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Cortland OKs consultant for service department

CORTLAND — With Service Director Kim Blasco leaving this week for a position in Boardman Township, city council has approved an interim service director to serve as a consultant of service.

Council President Mike Piros said the consultant will perform and provide guidance on duties of the service director’s job to continue the services of the department.

“A consultant will handle the services as we begin the process to fill the service position,” Piros said.

City council approved by emergency reading the consultant of service at a meeting Jan. 22.

Blasco’s last day in Cortland was Tuesday.

Piros said officials will be looking for a full-time service director to be hired permanently.

The ordinance indicates the city will use the services of Sean Ratican as an interim service director for four months. Officials said Ratican has the skills to allow him to operate the service department as an independent contractor who will report to and consult with Mayor Deidre Petrosky as needed throughout the period.

The position is through May 30 and retroactive to Jan. 14.

The ordinance states that the interim service director will serve as an independent contractor, will work in office and remotely, and be paid a flat fee of $4,334 twice a month.

FERAL CATS

In another matter, to continue to control the feral cat population in the city, council entered into an agreement with Steel Valley Spay Neuter Clinic in Girard for services for feral cats trapped within the city,

Total cost is not to exceed $7,500.

Costs for the veterinary services include $89 for a basic spay and $74 for a basic neuter.

Animal Pawtectors, an Ohio nonprofit volunteer organization, is currently trapping feral cats within the city and taking them to Steel Valley Spay Neuter Clinic.

The clinic is run by Dr. Suzanne Wilcox, who officials said saw a need for low-cost spay and neuter services after dealing with the pet overpopulation problem firsthand by working in the field of shelter medicine.

Steel Valley Spay Neuter Clinic is the only free-standing veterinary facility dedicated to providing only spay and neuter services. Since opening in September 2007, the clinic has performed over 30,000 successful surgeries, officials said.

In other business, council gave first reading with DS Architecture LLC for professional design services for the safety services complex.

Councilman Richard McClain asked that he and other officials have more time to review the contract before passing it under emergency passage since he has questions.

Council agreed to only give it a first reading and to act on the matter at the Feb. 3 meeting.

A previous contract for the safety service complex was tabled.

Also, council approved Finance Director Patricia Gibson to enter into a contract with the CPA accounting firm of Canter and Associates of Poland to perform the city ‘s GAAP conversion year-end financial report.

Gibson said the city will enter into a five-year agreement at $11,000 per year for the annual service.

Starting at $2.99/week.

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