East Canton council accepts officer resignation, appoints Richard Johnson and approves payroll

The Village of East Canton council accepted the resignation of full-time Officer Scott Pringle and moved to fill the vacancy by appointing part-time Officer Richard Johnson to a full-time position, according to actions taken at the meeting.

Council sought a formal resolution to record Pringle’s resignation after the chief reported the departure; a council member requested the resignation be placed on the record and routed to the judicial committee. A motion to prepare and accept a resolution was made and seconded on the floor.

A separate resolution proposing the appointment of Richard Johnson was read aloud by an unidentified reader. The resolution as read states that Johnson, currently a part-time officer, would be appointed to full-time status with the Village of East Canton Police Department effective 02/08/2026 at an hourly pay rate of $22.00, with benefits and a one-year probationary period. Council members who spoke in support noted Johnson’s work as a part-time officer and the chief’s recommendation.

Council also approved routine fiscal items. The fiscal officer presented invoices totaling $7,046.48 and payroll for the period covering mid-January to Jan. 24, 2026, in the amount of $26,126.66; a motion to approve payroll was made during the meeting.

The meeting record showed motions were moved and seconded for the personnel resolution and fiscal approvals. No roll-call vote totals were recorded in the transcript provided; minutes indicate the motions were advanced and the council proceeded with standard record-keeping steps.

What’s next: the resignation acceptance was to be memorialized in a resolution and routed to judicial review, and the appointment resolution lists an effective date of Feb. 8, 2026 and a one-year probationary period for the new full-time officer.