Trustees hope to replace fiscal officer position soon

By Elise Franco

efranco@vindy.com

Austintown

The trustees hope to temporarily fill the vacant fiscal office position with someone familiar with township operations, giving them more time to find a permanent replacement.

Michael Kurish tendered his resignation letter to the township Thursday, citing personal reasons for leaving his post as fiscal officer after 16 years. He ran unopposed in November, winning re-election.

The board has 30 days to appoint someone new to carry out the remainder of Kurish’s current term, which ends March 31, according to state law.

After that, the trustees must appoint someone to fill Kurish’s new term, which begins April 1, said Trustee David Diztler.

“Whoever we appoint in April will serve until the township’s next general election in November 2013,” he said. “Then that person would have to run in the election if they want to serve the balance of that unexpired four-year term.”

Ditzler said the trustees would prefer to appoint someone, such as Diane Fry, township accountant, to finish out the current term. He said this would give the trustees some extra time to find and train a more permanent replacement.

“For the immediate future we need someone very familiar with what’s going on in the township,” Ditzler said. “That gives us the ability to transition to that new term in April. ... It will let us take our time in interviewing and bringing the right person in.”

Austintown’s budget for fiscal year 2012 is due April 1, another reason they need someone who already knows their way around the township’s books, Ditzler said.

Because Kurish resigned before the end of his current term, he could return and reclaim his position when the new term begins April, but Ditzler said that’s not the former fiscal officer’s intention.

“His intentions are to honor what he submitted to us in his resignation,” Ditzler added.