A familiar face is returning to the Wellman City Council.

At Monday’s meeting, the council appointed Fern Bontrager to serve out the remainder of former council member Mark Philpot’s term. The term expires at the end of 2021.

Philpot resigned effective July 1 to take care of family out of state.

Bontrager first joined the council when she was appointed to fill a vacant seat in May 2009.

She was elected to the seat later that year and again in 2013.

Bontrager chose not to seek re-election in 2017, and Philpot was elected to replace her.

“For the simple fact that our council is obviously so young, I, personally, like the idea of having Fern,” council member Shannon McCain said. “She’s been there before. She did a great job and left by her choice. I think it would be best for our council to have someone with some knowledge and background with it.”

Bontrager said that she is happy to serve again.

“Somebody had asked me to consider it, and just knowing how much I appreciated having somebody who had been on for a while when I first came on, I could be a support like that,” she said.

Another person considered by the council was Nathan Fick, who is a fixture at city council meetings.

“I think we have two really good choices,” council member Aaron Fleming said. “I could feel good either way.

“Nathan, I would love it if in 17 months you would throw your name in the ring again and run for this position.”