By Beth Sergent

For Mason County Extra Edition

POINT PLEASANT — Mayor Brian Billings announced his upcoming retirement during Monday’s regular meeting of Point Pleasant City Council. He will officially retire on Aug. 11.

The announcement of Billings’ upcoming retirement was made following a brief executive session which Billings called to discuss personnel. Following the executive session, and the retirement announcement, council members unanimously voted to appoint City Clerk Amber Tatterson as interim mayor, beginning Aug. 12.

During the meeting, City Attorney Joe Supple also read from Section 11 of the City Charter as council discussed the next steps. It was announced council would be tasked with appointing someone to serve out the remainder of Billings’ unexpired term which ends on June 30, 2024. Until that time, Tatterson will reportedly be serving in a dual role and will also continue her duties as clerk.

Billings had no further comment during the official meeting except to thank council members for their friendship.

Following the meeting, Billings spoke briefly with Mason County Extra Edition. He said he’d recently turned 66 and felt it was time to retire, allowing him to spend more time with family, which includes his wife Shirley (also retired), as well as their sons and their families.   

Billings told Mason County Extra Edition he’d been sworn in as mayor on June 11, 2009 following the retirement of former Mayor Buster Riffle. He said he was then elected to the position three more times, making him the longest serving mayor in the city’s history. He has served in city government since 2003 and has also held the offices of Council-Person-At-Large and City Clerk.

Prior to his career in government, Billings also worked in local radio and was a longtime employee of the former Ohio Valley Publishing Company.

Billings will continue to serve on the city committees for Praise Along the River and the Harmon Park Project.

Billings added, he will likely have a more lengthy statement to release to media at a later date, discussing progress the city has made and recognizing the many city officials and employees he has worked with over the years.

© 2023, Mason County Extra Edition, all rights reserved.

Beth Sergent has nearly 20 years of experience in journalism, having worked as both a reporter and editor. She has a BLA in English from Marshall University, and a certificate in Technical Writing from Duke University. She is a lifelong resident of Point Pleasant, in Mason County.

(Editor’s Note on accessibility: Mason County Extra Edition attempts to use accessible fonts and alternative text for photographs, to be inclusive of all readers.)