9/20/2012 - South Side Leader
     

LAKEMORE — Lakemore is going to be in need of additional financial help, but village officials may count on a current employee to get the work done.

At the Sept. 17 Lakemore Council meeting, Mayor Rick Justice announced Fiscal Officer Rick Quay accepted a position elsewhere, after serving the village for the past eight years.

“He gave his letter of resignation and is moving on with a job at FirstEnergy,” he said. “I am happy for Mr. Quay.”

Justice said Quay’s last day with the village is today, Sept. 21.

The mayor said a transition plan is being calculated. Justice and Quay, who left the Sept. 17 meeting ill, have been discussing the best person to fill the role. Justice said it is “possible” that Tracy Fast would be moved into the position. Fast, a lifelong resident of Lakemore, has served the village in several different capacities for the past 17 years. She currently is the village’s accounts clerk and is completing her master’s degree. Fast filled in as interim fiscal officer last month, when Quay was recovering from a medical emergency.

“That is what I am going to promote,” Justice said in reference to appointing Fast as fiscal officer. “We have more discussion to do on that, and with his [Quay’s] help, we will get that done.”

Quay has been active in trying to help Lakemore become free from the fiscal emergency label the state put on the village more than a year ago.

The Sept. 17 regular meeting was brief, as Council President Tammie Coontz and Councilwoman Lori Strittmatter were absent. The absence of Coontz, who was on vacation, was excused by Council. Strittmatter’s absence was not. This was the second regular meeting Strittmatter has missed this month. The first absence also was not excused by Council. Strittmatter has missed multiple meetings in 2012, her first year in office. Justice said research is being conducted to find out how many unexcused absences an elected official could have before action could be taken.

“We are looking into what can be done,” he said. “It will be addressed promptly.”

When contacted after the meeting regarding her absences, Strittmatter declined to comment.

There was no legislation presented to Council for approval during the meeting.

In his report, Justice announced he recently attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the S.U.P.E.R Learning Center, the school for autistic children housed in the former Lakemore Elementary School.

“It was a great occasion there,” he said.

Justice said the facility recently purchased Lakemore Elementary from the Springfield Local School District and opened up the third floor of the building to students. The third floor was dedicated to the school’s founder, Kirk Goodwin, who recently died, he said.

“They are going strong there,” Justice said.

At the close of the meeting, Council held an executive session to discuss an employee salary matter, with no action taken.

Council will hold a workshop Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. at the Municipal Building, 1400 Main St.

The next regular Lakemore Village Council meeting will be Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. at the Municipal Building.

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