The Trumbull County Commissioners' office officially handed the county seat more than 47 years of county service Monday in the form of Commissioner Michael J. O'Brien and clerk/administrator Roselyn J. Ferris.

O'Brien, who has been a commissioner since 1993, was elected mayor of Warren in November and will assume his new position after the first of the year.

Ms. Ferris has worked the past 37 years in the commissioners office and will join O'Brien in city government as his executive secretary.

The Trumbull County Democratic Party will appoint a replacement for O'Brien on Jan. 15 and the county will operate with two commissioners until then, Ferris said.

O'Brien's successor will fulfill the remainder of the mayor-elect's term, which expires Jan. 2, 2005, unless he or she is re-elected.

"I came into office and we had a lot of issues," O'Brien said during his final meeting Monday morning. "I'm just glad to be a small part of the history of the county."

Ferris, who has worked with 17 different commissioners, will be replaced by Paulette Godfrey, a move that was announced Dec. 10 after commissioners accepted her retirement.

"Every department feels they have the best staff," Ferris said in her farewell speech, "we do too. I'm taking with me so many memories of so many nice people."

In her resignation letter dated Nov. 24, Ms. Ferris reflected on changes she witnessed the county government enact, including restoring the county courthouse, building a new county jail and interconnecting the computer systems of county buildings.

Ms. Ferris also assured the commissioners she had thoroughly trained Ms. Godfrey and the other two clerks in the office how to handle her duties and responsibilities.

In a discreet farewell ceremony at the end of Monday's meeting, Ms. Ferris received flowers, a plaque and a proclamation from the commissioners and the office staff.

O'Brien likewise received a few tokens of appreciation from his fellow commissioners and office staff.

"It's been a fun ride, but we've still got a lot of work to do," O'Brien said in reference to his new position.

Commissioner Joseph J. Angelo thanked O'Brien and Ms. Ferris for their contributions to the county and was optimistic they would still influence the lives of all Trumbull residents.

"So goes Warren, so goes Trumbull County," Angelo said.