GIRARD — As the new year approaches, city officials plan to continue the needed work to restore the former Wellman Theater on West Liberty Street.

Mayor Mark Zuppo said at this week’s council meeting he has met with architects working on the historic theater, with plans to demolish and remove some outside areas such as a small roof above the alleyway, which will help open up that area.

He said work also will be done on the building’s roof itself, which is a priority.

The city already had the asbestos issue in the building addressed.

Councilwoman-at-Large Lily Martuccio asked if a meeting could be set with the architects on the status of the building.

Zuppo said he has spoken to the Millennial Theatre Company, which has expressed interest in being able to use the theater for community events. He said KO Consulting is helping the city to secure funds for improvements at the theater.

Officials said KO Consulting could come to a council meeting early next year to provide an update on the theater and other projects they have done. Auditor Julie Coleman said there is $41,000 in the Wellman Theater fund, which also includes American Rescue Plan funds.

Officials have said plans are for the theater to become the permanent home for the Millennial Theatre Company. The building will be the company’s first space of its own.

MTC has been a traveling theater organization since 2016 with its focus on producing musicals.

In other business, Safety Service Director Mark Ragozine said traffic signals and signage along the U.S. Route 422 corridor in the city will be addressed next year.

He said efforts will be made to get the traffic signals coordinator to maintain the 25 mph speed limit along the heavily traveled main route while not requiring continual stopping at each traffic signal.

The city is working with the Ohio Department of Transportation to get the city’s transportation plan updated, which includes signage, pedestrian walkways, bike lanes, roads and sidewalks. The last time the plan was updated was in 2013.

Also, Ragozine said next year, officials will look at getting stronger verbiage into the zoning texts on prohibiting people from storing boats and other large recreational vehicles on their properties from Nov. 1 to April 1.

“We need to look at updating that legislation to strengthen it, which will allow us to have better enforcement,” Ragozine said.

Councilman John Moliterno, D-at Large, said there has been discussion in the past on the matter, with residents coming to the meetings. Ragozine said they can ask residents not to store the RVs and other vehicles during the winter months outside.

He said the city plans to continue with MS Consultants as the city’s general engineering firm and will invite them to attend a future meeting for an update on projects and other work they have done this past year.

Council plans to install new councilmembers Tod Latell, Wes Steiner and James Clark, as well as incumbent council members, at 6 p.m. Dec. 30.

Councilmen Jeff Kay, Sam Zirafi and Mark Standohar are done at the end of the year.

Returning to council are Reynald Paolone, Keith Schubert, Thomas Grumley, Lily Martuccio and Moliterno, who is moving from councilman-at-large to a ward seat.

Plans are to have the organizational meeting at 6 p.m. Jan. 5 and the next meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 12.