Council member Brandon Parr told River News Network that the new policy for requiring residents requesting to be on the council agenda 24 hours prior to the meeting for questions is working well. Parr said the policy allows council members to be better prepared to answer residents’ questions.
Councilwoman Melanie Haswell asked prior to council entering executive session why attorneys Shaheen and Senakievich were not on the agenda. Parr explained the mayor did not do this since the attorneys were there for executive session.
Council also discussed the ongoing sewerage plant issues. 80 diffusers need changed and the the south basin ones will be completed and brought back online and up to full capacity by this weekend. Once those are checked and found functional, the north basin diffusers will be completed. The EPA recommended the plant be switched from a fine diffuser system to a medium diffuser system.
Village Administrator Erica Tamburin said the village has been in regular contact with the EPA concerning the sewerage plant problem.
Haswell said the village is working to fix the issue.
It’s not like we don’t care. We are trying to get this figured out.
Melanie Haswell, Village of Shadyside Councilwoman
Other council members discussed whether residents disposing of adult diapers and wipes contributed to the sewerage plant problem.
Haswell also acknowledged the work of the Shadyside Police Department following the arrest of an armed suspect.
In other business, council approved two handicapped parking spaces for village residents. Council also made decisions on building permits and referred the ones denied to the variance committee.
Council members also discussed paving projects, some of which may delayed until next year.
