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As Durbin Town Council held a discussion about the garbage and maintenance rates ordinance September 7, two different copies of the ordinance appeared and led to accusations of fraud toward mayor Donald Peck.

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Residents Mark and Thelma Smith have been double billed for garbage and maintenance for several months and informed council that Peck sent them a copy of the ordinance signed by former mayor Mike Vance without a witness signature.

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Peck explained that the ordinance he sent was from the office ordinance book, but councilmember Paula Dilley produced a different ordinance with the same date that had Vance's witnessed signature, as well as a witness signature.

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Dilley questioned why that ordinance was not in the book, but did not receive an answer. When asked where she got her copy, she replied, "I'd rather not say."

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Upon closer inspection ofﾠ the two ordinances, slight differences in the wording were discovered and councilmembers suspected that Vance's signature on the ordinance with no witness was forged.

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The ordinance without a witness signature states that all properties, vacant or occupied will be billed for garbage and maintenance. The one with two signatures does not.

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All billing issues were tabled until council could investigate the ordinances and whether or not Peck had committed fraud.

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In other action:

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ﾕ A letter was read from councilmember Gloria Ransom and recorder Paul Ransom stating they both were resigning their positions. Council could not vote to accept the resignations because they were not on the agenda.

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ﾕ Former mayor Frank Proud questioned council on the new signs for the town's streets and alleys. Proud said he worried that a sign for the 20 foot wide alley behind Kinder's Market, known as Goldenrod Drive, will be misconstrued as a road by those not familiar with the area.

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Now that the alley has a sign, Proud added, the town will be in charge of maintenance, which, according to him, is now done by the Allegheny Power Company free of charge.

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He also asked about the sign for the Staunton Parkersburg Turnpike. According to Proud, the sign points down a private drive and not an alley.

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After a brief discussion over the two alleys, council voted to discontinue maintenance of them and asked for dead end signs to put below the street signs.

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ﾕ Council discussed a new trailer Buster Varner has placed on his property. Varner hooked the trailer to the sewer system himself instead of waiting for a town worker to do the job. Varner told council he would not pay the $250 hook-up fee because he did the work. Council decided that he would still be required to pay the fee.

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ﾕ Council approved building permits and business licenses.

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ﾕ The Pocahontas County Honor Corps presented council with a new American Flag for the town office.

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