NELSONVILLE, Ohio – At a special meeting on Sept. 10, Nelsonville’s charter city council appointed City Law Director John Haseley as city prosecutor, filling a vacancy left by Daniel Picketts’ after his contract expired in August.
The council appointed Picketts on Feb. 9 on a 6-month contract that included a salary of $32,000. Picketts also is the chief assistant prosecutor for Hocking County, which often resulted in scheduling conflicts. Haseley said that Picketts’ limited availability meant he was frequently unable to appear in court, leading some cases to be dismissed.
Appearing remotely, Daniel O’Connor of O’Connor, Haseley, and Wilhelm, the firm that represents the city, said that raised constitutional concerns surrounding Nelsonville’s ability to uphold defendants’ right to a speedy trial.
When Pickett was appointed, “we knew that we were entering into an unusual arrangement,” said council President Cameron Peck.
“Council accepted the circumstances surrounding it, and ultimately the arrangement did not work. I think we should take collective responsibility for that decision,” Peck said.
Picketts’ contract expired on Aug. 9; comments read Thursday on behalf of council member Nic Joseph-Saul, who was absent, said that city officials weren’t made aware of the expiration until Aug. 28.
Haseley’s contract with the city under Ordinance 76-26 will last for six months and includes a salary of $32,000. The ordinance passed on first reading under suspension of the rules.
In the case of a future absence, O’Connor said, the city can employ statutory provisions that allow attorneys to delegate work to other attorneys. These provisions are necessary for regular absences, he said at the meeting.
“People get sick, 5-year-olds and 3-year-olds get sick, people go on vacation,” O’Connor said.
Pocket park updates
Council members also passed Ordinance 77-26, which authorizes the city manager to purchase a parcel located at 10 W. Washington St. The purchase is the latest move in an ongoing effort led by Nelsonville resident Lynn Garbo to create a “pocket park” honoring city founder Daniel Nelson.
However, the ordinance states that the purchase is contingent on a final survey and lot split.
Nelsonville’s statutory council, meanwhile, remains skeptical about the proposed pocket park, even after a private citizen made a $15,000 donation to fund the project at a recent charter meeting.
At its meeting on Sept. 21, the statutory council passed Ordinance 39-26, which aims to prevent the use of public funds for the park.
Statutory council president Daniel Sherman said the city’s bidding process would complicate the park’s development, and residents who want to see a park should instead develop the property first and donate it to the city once complete.
Nelsonville’s charter City Council also held a regular meeting Monday, Sept. 14, and will hold its next regular meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, at Nelsonville City Hall, 211 Lake Hope Drive, Nelsonville.
