OVERVIEW
The City of Belpre operates under a council-mayor form of government, where the City Council serves as the governing authority and collaborates with the Mayor and Service Director to execute laws and administer the city’s government.
The city is divided into 4 voting wards, resulting in 4 council members representing wards and 3 At Large council members representing all citizens. Council members are elected to represent the citizens and address their concerns about the city.
Only qualified voters of the city are eligible to hold the office of council member, and each council member must reside within the ward from which they were elected or appointed.
The terms of a council member are 2 years with no term limits, and the City Council elects a council clerk at the 1st meeting of a new City Council.
COUNCIL MEMBERS
ALL TERMS EXPIRE 2025
Council at Large
Dave Ferguson
Finance and Audit Committee Chairman
740-525-8313
atlargeone@belprecouncil.com
Council at Large
Nate Godfrey
Planning, Zoning & Economic Dev Committee Chairman
740.525.7285
atlargetwo@belprecouncil.com
Council at Large
Penne Riffle
Rules Committee Chairman
740.315.2223
atlargethree@belprecouncil.com
First Ward
Bill Locke
Streets, Sidewalks & Storm Sewers Committee Chairman
740.236.7084
firstward@belprecouncil.com
Second Ward
Rick Seebaugh
Parks and Recreation Committee Chairman
304.615.5162
secondward@belprecouncil.com
Third Ward
Lyndsay Dennis
Police and Fire Committee Chairman
304.210.5585
thirdward@belprecouncil.com
Fourth Ward
John Ambrozy
Utilities Committee Chairman
304.481.8482
fourthward@belprecouncil.com
President
Larry Martin
740.350.5748
President@belprecouncil.com
Clerk
Kim Meredith
740.423.9114
clerk@belprecouncil.com
PUBLIC MEETINGS
AND INVOLVEMENT
City Council Meetings adhere to Robert’s Rules of Order, which are a time-tested way to ensure fair and objective proceedings.
The City Council meets in formal, public session on the second and fourth Mondays at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the City Building to address matters referred to the Council from its committees.
Committee meetings are held on an as-needed basis on the day of council meetings between 6:30 – 7:30, and the public is encouraged to attend and provide input during public hearings scheduled by the committees.
GETTING INVOLVED
AND LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
Citizens can propose legislative action directly to the Council if sponsored by at least one Council member. Some ideas may be implemented without Council action by contacting the City department directly for administrative action.
Proposals for legislation are introduced to the Council and assigned to standing committees by the Council President. The committees may consult other City departments, take public testimony, and request legal opinions before sending the proposals to the full Council for final action.
For a proposal to be approved by the City Council, it must receive a simple majority of four votes. If enacted, an ordinance becomes effective thirty days after enactment, unless it is an emergency ordinance, which requires five votes and takes effect immediately.