CHESAPEAKE — Monday night’s meeting of the Chesapeake council saw new leadership for the village’s fire and police departments.
Mayor Tommy Templeton said he received the resignation of fire chief Ed Webb earlier in the day, citing commitment to a new job and schedule as the cause. Webb is on leave from the Chesapeake-Union Volunteer Fire Department and set a date of Dec. 31.

“He told me he didn’t have the time to do it anymore,” Templeton said.

The council voted unanimously to accept the Webb’s resignation and to appoint Frank Meehling II, of the department, as the new chief.

The council also voted 6-0 to accept Randy Lewis as the new interim police chief.

Templeton named Lewis to the position in September and swore him in 10 days prior.

Lewis, who Templeton said he has known since the early 1980s, previously served as chief for Miller’s Point near Columbus.

“He’s got the credentials and everything it takes to do it,” council member Paul Hart said.

Prior to the vote, Lewis introduced himself to the room, marking his first time meeting some of the council members.

Templeton said Lewis had been working on rules and procedures for the department, which the council accepted with a 6-0 vote.
Lewis said the policies had been in use in Miller’s Point and were already vetted.

Templeton said Lewis will serve as interim chief for the foreseeable future, until a resolution regarding the appeal of former chief Dennis Gibson, who was removed from the position by a council vote in April.

Lewis is the third head for the department this year, following Lenny Abrams, who resigned in September, along with two officers, following disagreements with Templeton.

The mayor said that, following Abrams’ exit, equipment that had been donated to the department was missing and that records had been deleted from the department.

Templeton said that no action had been taken, such as reporting to the county prosecutor.

“I’m just informing you of it,” he told the council.

Lewis suggested the best course of action would be to simply move forward and focus on the department. No action was recommended by the council.

Templeton said the department would be acquiring bulletproof vests, a matter which was a point of contention between the mayor and Abrams, after Templeton refused a donation from Riverside Recovery Services for that purpose.

“Randy will be acquiring bulletproof vests from another department up north, free of charge,” he said, adding that coats for officers would also be coming.

The recent death of officer Aaron Christian was also a topic of the council meeting.

Following the opening prayer and pledge of allegiance, Templeton asked everyone to remain standing for a moment of silence in Christian’s honor.

The council voted to indefinitely retire Christian’s badge number, 602, and to add his name to the memorial at village hall for those who died in the line of duty.

Templeton said he also wanted to dispel rumors circulating on social media regarding Christian, which claimed the officer had no insurance from the village at the time of his accident.

“It’s ridiculous,” he said, stating both Christian and the cruiser were covered. “You can not operate a vehicle without insurance.”
Templeton also said a claim for Christian had been accepted by workman’s compensation during his hospitalization.

In other business, council:
• Voted 6-0 to amend the 2016 annual appropriations to spend money on a new cruiser for the police department.
• Set a fine of $146 for illegal parking and $250 for parking in a handicapped zone. Violations were already described in village code, but a dollar amount was needed for violations.
• The council also heard from Glen Chapman, of Columbia Gas, who proposed the village, rather than charging a 3 percent fee on all work done by him, allow him to pay a flat annual rate of $1,000. Chapman said he has a similar arrangement with the City of Ironton and it makes it easier for him.
The council voted 6-0 to approve the plan.