New Parkersburg Police Chief Matthew Board, right, shares a laugh with Boy Scout Troop 116 member Brayden Keeney after Tuesday’s Parkersburg City Council meeting. Keeney attended the meeting with his fellow Scouts as part of their work on a communications merit badge and was excited to see Board, who taught a merit badge class he was in, confirmed as police chief. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

PARKERSBURG — A few months after being promoted to captain, Matthew Board was confirmed Tuesday as Parkersburg’s next police chief.

“It’s very humbling,” said the nearly 20-year veteran of the department following an 8-0 vote by City Council to accept his nomination by Mayor Tom Joyce.

Board said he works with “a great bunch of guys” and considers it “an honor to be chief of an agency of this caliber.”

More than 40 people applied for the job following the retirement of Joe Martin, the city’s longest-serving police chief, in December. An advisory committee interviewed five semi-finalists, three of whom were interviewed by Joyce before making his selection.

“Really for me it comes down to competency, character and chemistry,” Joyce said. “He checks all those boxes for me.”

New Parkersburg Police Chief Matthew Board embraces his sister Leslie, who served the department for 28 years, after being confirmed by City Council Tuesday evening. Joining him at the meeting were, from left, his father and former Parkersburg Police Chief Gerald Board, mother Rita Board, son Conor and wife Haley. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

Board grew up around the Parkersburg Police Department. His father, Gerald, was a member of the department for 32 years, including three years as chief. His sister, Leslie, retired from the department after 28 years of service.

“I can’t remember a time there hasn’t been a Parkersburg Police cruiser parked in our driveway,” he said.

Gerald Board was in council chambers for the meeting.

“I’m awful proud of him,” he said. “I think he’ll do a good job.”

The elder Board said a lot has changed since his time with the department — he was the chief before Martin’s 12-year tenure — but he’ll be glad to offer advice to his son, if it’s requested.

Interim Parkersburg Police Chief Scott Elliott smiles as Mayor Tom Joyce thanks him for his 28-plus years of service to the city during Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Elliott is retiring Friday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

“I’m sure if he asks me for some, I’d give it to him,” he said.

Matthew Board got a yes vote from all eight council members present, with Councilman Austin Richards absent.

He’s set to be sworn in as chief on Friday.

That’s the last day on the job for interim Chief Scott Elliott, who Joyce thanked for his more than 28 years of service to the city.

“He’s been a mentor to Capt. Board and many others over the years,” the mayor said.

Members of Parkersburg City Council and Mayor Tom Joyce, left, applaud players and coaches of the 2022 Class AA West Virginia state champion Parkersburg Catholic High School girls basketball team during Tuesday’s council meeting at the Municipal Building. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

When he was named to the interim post in December, Elliott said he did not intend to seek the job going forward and had already been planning to retire this month.

In other business, council voted 8-0 to approve the final reading of an ordinance abandoning portions of Cook and 20th streets and two unnamed alleys between Garfield and Ohio avenues. The vacated streets will become part of the property of the new Pioneer Honda dealership being built in that area.

Council also approved, on 8-0 votes, Joyce’s reappointment of Betty Camp and appointment of Dan Hickman to the Municipal Tree Commission and the reappointments of Patsy McClure and Mike Seebaugh to the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority.

Cynthia Lockney, the city’s representative on the Parkersburg & Wood County Public Library Board, spoke during the public forum about the library’s excess renewal levy on the May 10 ballot. It provides 30% of the library’s income.

“It will not increase anybody’s taxes,” Lockney said. “This is the same levy that we passed five years ago.”