GIRARD — Law Director Brian Kren, who has been serving in public office since he was 19 when he was elected to city council, will be leaving his post Friday to take a job at the Trumbull County prosecutor’s office.

Kren told city officials and residents at Monday’s council meeting he first served on city council and then as law director for a total of 20 years.

“I can’t believe it has been 20 years serving the town I love and have called home. I have appreciated the opportunity to serve as the city’s legal counsel. I have always tried my best to find the right answers on behalf of the city,” he said.

Kren served as 3rd Ward councilman for 6.5 years and as law director for the past 13.5 years.

He said as the law director, he juggled many issues on behalf of the city, including zoning, demolitions and real estate matters. Kren said he remembers when he first took office, former Law Director Ron Marks told him if he had a legal question “don’t always look at the most practical place for the answer because it is usually not there.”

He said he remembers when he won the 3rd Ward council seat at age 19, former councilman Thomas Kolic — who was also running in the five-person race for the 3rd ward seat — drove to his home to shake his hand and congratulate him.

“He showed me what it meant to be a public official,” Kren said.

Kren thanked many people for their support, including his wife. Amy, who attended the meeting, thanking her for her understanding when he had to make sacrifices for family time for his job.

He thanked the Girard Municipal Court prosecutors, legal assistants and other court staff for working with him as law director.

Councilman John Moliterno, D-at Large, who served with Kren on council and when he was law director, praised Kren for always working with city council over the years.

“When we had questions, you helped us get the answers whether it was the answer we wanted or not. You always gave us an honest answer,” Moliterno said.

Councilman Thomas Grumley, D-4th Ward, said Kren was very young when he started on council, but did great work serving the city as a councilman and later as law director.

Kren said with his duties at the county prosecutor’s office and his private legal practice, he will not have the time to serve as law director.

He said Mayor Mark Zuppo has five days from Friday to appoint someone to serve temporarily as law director. Zuppo and Kren said the Democratic Precinct Committee will need to meet to vote to put someone in the position, who will then need to run for office if they want to remain in the law director post.