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Lisbon council names Berg to fill vacant seat

BERG

LISBON — West Chestnut Street resident Ryan Berg was chosen Tuesday to fill the vacant seat on village council.

Council voted 5-0 to name Berg to the vacancy created after Council President Roger Gallo became mayor following the resignation of Mayor Joseph Morenz, who stepped down on July 31 with 17 months left in his term.

Berg, 38, was among four applicants for the council vacancy, with the others being Wilfred Carlisle, Jeff Elliott and Jason Leggett. Carlisle withdrew from consideration on Monday, however.

A father of two teenagers, Berg works as a deputy clerk/IT systems coordinator at Columbiana County Juvenile Court. A 1998 Lisbon graduate, Berg has a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies from the University of Northwestern Ohio and a master’s degree in public administration from Kent State University.

“This is a way to get involved and help contribute,” he said, when contacted following his appointment. “I love Lisbon and have lived here all my life and am raising my kids here.”

Berg likes the direction council is heading, especially its efforts to revitalize the downtown business district. “I think its essential for the life of the town to move forward,” he said.

During Tuesday night’s meeting, Gallo indicated he may name Berg to an ad hoc committee he is creating to study bringing curbside recycling to town. “I look forward to getting involved. I’ve seen (curbside recycling) work other places,” Berg said, adding the key will be whether the service can be provided for less than what residents are currently paying.

Berg applied before to fill the council vacancy created when Morenz was elected mayor following the 2015 election, but council chose Vito DiIullo. Undeterred, he decided to apply again when the latest vacancy occurred. Gallo’s unexpired term ends Dec. 31, 2019, and Berg is undecided as to whether he will run for a full term come 2019.

“I think we’ll have to wait and see how it goes. I would like to” but he could decide otherwise depending on how his experience goes, Berg said.

tgiambroni@mojonews.com

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