Published: November 17, 2009 11:45 pm      

Catlettsburg council member, building inspector resign

CATLETTSBURG — The Catlettsburg City Council accepted the unrelated resignations of a council member and the city’s building inspector on Tuesday night. Officials appointed a former council member to fill the vacancy on the six-member council.

Councilman Jeremy Spears submitted his resignation this week citing a “recent change in employment” as his reason, according to Mayor Pauline Hunt. Spears was hired last month by the City of Ashland as a firefighter. He was elected to his first term on the council in 2008.

Former Councilman Charlie Caperton, who served a single term on the council from 2006 to 2008, was appointed to serve the remainder of Spears’ term, which expires Dec. 31, 2010. Caperton sought a second term in office but was defeated last fall.

Four of the remaining five council members voted to confirm Caperton’s appointment on Tuesday. He was not present at the meeting and is expected to be sworn into office today. Hunt said she believed Caperton was aware he could be nominated to the post.

Another former council member, Julius “Dee” Young, was also nominated to fill the position. Former Mayor and current Councilman Don Wellman nominated Young but his nomination died for lack of a second. Wellman was the lone dissenting vote against Caperton’s appointment.

City officials also accepted the resignation of building inspector Leo Zornes on Thursday night. In a letter of resignation dated Monday, Zornes wrote, “I feel I cannot give the time and effort that is required to fulfill the responsibilities of the position of code enforcement officer.”

His resignation is effective at the end of the week. Zornes has had the post for less than a year.

Hunt said the city will advertise to fill the 10-hour-a-week part-time position.