Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Appointments topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Weirton council appoints Bob Kolanko to water board after public calls for greater transparency
Summary
Mayor Harris’s nomination of Bob Kolanko to the Weirton Area Water Board was approved 6–1 on June 9, 2026 after multiple public commenters urged more transparency and raised water-quality concerns; Councilwoman Brittany Holloway cast the lone no vote.
Weirton City Council voted 6–1 on June 9 to appoint Robert (Bob) Kolanko to the Weirton Area Water Board amid public comment that questioned the transparency and diversity of appointment processes and raised water-quality concerns.
Mayor Dean M. Harris presented the slate of appointments. During the public comment period several residents — including Brian Barrett, Karen Harris and Karen Mentzer — asked for more public involvement in filling board vacancies and cited discoloration and other issues with city water that they said had led to household filtration costs and maintenance concerns.
Mayor Harris submitted Kolanko’s nomination, and Councilman Rick Stead moved the appointment. The roll-call vote recorded Councilwoman Brittany Holloway as the sole dissenting vote; Councilmembers Stead, Rocchio, Jonczak, Connell, Cunningham and Keeder voted in favor (6–1). Councilman Timothy C. Connell said social media criticism had negatively affected the appointment process but recommended approval.
Council did not adopt any changes to the appointment process on the night of the vote. Council members and staff did not provide detailed public documentation of candidates’ qualifications in the meeting minutes beyond the nomination and vote record. Mayor Harris and other council members approved several other appointments and reappointments during the same meeting.
