NEW PERSONNEL HIRED — Wellsburg Council has approved the hiring of a new city manager and new legal counsel, both of whom are slated to start in January. -- Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — The City of Wellsburg will begin 2026 with a new city manager and new legal counsel.

Mayor Dan Dudley said council voted 5-0 to hire Erica Tamburin, former village administrator of Shadyside, Ohio and a Wellsburg, to serve as city manager.

Dudley said the move came at the second of two meetings held to interview candidates for the position, with Tamburin one of four selected for the final round of interviews.

Currently working as a real estate agent, Tamburin held the village administrator post for two years and served previously as a nutrition outreach coordinator for the Brooke County office of the West Virginia University Extension Service, a role that included grant writing.

She is a graduate of Wheeling Jesuit University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and Wheeling University, where she had pursued pre-law studies.

Dudley said Tamburin was the most qualified of the candidates, having served a municipality of a similar size and been very familiar with Wellsburg, and came to the city with good recommendations.

She is slated to be administered oaths of office on Jan. 5.

At its regular meeting on Tuesday, council approved the hiring of Frankovitch, Anetakis, Simon, Decapio & Pearl to serve as its legal counsel, with the firm to receive $2,000 per month for its services.

Dudley said leaders of the law firm have advised a representative will attend each of council’s regular meetings.

Also on Tuesday, council heard from Beth Hinebaugh, who said she is finalizing their purchase of the former Wellsburg Middle School from the Brooke County Board of Education.

Hinebaugh submitted a bid of $225,000 for the school and its property at a public auction held by school officials.

A Wellsburg native and Brooke High School graduate, she confirmed she and her husband, Ed, own and operate the Fulton Fun Factory, which offers bounce houses and other activities for children and rental space for birthday parties; and a daycare center, both in the Wheeling area.

Hinebaugh said they are seeking suggestions from the community about how they would like the school to be used.

Third Ward Councilman Randy Fletcher said he has seen the Fun Factory and believes such a business would be welcomed.

Hinebaugh said they also have been told there’s a need for daycare in the city.

Tom Brown, the city’s recently appointed building inspector, noted the property must be rezoned from institutional to commercial to allow a business to open there.

City Manager Steve Maguschak said a meeting of the city’s planning and zoning board will be called, and that panel will make a recommendation to council.

Both he and Dudley welcomed the Hinebaughs to the city.

“We’re glad that you’re interested in the city,” said Maguschak.

Council also received a letter of resignation from Francine Kraus Tost, who serves as administrative clerk of municipal court and assistant to the city manager.

She said she will be retiring after 17 years of service to the city that began with the position of collector-treasurer.

In her letter, Tost said, “It has been a pleasure working with each and everyone of you and the knowledge that I have learned from all of you.”

She added she will be available to assist her successor following her retirement on Jan. 23.

Brown and Councilmen Fletcher and Larry Swanson were among city officials who expressed thanks to Tost for her efforts, noting she has been very helpful whenever they had questions.

Dudley thanked her for “walking me through these years as mayor.”

While Maguschak had announced his intention to resign after 10 years as city manager, a formal letter of resignation didn’t come until Tuesday.

In it, he said, “It has been an honor to work with some very good people and some excellent employees. I want to thank the residents of Wellsburg and all elected officials, past and present, for the opportunity to work for a great little city.”

“We have accomplished a lot and have set a course for the future. Challenges are ahead and we will need a unified effort to move forward and grow,” said Maguschak.

He has agreed to remain on the job until Jan. 24 to help train his successor.