Dunbar City Council approved several appointments during its city council meeting Monday evening.
Beach Reynolds took his oath of service and thanked people in the crowd for their thoughts, prayers, and well-wishes during the last three weeks.
"There's nothing that is going to replace her. I can't replace her," Reynolds said of his late wife and former Ward 1 councilwoman, Pam Reynolds, who died after an on-going heart illness.
Now, after being approved by council members on Monday, Beach will fill that role for the remaining six months of Pam's term.
"The appointment is to honor Pam," Dunbar Mayor Greenlee said.
Pam Reynolds served on council for nearly three and half years.
"Beach is just as Dunbar as Pam was," Greenlee said.
Greenlee believes Beach will be a good fit for the job. Originally from Clendenin, Beach has called Dunbar home for 38 years.
"I met my wife and moved to Dunbar," he said. "She had an extreme love for the city of Dunbar. I'm just proud to fill in her seat and do the best I can."
He's worked for the city since 2009, so he is very familiar with the city's workings.
"To be part of the decision-making team now, is an honor," Beach said. "It is a real privilege."
He doesn't foresee spearheading any large initiatives during his time on council, but he plans to focus on accountability efforts to ensure citizens' complaints are addressed and the city is clean.
Council members approved a familiar face as Dunbar's new public works director.
"When a police officer gets to be 50 years old and has over 20 years of service, it's always best to go out and find a new job if you can qualify," said Scott Elliott, who recently retired from the city's police department.
Elliott looks forward to the new role and is ready to cleanup areas in need throughout the city.
"It is an opportunity to stay within the city that I grew up in, the city that I love to work for," Elliott said.
Also on Monday, council members approved the promotion of Zak McGinnis to assistant fire chief.
McGinnis, who has been at Dunbar's fire department for 15 years, assumes the new role immediately. The assistant fire chief serves as a shift commander.
"He's been an excellent captain," Dunbar Fire Chief Butch Ellis said of McGinnis. "I think he's going to be great shift commander."
In other business, council:
n Approved Jan. 17 meeting minutes
n Welcomed volunteers for the Feb. 18 Critter Dinner.