If Ironton City Council does not fill a vacated seat within 30 days, city Mayor Bob Cleary can appoint a new member in place of a councilman who resigned Thursday.

Friday, May 26, 2000

If Ironton City Council does not fill a vacated seat within 30 days, city Mayor Bob Cleary can appoint a new member in place of a councilman who resigned Thursday.

Council member Joe Black officially resigned on council floor, citing personal, health and financial reasons for vacating his seat. Black’s term would not have expired until 2003.

The decision, however, was unrelated to recent allegations made concerning Black’s legal residency and a potential conflict of interest with Black’s employer.

"If there is anyone in the community who thinks they have influenced this decision or caused me to resign, they have greatly overestimated their sphere of influence in the community," Black said. "I have been discussing this decision with several of my council colleagues for several months. I have also discussed this with the city solicitor as well as family members and friends."

Maintaining his residence in Ironton, while dividing time with his new wife who has maintained a residence in the Village of South Point for more than 14 years, was not a sound financial decision, Black said.

"At the time we were married, I had a residence in Ironton and my wife had one in South Point. We began looking for a residence in Ironton immediately, but were unable to locate something that would meet our needs," he said. "I set an informal deadline of six months to find a mutually agreeable residence in Ironton and that deadline was June 1."

In addition, Black recently was hospitalized for long-term health problems.

"I also have suffered from some health problems that have placed me under additional stress," he said. "I had major surgery in March and have additional surgical treatment scheduled for an existing heart condition."

Black’s decision, although not entirely unexpected, will leave a void on the council floor, Cleary said.

"I think Joe Black has really done a good job as a council member. He would always research the issues before making a decision, and he talked to the people," Cleary said. "He put the community and the citizens first in his decisions. He was a very good council member and he will be missed."

Black said he, too, will miss serving his hometown and the residents of Ironton as a city councilman.

"I had truly hoped and planned to complete my second term on council, but, for me and my wife, this decision is in our best interests," he said. "I have enjoyed my tenure as a councilman and will truly miss my work on council."

Black expressed his "heartfelt thanks" to the voters who elected him and to the councilmen he has worked with.

"To my colleagues, I also wish you the very best as you continue the difficult task of governing," he said.