Quiet zone violations fee increased

CHESAPEAKE — The Chesapeake village council has a vacancy following Tuesday night’s meeting.

Alex Hackney announced his resignation, following the council’s business, citing his moving out of the village after not being able to find housing in the area as the reason.

“I really appreciate you bringing me on,” Hackney said. “I’ve learned much being involved here.”

Hackney, who was appointed to the position earlier this year to fill the seat vacated by Tommy Templeton after he became mayor, made the most of his short time on the council, drafting resolutions to deal with abandoned housing and derelict vehicles, as well as building and launching the village’s website, which went online last week.

“Alex, I really appreciate it,” Templeton said, after the council voted to accept his resignation. “We still want you hanging around and to continue to come to our meetings.”

Hackney, who has a background in web design, said he will continue to do the maintenance on the website, at no cost to the village.

The council has 30 days to name a replacement. After that, Templeton is authorized to make the decision.

The council also voted to raise the fine for violations in neighborhoods declared a quiet zone, from $100 to $150.

Two streets, Riverside Drive and Second Avenue, will soon receive the designation. Templeton said signs have been made and are ready to install.

He said the Riverside designation was not connected to the treatment house operated by Riverside Recovery Services on the street, which opened recently, but was the fulfillment of a campaign promise he made last year.

“Those streets have the biggest concentration of 80-95-year-old people in the area,” he said. Templeton named several residents in the neighborhoods who have health issues, to whom he said he made the promise. He said he is granted the authority to make the designation by an ordinance passed in 1982.

In other business, the council:

• Voted to waive the residency requirement for the chief of police. Lenny Abrams, who was sworn into the position in June, following the firing of Dennis Gibson, resides in Hecla. He also works for the South Point Police Department.

• Voted to approve the hiring of Amanda Webb as a part-time officer with the police department. Webb, who comes from the Proctorville police department, has been serving in the position since Thursday.

• Passed a motion to the pay the village’s bills for the month.

• Approved the mayor’s financial report for June.

• Voted to renew the village’s insurance, which was down $11,000 in cost due to the village owning less vehicles.

• Voted to rescind the tax levy proposal submitted to the board of elections, due to a mistake in wording listing it as for police, rather than general operations. The wording will be fixed and resubmitted.

• Voted to approve new fees for the mayor’s court.

• Voted to take over the handling of memorial bricks in front of the monument at village hall. The service was previously handled by the American Legion, who requested the change.

• Voted to hire an extra person for the street department, for work lasting up to two months.

• Met in executive session to discuss a personnel matter. No action was taken.