43
Austintown fiscal officer resigns, cites ‘personal challenges’
Photo
Kurish
By Elise Franco
Austintown
Township trustees have one month to find a new fiscal officer.
Michael Kurish tendered his resignation letter to the township Thursday, citing personal reasons for leaving his post as fiscal officer after 16 years.
“Today I find myself facing personal challenges that require me to remove myself from service,” he said in his letter. “Matters of one’s faith and family must take precedent over individual desires.
“I simply cannot continue to serve until these matters are resolved.”
Kurish declined additional comment.
Trustee Jim Davis said Kurish’s stepping down is a loss to the township.
“Mike was an asset to the community, and his knowledge and expertise will be deeply missed,” he said. “We commend him for the job he’s done. He’s kept Austintown on budget, and he’s been responsible for clean audits year after year.”
Davis said the board respects its former colleague’s wish for privacy at this time.
“He states it’s personal,” he said. “I hate to see him go, but obviously if he says he has other issues, I wish him nothing but the best.”
Because the fiscal officer is an elected position the trustees have 30 days to appoint someone new to the unexpired term, according to the Ohio Revised Code.
Because Kurish ran unopposed and won re-election in November, the appointee will serve for the full four-year term.
If the trustees are unable to make an appointment within the 30-day window, a five-person committee of residents will have the responsibility, according to state law.
Davis said though it has a limited amount of time, the board wants to make sure the right person is chosen.
“We are on a time crunch,” he said. “I can only assume we all want to be on the same page with this. We want to be in control of this rather than allowing someone else to make the appointment.SDRq