Chad Abshire | Daily News Each member of the Williamson City Council was present for Thursday's meeting. Pictured, from left to right, are: Councilwoman Sherri Brown, City Clerk Frances Frye, Mayor Darrin McCormick, City Attorney C. Christopher Younger and Councilman Matthew Thornsbury. Councilman York Smith and Councilwoman Connie Rockel are not pictured. 

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Chad Abshire

Staff Writer

WILLIAMSON — The Williamson City Council met Thursday evening and discussed hiring a new librarian and city ordinances.

Mayor Darrin McCormick informed the council of the resignation of Larry Brown from the library, and read a letter from the library board which recommended Jennifer Ooten, who had been the librarian’s assistant, to replace him.

“I see no reason why we shouldn’t take their recomendation,” McCormick said.

The council voted unanimously to accept the library board’s suggestion of Ooten becoming the new librarian.

Next, the council heard from city attorney C. Christopher Younger on city ordinances regarding the park board and Williamson Fire Department.

The ordinance for the park board aims to increase the number of members on it from from five to seven in order to move forward with the Mingo County Commission’s approach to the council to work together to improve the Field House. To do so, McCormick said, more members are needed.

Originally, McCormick wanted the MCC to appoint a Williamson resident and the council to do so as well. However, Younger found that due to language in a statute, the MCC would not be able to to appoint a person. Instead, the council must appoint both. McCormick said that couldn’t stop the council from accepting the MCC’s recommendation though. The updated ordinance was unanimously approved.

Younger then spoke to the council about an ordinance which changes the rules and regulations between career (full-time) and part-pay (part-time) firefighters.

According to the city attorney, both types would receive $15 for responding to a call and for attending voluntary training sessions. There was also a clarification made that part-pay firefighters, regardless of the numbers of hours they work, would never be considered as career firefighters or receive the benefits that career firefighters do.

“I agree with it from a legal standpoint,” Younger said. “Now there won’t be any confusion on what workers are entitled to and what they aren’t.”

Williamson Fire Chief Jerry Mounts, who was in attendance, said that each firefighter would receive a copy of the updated rules and regulations. The ordinance was unanimously accepted.

The Williamson City Council meets the second and fourth Thursdays each month at 6 p.m. at Williamson City Hall. Meetings are open to the public.