Times Leader Staff Writer
ST. CLAIRSVILLE A resident wrote a letter criticizing Mayor Kathryn Thalman for a social media post, and a councilman read that letter during a Monday teleconference meeting.
Councilman Frank Sabatino read the letter and also had several questions about the process of closing out the books for 2020 and setting up appropriations for 2021.
Thalman had shared a post that quoted conservative commentator Candace Owens referring to “liberals” as “communists.” It was deleted from Thalman’s personal page, but there have been numerous comments about the matter on a Facebook page devoted to the city.
Sabatino read the letter by resident Matt Berher, who also addressed a letter to the mayor. He wrote that the post was not a sign Thalman was attempting to end political division in the city.
Staff Writer
ST. CLAIRSVILLE For the Christmas season, during the final teleconference meeting of 2020 Monday, St. Clairsville City Council voted unanimously to forgive late fees for utility bill payments this month, since delivery to customers has been delayed.
Safety and Service Director Jeremy Greenwood said while the bills were mailed on time Dec. 4, some of them have still not yet been received.
He added the city has notified residents through the Code Red automated calling system and the city website to contact the utility office, since bills are due Dec. 23.
“If anybody hasn’t received a bill yet and they need it, they will probably need to call the utility office, and please be patient because they’re swamped right now with people calling in,” Greenwood said. He said the holiday rush, the COVID-19 pandemic, and heavy snowfall may have worked together to delay the mail.