SHADYSIDE — For the last time in 19 years, Mayor Robert Newhart led the Shadyside Village Council meeting during what was his final meeting on Wednesday evening.

The regular council meetings have been moved to Wednesdays until March to accommodate council member Brandon Parr’s schedule due to him being the Shadyside High School girls basketball coach.

Newhart said that he is retiring to spend more time with his family. He added that even though he chose to retire and knew his term was coming to an end, now that his time is up, he’s starting to become emotional.

“It’s starting to hit home,” Newhart said.

Newhart wasn’t the only person who served their final council meeting on Wednesday as council member Sam Carpino, who served for seven years, was not re-elected this past November. He was defeated by council member-elect John Longwell who will take over on council at the start of the year.

Carpino thanked the residents for allowing him to serve on council and said he hopes that the village is better now than when he started.

Newhart will be replaced as mayor by current council member Mike Meintel who was elected in November, defeating former council member Nick Ferrelli.

Newhart said that he decided now was the time to retire because both Meintel and Ferrelli were solid candidates and he knew the village would be in good hands.

During the meetings’ open public forum section Ferrelli spoke and wished both Newhart and Carpino a happy retirement.

“Thank you for your years of service to the village. It was great working with both of you and I’m glad that I got to know the two of you over the last several years and got to work with you,” Ferrelli said. “Hopefully, we did a little bit of good at some point. I know we did some bad too, but I just wanted to wish you two the best in your time once you’re gone.”

Newhart replied that even though he’s retiring he’s still going to be involved in the community. He then joked that he’ll be sitting next to Ferrelli in the crowd at the next council meeting.

Council member Melanie Haswell extended gratitude to both Newhart and Carpino for their dedicated service to the village. Haswell sits next to Carpino during each meeting, and said that she’s going to miss him and his willingness to offer a helping hand.

“I appreciate all of your help. All of the times I’d lean over and whisper something like, ‘what does that mean?’ When I was just starting out on council, you were a big help. Thank you,” Haswell, addressing Carpino. “Bob, congratulations on being able to just relax and not having to worry about anything.”

Newhart’s final suggestion to council before ending the meeting was to give a performance bonus to the village’s full-time and part-time employees.

“In years past, we’ve given a performance bonus to our full-time and part-time employees. Full-time workers received $50 and the part-time workers received $75,” Newhart said. “The money is available, and I think they deserve it.”

Council voted all-in-favor of awarding performance bonuses.

The meeting ended with both Newhart and Meintel banging the gavel simultaneously, as a passing of the torch.