KENST

SALEM — City Service/Safety Director Ken Kenst is retiring Nov. 6 and handing over the street, safety and housing reins to city resident Joe Cappuzzello.

Mayor John Berlin made the surprise announcement Tuesday night during the city council meeting, saying Kenst had plans to move to the Columbus area.

Berlin had received a resume from Cappuzzello, who was looking for work, on the off-chance that he might know of any jobs available in the city. What Berlin saw, he liked, so he told him about the soon-to-be open position of service/safety director.

The timing couldn’t have been better. The mayor appointed him and said Cappuzzello has met with both him and Kenst and there will be a period of transition for Kenst to show him the ropes.

“He looks forward to tackling the job,” Berlin said.

During his report, Kenst said his wife Cindy has been retired for a couple of years and when COVID-19 hit, he started realizing he’s at that age. They have four grandsons they want to spend more time with, along with their children and the rest of the family.

Kenst is in his ninth year working as the mayor’s appointee and said he couldn’t have been happier working in the job with his longtime friend.

“I never had a bad day,” he said.

Cappuzzello attended the Zoom meeting and when contacted by phone said he’s looking forward to working with the mayor, members of city council and all the department heads. From everything he’s heard, there’s a great team in place.

A graduate of Chaney High School who earned a degree in accounting from Youngstown State University, he’s lived in Salem for the past 35 years, previously working in both Chillicothe and Columbus. He worked the past 16 years for Group Travel Family, serving as president, but the travel industry fell victim to COVID-19, so he’s been looking for a new job. He had reached out to Berlin, not knowing about the opening.

“I’m excited for the opportunity,” he said.

Berlin said Cappuzzello has been in management and he’s an accountant, which will be good for the city.

Council members congratulated Kenst on his retirement, saying it’s been a pleasure working with him. They also welcomed Cappuzzello.

In other business, Kenst said the relocating of the veterans monument to the front of city hall turned out better than hoped, noting the project cost the city nothing but labor from city service workers, thanks to help from companies who donated their own services for free. He’s planning to get them all together for a photo with the finished project.

He also said when the paper leaf bags are available for pickup at city hall by both city and Perry Township residents, he’ll make an announcement in the Salem News. He estimated leaf pickup won’t begin until the beginning of November since the service department has some other projects to finish first. He said the Eighth Street resurfacing project is making great progress so far.

Council gave first reading to an ordinance that will eliminate door-to-door soliciting, with exceptions for churches, non-profits and children selling items or soliciting donations for a school or social group, such as Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts. The amendment to the existing solicitation ordinance also increases the fine for violations to $200 per incident per day. Two more readings are required for passage.

Council approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to enter an agreement with the Columbiana County Engineer’s Office to submit a joint application to the Ohio Public Works Commission for the 2021 Multi Highway Paving Program. The project will pave Butcher Road from Cunningham Road east to the city limits and Georgetown Road from the Perry Township line south to State Street. The city will only pay 12 percent of the total cost, with the city’s share estimated at $6,000 or less, according to Berlin, who said it’s a good deal for the city.

The next council meeting will be Oct. 20.

mgreier@salemnews.net