ST.  ALBANS, W.Va. -- The vacant council seat in St. Albans should be filled by early February.

Council members Helen Warren and Kevin Pennington nominated two candidates during Tuesday night's meeting.

Shirley Hyatt and Lee Roberts will be invited to attend the next meeting, scheduled for Feb. 4, and be interviewed by the council. Council members will then vote on who should fill the vacant Ward 2 seat.

Councilman JD Adkins resigned from the seat in September when he moved out of the ward.

Council voted at the last meeting to take nominations from council members, since the party Adkins represented had failed to submit any candidates.

The replacement will serve the remainder of the term, which expires June 30.

Council members also passed the first reading of four ordinances that update and clarify existing codes.

Mayor Dick Callaway said the ordinances align the city code with state law.

The first ordinance makes it a crime to operate a vehicle without registration as well as the procedure if a license plate is lost or stolen.

Violation of the ordinance can result in a fine of up to $500.

The second ordinance outlines the penalty for using a vehicle registration or license plate that belongs to someone else.

The penalty is also a fine of up to $500.

Council also passed an ordinance to second reading, which prohibits breaking into vehicles and other mobile equipment. Depending on the value of items stolen, violation of the ordinance may be a misdemeanor or felony.

Finally, council passed on first reading an ordinance that updates part of the zoning ordinance.