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NEWTON FALLS -- Village council is discussing not requiring Finance Director Sean Housley to attend the two monthly council meetings unless requested for a special presentation or discussions on the budget.
Council gave first reading on the matter at Wednesday's meeting with a public hearing set April 3 before council acts on second reading. Fourth Ward Councilman Kevin Rufener said no other department head is required to attend council meetings.
The other departments include water, sewer, electric and road departments.
"We don't require any other department head to come to these meetings. I think with a finance committee, it is on us to present and explain legislation. We (Councilman Brian Axiotis and myself) are on that committee and should know what the legislation on finances is," Rufener said.
Housley is a part-time employee who Rufener said could be spending time in other ways in the finance department rather than attending meetings, which sometimes last for several hours.
Resident Brian Kropp disagreed and said the finance director should attend the meetings just as the village manager, law director and clerk do.
He said attending meetings should be part of the job requirements.
Kropp said council meetings were originally on Monday evenings, but were moved to Wednesday to accommodate Housley, who works fulltime in another community.
Councilwoman at-Large Julie Stimpert said the position should be fulltime.
In other action, council approved making the handling of public records requests part of the job description for the village clerk.
Council gave first reading to expanding the duties of the clerk to include the development of a comprehensive plan for the gathering and disseminating of public records.
Stimpert said there has been an ongoing issue with record requests that needs to be straightened out. She said further discussion is needed by council, with public input.
Stimpert said who should handle all the record requests, such as having an additional administrative staff member, is the major issue.
First Ward Councilwoman Patricia Benetis said residents have complained about not getting their requests in a timely manner.
Resident Rick Kerlin said he was glad something is being done, noting it has been a problem getting records after requests are made.
Rufener said the pay of the clerk would need to be increased for additional duties of handling record requests.
The matter was postponed to the April 3 meeting for further discussion.
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