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Newton Falls council plans to hire Benetis as manager
By Ed Runyan
NEWTON FALLS
Though Village Council didn’t take the final steps to hire retired educator Harry Benetis as village manager earlier this week, the three members of council supporting him made it clear that is their plan.
Three of Newton Falls’ five council members were apparently ready to give second reading and passage of an ordinance Monday to hire Benetis, but a procedural error prevented council from doing that. Instead, council gave another first reading to the ordinance.
The next chance for Benetis to be hired is council’s next meeting at 6 p.m. Oct. 3 at the community center, 52 E. Quarry St. Benetis would begin work Jan. 1.
Benetis, of Newton Falls, worked as superintendent at four school districts between 1963 and 2001. They were Bloomfield, Newton Falls, LaBrae and Weathersfield. He retired from Bristolville Local Schools in June 2006 as a principal and also served as a principal at Maplewood.
Councilman Richard Monteville said he hoped to find someone from the Newton Falls area to hire as the next village manager and felt Benetis was a good choice even though Benetis is not trained in public administration as is the current village manager, Jack Haney.
Mayor Lyle Waddell said he would prefer to hire someone from outside of Newton Falls because anyone hired from inside will be unable to take a neutral position and will “alienate half of the people right away.”
Monteville said another reason for hiring Benetis is that the village is facing a $265,000 deficit in 2012, and replacing Haney with Benetis will save around $70,000 per year in salary and benefits.
Haney makes $92,000 and receives about $25,000 worth of health-care and other benefits. Benetis would make $50,000 in 2012 and said he will refuse health-care if no laws require him to have it.
Monteville and fellow council members Jom Luonuansuu and Mary Ann Johnson voted April 4 for nonrenewal of Haney’s contract, which expires Dec. 31. They also voted for Benetis on Monday night, with council members Richard Zamecnik and Nancy Hoffman voting against his hiring.
Waddell complained that the Benetis supporters on council didn’t give enough consideration to about 15 candidates from outside the village or discuss the matter thoroughly with all council members.
“The four people from Newton Falls were fine candidates. The majority of council agreed, and that’s the legal way in America,” Monteville said in response.
Council also gave a first reading to an ordinance that would give a three-year contract to Law Director A. Joseph Fritz.