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NEWTON FALLS -- Following a 90-minute executive session to interview candidates for police chief and other positions, village council on Wednesday voted 3-1 to have interim Village Manager Mike Novotny negotiate an agreement with John Barco for police chief.
The Newton Falls Police Department was disbanded in December 2022. The village contracts with the Trumbull County Sheriff's Office for police protection.
Voting to negotiate an agreement with Barco were council members Patricia Benetis, Kevin Rufener and Julie Stimpert, while Councilman Brian Axiotis cast the lone "no" vote. He later said he supported another candidate for the position. Council received 11 applicants for police chief.
The other applicants included Daniel Adkins of Niles; Brandon Allensworth of Louisville, Ohio; James Craven of Poland; David Garvey of Newton Falls; Scott Gaston of Ponce Inlet, Florida; Michael Hughes of Boardman; Jeremy Jesenovec of Willowick; Keith Miller of Bennettsville, South Carolina; Michelle Mercer of Lordstown; and Charles Williams of Wickliffe.
Officials are in the preliminary stages of preparing for the future of the police department. Current police Chief Gene Fixler, who attended Wednesday's meeting, praised council's selection of Barco as chief.
"He is a good choice. He will help bring back what the police department was. I know there were several good applicants. It was a tough choice. I firmly believe he is the right person. He knows the community and will know how to run a police department," Fixler said.
He said Barco has good supervisory experience, having worked as a sergeant in Geauga County. Barco also worked for the Newton Fall Police Department.
Fixler said he plans to retire, but will help get the department on its feet.
Axiotis said council went through a lot of applicants for the chief position.
Stimpert said after Novotny negotiates an agreement with Barco, council will vote on it at the March 19 meeting.
The sheriff's office patrols the village and a school resource officer protects the school. Novotny said he has been in contact with new Sheriff Mike Wilson on negotiating a new contract for 2025. The sheriff's office has been working under the 2024 contract terms.
Council has considered a police levy to generate funds or a possible speed camera program for school zones or state routes by the Ohio Turnpike.
THIRD WARD COUNCILMAN
Also, Mayor David Hanson announced that resident Bob Burke was named as the new Third Ward councilman to fill an opening when former councilwoman Brenda Persino stepped down in December.
Burke was the only applicant to submit his name for the open council seat, officials said.
The appointment is pending residency verification. Stimpert said Burke is likely to begin serving at the March 19 meeting.