The Pocahontas County Commission will have more guidance to make decisions due to the employment of a Commission attorney. During a special meeting on March 11, the Commission unanimously approved hiring Robert C. Martin, of Huntersville, as a full-time Commission counselor.
Martin graduated from Greenbrier Military School in Lewisburg in 1972. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from West Virginia University in 1974; a Masters of Public Administration in 1976; and a law degree from the WVU College of Law in 1979. He has practiced law for more than 30 years.
Martin previously served as Pocahontas County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, but was terminated from that position by Prosecuting Attorney Eugene Simmons. Simmons would not comment on the reasons for the termination.
During its February 17 meeting, commissioners were unable to move forward with a decision on potential uses of property in the Green Bank Industrial Site due to questions on deed restrictions and contracts.
Commission President William Beard stated last week that, during his county commissioner training session in Bridgeport, he learned that several counties had employed full-time attorneys, apart from the county prosecutor.
The effective date of Martin’s employment was March 12. Martin will receive a salary of $36,000 per year and receive full county employee benefits.