ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The city safety and service director’s position is open after Jim Zucal had his last day on the job Friday.

Initial comments from Mayor Kathryn Thalman and Councilman Perry Basile indicated that Zucal had retired.

“I appreciate Jim Zucal’s service to the city, however we have decided to go in different directions because we are moving forward on water situations. We kind of didn’t see eye-to-eye on some things. … I wish him all the best. Today’s his last day,” Thalman said.

Later Friday, social media posts speculated that Zucal had been escorted from the building by city police following an altercation with Thalman’s secretary, Jody Williams. Thalman responded, saying that having security assist a departing employee was common procedure during her time working in the private sector.

“We didn’t have to escort him out with police, but I wanted them to make sure no city property left, and to me that’s just proper protocol. No, he was not combative or anything,” Thalman said of Zucal. “I actually had them here to help him carry boxes out.”

She said Zucal’s departure was a retirement, not a termination, and she referred to it as a “mutually agreeable separation.”

Thalman said there had been a disagreement Thursday concerning whether Zucal had ordered a water meter for the city building in January when he had been instructed to. Thalman and Williams said the city building was unmetered and the cost of a meter was about $2,000.

“Get the meters on our buildings so we know what our water loss is,” Thalman said, adding the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is requiring information about water loss. “The municipal buildings, none of them have gauges, meters. … That’s a lot of water unaccounted for.”

“You just don’t know what kind of volume is actually being used in certain buildings,” Williams said.

“It’s a housekeeping thing that should have been done a long time ago. I handed him that order on Jan. 7 and it had not gotten done,” Thalman said.

Thalman said it had been understood when she took office that Zucal would continue to work for St. Clairsville through the end of February, then retire. She said Zucal’s letter of resignation and retirement is being reviewed by the city’s legal counsel to make certain everything is in order.

Zucal could not be reached Friday for comment.

The future of water service and how to meet mandates by the OEPA have been points of contention among a divided city council and former mayor Terry Pugh, with Zucal and Pugh advocating for the sale of the city system to Aqua Ohio, a private, state-regulated entity. Thalman’s campaign platform was to explore options for maintaining local control. Aqua Ohio has made the city an offer that remains valid until April.

Earlier this week, Thalman held a brainstorming session with city leaders and representatives from Belmont County and the city of Martins Ferry to discuss finding leaks and securing a water source.

“That was historic. For us to come together like that, it’s never been done,” Thalman said. “There’s a real sense of urgency from the EPA, extreme urgency.”

Zucal had worked for the city since 2016. He has been heavily involved in projects such as the new water tank at St. Clair Commons.

Zucal joins a list of other members of the prior administration to step down or retire as Thalman continues to fill city offices. Her administration has appointed a new law director, clerk of council and police chief, and it likely will appoint a new finance director following Cindi Henry’s retirement. Thalman’s choices and the process of advertising those positions and conducting interviews have been hotly contested by some council members.

Thalman made no comment on who might fill Zucal’s position. She said she doubted a new director will be named by the next council meeting,scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday.