Party chairman urges Salem auditor hopefuls to apply

Staff report

SALEM

Columbiana County Republican Party Chairman David Johnson is taking applications to replace city Auditor James Armeni, who is resigning to accept a new post in the state auditor’s office.

The city’s Republican Precinct Committee members will appoint Armeni’s replacement.

Anyone interested should send a letter of intent, along with a r sum , to the committee at P.O. Box 73, Summitville 43962.

Under state law, the committee has 45 days from the resignation to fill the vacancy for the balance of the term of office. In the meantime, the committee has recommended that the mayor appoint Deputy Auditor Barb Hasson interim auditor.

The committee also urged city council to address the auditor’s salary level, which it termed substandard and less than every other Salem city administrative post, including the street foreman.

The committee noted that the auditor oversees more than 50 fund accounts, close to $17 million in city tax revenues and more than $15 million in city investment funds.

It also suggested that the low salary prompted Armeni’s departure from what it considers the single- most-important management position in city government. In order to attract a competent and qualified successor to the office, the salary level needs to be addressed before the Feb. 1 filing deadline, it said. Otherwise, state law prevents the salary from being changed for another four years, it added.

The committee said Johnson is already in discussion with several potential candidates but still encourages anyone with an interest in the appointment to make his or her intentions known.