Development director to quit post next month

Rosette Fisher has worked in every community development job in the city.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- Mayor David O. Ryan hopes to have a new community development executive director on board by the time Rosette Fisher leaves the post Aug. 20.
Fisher, who has worked in that department for 24 years, is taking an early retirement and moving to Myrtle Beach, S.C., where her husband, Tim, has taken a city job.
Fisher, who has served as the city's community development director for three years, said she's looking at starting a new career in real estate in South Carolina.
She said she's had every job in the community development department, which started out as the Sharon Redevelopment Authority before it became a city department.
She was deputy director of the department for more than 10 years before being named executive director.
Ryan said the city will advertise the position and he will take his time finding the right person. It has to be someone who has some experience working with the federal grant programs that fund community development, the mayor said.
He had high praise for Fisher, calling her a very good employee and a great community development director.
Her departure "is going to be a loss to the city," Ryan said.
"This was perfect timing," Fisher said, referring to her husband taking a job with Myrtle Beach.
She said she's been thinking about taking an early retirement for several years.
Her son and daughter, twins at 22, are out of the house and on their own now, and Fisher said she always wanted to move back to the beach.
The Sharpsville native lived in Tampa, Fla., for a couple of years after high school.
Fisher was the first woman to hold a department head position in the city of Sharon. That's something that will open doors for other women, she said.
She said she appreciates her time with the city and the community development staff which has been "more than great to work with."Fisher also thanked past and current mayors and councils for their support for her department and its programs.