Trustees stop mayor on police hiring

BY KIM LUTTRELL
Commercial-News

WESTVILLE June 24, 2009 12:44 am

— Mayor Jeff Ellis was again stymied in his effort to hire an additional part-time police officer on Tuesday night.
Trustees Robert Sandlin and Sheldon Smith reminded Ellis that the proper procedure for hiring new police officers is for the police committee to first interview the applicant and make a recommendation to the council.
This is the second month that Ellis has tried to have Tony Piatt hired as a part-time police officer. Trustees voted to have the matter sent to the police committee to make a recommendation to the full council.
Several residents attending the meeting spoke in favor of Piatt and told trustees that they feel Piatt would make a good addition to the police force.
Westville currently has 14 part-time police officers on its roster but lately only about seven of them are currently active.
Trustees also decided that no village employee will make any purchases using village credit over $300 without first getting council approval.
In other action, trustees:
-- Decided to get estimates to trim two trees at 131 Washington Street after a dead tree limb fell on the resident’s car.
-- Approved drainage work at Ellsworth and Northwest Streets at a cost $425.
-- Learned that the village will be checking storm sewers with a camera to check for blockages and will also continue to use smoke to detect illegal sewer connections.
-- Will withhold payment to Bodine Electric of Danville concerning charges to repair a main breaker at the water plant and to repair a pump motor.
-- Approved paying Charles Debarba $40 every two weeks or as needed to mow the lawns at foreclosed and abandoned homes in Westville.
-- Approved spending $150 for material for backstops for the horseshoe pits in Zamberletti Park. There will be a tournament in the park during the July 4 holiday weekend.
-- Heard Trustee Bill Cottrell propos enacting a golf cart ordinance. Trustees approved having Cottrell investigate the matter and bringing a proposed ordinance back the council.

WHAT’S NEXT
The Westville Village Council will meet at 7 p.m. July 14 in the Westville Municipal Building.