NELSONVILLE, Ohio – Nelsonville City Council interviewed two candidates for its open seat at its regular meeting Monday night — including one individual who resigned from council earlier this year.
Following two tie votes, the body did not agree on whom to appoint.
The council interviewed Jonathan Flowers and Justin Booth. Booth resigned from the body in January, less than one week after former City Manager Scott Frank resigned. Booth’s term was to end in 2025.
Council member Glennda Tingle, who joined in February, asked Booth why he wants to return to council after having resigned “at least twice.” In a text message, Booth confirmed that he “had resigned last summer but rescinded.”
Booth told the council Monday, “From the outside looking in, I see a city that’s on the verge.”
“We could either become the city that we have the potential to be, which is evidenced [by]… the projects that are in process,” Booth said. “Or, I feel like we could descend into more of the pettiness and the vindictiveness that’s kind of been the hallmark of this institution for the last — well, ever since I moved into town, just to be quite honest.”
Booth said he believes in his ability to help the city with its potential. He later added that he has worked for the Mark Porter Auto Group for years, and coached youth basketball at Nelsonville-York, as well as serving on its board of education.
Council member Nancy Bumgardner (Sonick), who also joined the council in February, asked Booth if he was implying the current council was “not doing a good enough job.” Booth replied, “I didn’t say that at all.”
Booth said he has no conflict of interests in serving the city.
The council also interviewed Flowers, a Nelsonville native who worked extensively in the salon industry. Flower said he wants to “do what’s best for the town — the city — before I think of myself.” He said has organized community events such as car shows and chili cook-offs, working with council member Dan Sherman.
“Being on the council gives you a responsibility to all citizens. And sometimes I feel like some citizens get left out,” Flowers said. “I [feel] it’s my time to throw my hat in the ring to kind of help our little community.”
Dunfee briefed Flowers on the city’s conflict of interest policy, informing him that “If you are part of [a] committee of an organization that receives money from the city, you will have to remove yourself from said committee.”
Flowers said he is an “organizer” of the Nelsonville Greyhound Park, which was created in part to displace residents who lived in housing units with help from federally subsidized housing vouchers.
Dunfee said the city received a donation of $15,000 for the park and subsequently funded its development. Last year the park received a grant from the Nelsonville Community Foundation Fund “to fund a gazebo, benches and other upgrades.”
City Manager Bernie Roell asked the two potential candidates what “strongest” assets would they bring to the body. Booth said “problem-solving.” Flowers said that, based on decades of business experience, “You have to be proactive, not so much as reactive — that’s my philosophy, and I think motivation is one of the biggest things I [could] bring to the council… I think I could get along with everybody, but I’m definitely not a ‘Yes-man’… What’s good for the city is my opinion.”
Following the interviews, the council 3-3 voted on the appointment of each candidate, both times, with preferences made clear: members Dunfee, Neil Sommers and Clement voted yes on Booth and no on Flowers, while members Bumgardner, Sherman and Tingle voted no on Booth and yes on Flowers.
Both Flowers and Booth said they intend to run for council seats in the November general election.
This has been a tumultuous year for Nelsonville city government. Earlier this month, it lost member Nick Smith — hence the open seat — while Clement, Dunfee and Sommers also resigned, but ultimately rescinded. Roell is the fourth person to serve as city manager since Frank resigned.
In other business, the council passed emergency Ordinance 20-23, which authorized Roell to enter into a professional services agreement for the Nelsonville Downtown Revitalization Washington Street Section project.
Valued at $168,800, the project was made possible via a subgrant from the Survivor Advocacy Outreach Program. The project is part of the $1.4 million sub-grant the city received through SAOP.
The funding was the subject of controversy after an email from SAOP Executive Director Jennifer Seifert was leaked on social media.
The email informed then-Interim City Manager Tracy Galway that SAOP would not move forward with the grant, apparently due to tumult in Nelsonville city government. Roell assured residents shortly after the communication leaked that the funding was not lost.
Council also passed Ordinance 17-23, which implements a $30 fee for check or credit card payments to the city that are returned for insufficient funds. After three bounced payments, the city may require individuals to pay with cash, cashier’s checks and/or money orders, for up to two years.
Nelsonville City Council meets every other Monday of each month. Its next regular meeting will be Monday, May 8 at 7 p.m. in Nelsonville City Council Chambers, 211 Lake Hope Drive. Meetings are also livestreamed on YouTube. Find more at cityofnelsonville.com.
