T-L Photo/JOSIE BURKHART Jay Binger will serve as the new village administrator in Bellaire starting Dec. 9.

BELLAIRE — Bellaire Village Council hired Jay Binger as its new administrator Thursday.

Binger will begin the job Dec. 9. The village has been looking to fill the position for months after Frank Shaffer resigned from the post in August.

Council went into a closed-door session for personnel reasons to introduce Binger to council members before opening the doors back up to officially approve the hiring of the new administrator.

The personnel committee made a recommendation to hire Binger, and council members Janet Richardson, Bill Schmitt, Robert “Bubba” Kapral, Elizabeth Dugmore, Mike Doyle and Jerry Olack approved of the hiring.

Binger believes he is fit for the position because he previously has been in leadership roles and knows how to deal with people in a proper way, in his opinion.

First, Binger said, he wants to get to know the jobs in the village and the people who are working them.

“To me, from talking to them, it just seems like it needs some organization,” Binger said.

He wants to help the village and council grow by having things more organized and getting more projects done, he said.

Police Chief J.J. Watson introduced a new part-time officer, 21-year-old Logan Smith, who graduated from Martins Ferry High School. Smith attended the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy with Derek Peck, who moved from part time to full time status recently within the department.

A concerned resident, Ashley Fry, came before council to discuss a parking situation at 43rd and Jefferson streets, supported by neighbors who came to the meeting with her. Issues with campers and broken down cars across the street in an empty lot caused the village to make the area a no parking zone.

Fry expressed her concerns that there is not enough parking for all of the people who live on the street to close any parking across the street from them in the lot. Fry got a petition signed by herself and her neighbors who would like the lot to open up again, possibly with new signs stating no trailer parking or some type of change, such as 72-hour parking.

She said that half of the duplexes on her street house multiple people with multiple cars, and people are getting tickets for parking in the lot.

She said there is not enough room on her street to park and the empty lot is essential for guests of people living in the houses on her street.

“Something needs to be done where we have a place to park. And every other day there’s a problem with somebody because there’s somebody taking someone else’s spot or parking in front of somebody else’s house, and it’s not meant to be malicious. It’s just because there’s nowhere to park and everybody’s getting $40 tickets,” Fry said. “So that’s why I’m here. I do have the petition. I have it signed by the people on my block, and I’m just hoping maybe we could resolve it in some way.”

Olack suggested turning over the concern to the properties committee, which will relay what is discussed about it back to council.

Clerk Mary Haglioizou read a list of Bellaire businesses nominated for the Best of the Ohio Valley Readers’ Choice awards, hosted by The Times Leader, The Intelligencer and the Wheeling News-Register. Businesses that won or were finalists included WLS Designs, Myrtle Beach Salon and Spa, Dvorak Heating and Cooling, Belmont Savings Bank, Favor Fresh Detail, Turn it Out Dance, Chirp’s Auto Body, Auto Choice, Unique Treats by Jacquie, LaRoche Tree Service, Leva’s Jewelry Store, Pacifico Heating and Cooling, Long’s Cleaning, Church Alive and Hughes Office Equipment. Schmitt’s business Holistic Cloud won first place.

Bellaire will be having a Christmas tree lighting Tuesday with music starting at 6:30 p.m. and the tree lighting at 7 p.m. after Mayor Edward Marling and his wife got a live Christmas tree to bring to Bellaire.

Council suspended the rules requiring three public readings of proposed legislation and unanimously approved Ordinance 24-11, authorizing the mayor to transfer real property identified as parcel ID 29-00677.000 owned by the village to the Belmont County Port Authority for economic development. The property is located on West 23rd Street.

Next up to be read was Resolution 24-1113, authorizing Fiscal Officer Marla Krupnik to prepare and submit applications to participate in the Land and Water Conservation Fund program through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and to execute contracts as required by the village. This resolution is for a grant to purchase new lights for Union Square Park.