PLANNING AHEAD — Brooke County Clerk Kimberly Barbetta and the Brooke County Commission discussed steps that must be taken to fill the seat of fellow commissioner, A.J. Thomas, who has announced he will be stepping down on March 1. -- Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — While Brooke County Commissioner A.J. Thomas was involved with a matter involving his role as attorney Tuesday, his fellow commissioners discussed steps that must be taken to fill his seat when he resigns next year.

In September, Thomas announced he will step down from the commission on March 1, citing a desire to spend more time with his family, including his two young children.

On Tuesday, Commissioner Stacey Wise said she still wishes Thomas would reconsider, but she understands his position.

She and county Commissioner Tom Diserio asked county Clerk Kimberly Barbetta the procedure they must follow to fill his seat.

Barbetta said she’s had multiple communications with the West Virginia Secretary of State’s office on the matter.

Barbetta said her current understanding is that the commissioners have until March 2 to fill the seat, and the person selected must have been a registered Republican voter for at least a year and a resident of the Follansbee District.

Thomas is a Republican and resident of the Follansbee District, which is not limited to the city’s boundaries.

But Barbetta added the executive committee of any state-recognized political party also has until that date to nominate a candidate for the seat in next year’s general election.

The move involves the November election because Thomas will be leaving after the filing period for the May primary election.

Barbetta said if a nomination is made, the person appointed to the commission will serve through December 2026, after which the winner of the general election will take over.

She said based on her experience with other vacant offices, it’s possible a party won’t nominate a candidate.

Barbetta said if that occurs, the appointed commissioner must seek election in the following primary election if he or she wishes to finish out Thomas’ six-year term.

Thomas’ second term in the office began this year.

After receiving that information, Wise and Diserio agreed to seek letters of interest in the commission seat, through the county clerk’s office, until Jan. 15.

Wise said the date would give them some time to interview candidates before Thomas’ departure.

“I’m glad we’re having this discussion now. This was the right thing to do,” Diserio said.

In other business, the commission approved a memorandum of understanding with the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission authorizing the local development organization to use a portion of $1.2 million awarded by the federal Environmental Protection Agency to pursue assessments and planning for clean-up of former industrial sites in Brooke County.

The funds were awarded for such efforts in Brooke, Hancock and Jefferson counties.

And BHJ has eyed areas of Mingo Junction, Weirton and the area once occupied by the community of Power south of Beech Bottom for such assessments.

Built around a massive power plant, the community ceased to exist when that facility was closed.

BHJ Executive Director Mike Paprocki said no local match is required for the four-year grant, which was one of 30 awarded to USEPA Region 3, which includes five states and the District of Columbia.

He said the grant was obtained through a collaboration with the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle, an economic development agency charged with marketing Brooke and Hancock counties to new businesses.

Paprocki noted partnerships with it and others have led to BHJ securing $1.3 billion for environmental assessments and cleanups, including the Form Energy site at Frontier Crossing in Weirton and vacant property once occupied by Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel in Beech Bottom.