App hired as fiscal officer, Smith moves to assistant position
Bolivar Village Council accepted the resignation of Patty Smith as fiscal officer at its December meeting. Council then approved hiring Smith as assistant fiscal officer. Smith was brought on board on Oct. 31 immediately following the resignation of previous fiscal officer Barb Kline.
Council also accepted Maria App’s resignation from council and hired her as fiscal officer. “For long-term fiscal sustainability, this is what had to happen,” Smith said.
About App, Smith also said, “You need the fiscal corrected and managed properly, and she’s the lady that can do it.”
While the move may have come as a surprise to residents attending the meeting, the move had been discussed previously in a special session of council.
The switch leaves a council seat vacant, and council is asking interested parties to submit a letter of intent to Mayor Tedd Finlayson at Bolivar Village Hall, P.O. Box 117, Bolivar, OH 44612, or mayor@villageofbolivar.com. Letters must be received Dec. 29 so council can fill the seat during its Jan. 4 meeting.
Fiscal officer report
In her report to council, Smith said she and App had been working on cleaning up finances in preparation for the year-end state audit. “What I mostly found is there are a lot of things in the books that were charged to the wrong fund or the wrong account.”
Smith also asked council to pass amended appropriations for the first quarter of 2024 in the amount of $451,011. “I know that seems high,” Smith said, “but that’s because there are a lot of front-loading contracts and we have about $102,000 in there in ARPA funds.”
According to Smith, financial reports and temporary appropriations will be available for the public to view at Village Hall.
In other reports
Finance chair Will Bellinger reported the emergency purchase of a rebuilt snowplow made by Street Superintendent Levi Kaser in the amount of $1,500, plus $500 for shipping.
Kaser reported having attended an online meeting with National Pavement Analysis to review options for repairing roads aside from expensive paving. He said the company will evaluate the streets and recommend ways to save money on repairs in coming years.
Dan Oberlin, chair of street and alley and the shade tree committee, reported 27 trees along Poplar Street and Park Avenue were trimmed this year. He also recognized the outgoing mayor and Bruce Lawver, who did not run for council in November, for their service to the community.
Additionally, Oberlin and several other council members thanked the street crew and remarked on the attractiveness of the village Christmas decorations this year.
Beware of “porch pirates”
Police Chief Randy Haugh advised residents to watch for people attempting to steal package deliveries left outside. Oberlin said residents should try to get a plate number or a photo of the vehicle if a theft or attempted theft should occur. Haugh acknowledged the value of doorbell cameras and other recording devices.
Legislative
Council passed a number of ordinances including the following:
—Establishing and fixing the rate of pay for the office of mayor for 2024-25 by state mandate at $721.44 per month for 2024.
—Establishing hourly pay rate maximum and minimum caps with a correction to the chief of police pay to state a minimum of $24 and a maximum of $26.
—Declaring snow removal streets with limited designated parking on Canal, Tuscarawas, Water and Cherry streets, as well as Poplar Street from Sassafras Alley to Canal Street.
—Granting Kaser a probationary raise of $1 per hour for the jobs of village administrator and street superintendent, setting his pay at $25 per hour.
—Approving a new contract with the Village of Zoar to provide police service, increasing the rate from $28-$34 per hour for one year.
Bolivar Council meets the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at Village Hall. Meetings are open to the public.
