NELSON — New faces have officially joined the Nelson City Council.

After winning their seats in November municipal election, new Councilmen Jonathan Bishop and Duane Cronic, as well as incumbent Councilwoman Martha Tipton, were sworn in at Thursday’s meeting.

Council members voted to elect Tipton as its mayor pro tem for 2012 and authorized City Clerk Brandy Edwards, Tipton and Councilman Jackie Jarrett as official city signatures on bank accounts.

The council appointed Edwards as city clerk, Heath Mitchell as chief of police, Joey Smith to oversee maintenance, Catherine Poag as court clerk, appointed Jeff Rusbridge as city solicitor and city attorney, Richard Jones as municipal court judge and Mayor David Leister as zoning administrator.

The council also assigned itself to areas of responsibilities. Jonathan Bishop will oversee personnel matters, Larry Sellers will oversee public safety, Tipton will oversee finance, Jarrett will oversee planning and zoning, Leister will oversee roads and streets, Cronic will oversee parks and recreation and all council members will be in charge of ordinance violations.

The council also approved naming Edwards, Bishop and Cronic to the personnel committee, to obtain estimates to repair the office in the old Georgia Marble building and to waive all sanitation fees that were due in December.

The council also voted to keep School Street open and for any safety and space issues to be resolved by relocating playground equipment.

It also approved accepting applications for a certified building inspector.

The council held a closed session to discuss personnel and litigation, but took no action upon returning.