NEWTON FALLS — Village council has received 11 applicants for police chief.

Council met in executive session Wednesday to review the applicants and will schedule interviews at the Feb. 5 council meeting.

Councilwoman Julie Stimpert, D-at Large, said council, Law Director Jeff Limbian and interim Village Manager Mike Novotny wanted to review the applicants’ resumes and then decide which ones to interview.

The 11 applicants include Daniel Adkins of Niles; Brandon Allensworth of Louisville, Ohio; John Barco of Newton Falls; James Craven of Poland; David Garvey of Newton Falls; Scott Gaston of Ponce Inlet, Florida; Michael Hughes of Boardman; Jeremy Jesenovec of Willowick; Keith Miller of Bennettsville, South Carolina; Michelle Mercer of Lordstown and Charles Williams of Wickliffe.

Barco, Garvey and Mercer were interviewed last month.

Stimpert said council wanted to extend the application process since the search began in December shortly before the holiday season. The deadline was extended through Jan. 17 and advertised on more places, including the Ohio Municipal League website.

Stimpert said council is in the preliminary stages of preparing for the future of the police department and was interviewing candidates to see who would be in charge if the department comes back.

Current police Chief Gene Fixler sat in on the interviews in December. He said he will help the village get the police department back.

The village has not had a police department for two years and uses the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office for police protection.

The sheriff’s office patrols the village and a school resource officer protects the school.

Officials have been working on a new agreement with the sheriff’s office since Mike Wilson took over as chief earlier this month after winning the November election over Paul Monroe.

Council has considered a police levy to generate funds or a possible speed camera program for school zones or state routes by the Ohio Turnpike.

3RD WARD OPENING

In other business, council said it has not received any applications for the 3rd Ward council seat after the resignation of Brenda Persino in December. Persino was selected to fill the seat when former councilwoman Tessa Spletzer was removed in a recall election in 2023.

Stimpert said council has until Tuesday — 45 days after Persino’s resignation — to receive applications for the position or Mayor David Hanson will have 15 days to appoint someone, which is Feb. 12.

Also, council approved Terry Coons to fill an unexpired term on the Newton Falls Joint Fire District through December. He was interviewed previously when there was an earlier opening, according to Stimpert.