NEWTON FALLS — Newton Falls village council has scheduled a special meeting for 6 p.m. Wednesday to act on an emergency measure to name Jeff Limbian as the law director and prosecutor for the village.

Limbian of Youngstown, has been serving as interim law director without compensation since the beginning of January.

The emergency ordinance to be acted on would have Limbian begin as law director and prosecutor effective Feb. 1 at a salary of $7,750 per month.

If the motion passes, Limbian will give attorney Jordan Knabb a 60-day notice of termination as prosecutor, and Limbian would serve as co-prosecutor with Knabb during that time period.

Brad Bryan previously served as law director for Newton Falls. He resigned from the position last fall, but when village officials could not find a replacement, he agreed to return and serve through Dec. 31.

Village council at its Dec. 20 meeting, did not extend Bryan’s contract into the new year.

Before becoming the interim law director of Newton Falls, Limbian served as Youngstown’s law director for six years, which is the longest time for anyone in that job in more than 25 years.

During the 2023 election cycle, Limbian ran for Youngstown clerk of courts but lost to Richard Vincent Hill.

Limbian resigned in November, saying it was time for him to move on and go back into private practice.

Limbian had a strained relationship with Mayor Jamael Tito Brown, who was once a very close friend. He also faced criticism from Youngstown council members for not properly representing them and for issues with legislation.

Brown suspended Limbian for close to three weeks in late 2021 after the latter made comments about city Clerk Valencia Marrow, who canceled a Nov. 17, 2021, council meeting because legislation from the law department was two days late.

Also, a federal judge in September ruled a company that insured Youngstown wasn’t responsible for any financial claims which could be as high as $5 million, in a wrongful death lawsuit because of the city law department’s “extreme incompetence.”

U.S. District Court Judge John R. Adams wrote: “Through his testimony, Limbian justified his complete lack of oversight in the legal department by repeatedly stating he was not familiar with the civil rules or anything dealing with civil liability.”

While Youngstown law director, Limbian hired A. Joseph Fritz as an assistant law director. Fritz served as Newton Falls law director from November 2010 until he was fired November 2021.

Last week, village council terminated the contract of Pam Priddy as village manager effective Feb. 26.

Priddy also was suspended with pay for 30 days starting Jan. 26 and is barred from being at the city building and any village property

Council appointed Mike Novotny, the wastewater treatment plant superintendent, as interim village manager effective Jan. 26.