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Poland council interviews 2, but delays appointment
POLAND
Poland Village Council interviewed a former council clerk-treasurer and the village deputy clerk Tuesday evening for the council seat vacated by David Raspanti.
Linda Srnec, the former council clerk-treasurer, and Deputy Clerk Jeff Vrabel talked to the board for 10 minutes explaining why they are qualified for the six-month term.
“My background speaks for itself,” Srnec said. “I’ve really learned a lot at this table.”
Srnec worked for the village 21 years before her recent retirement.
As she spoke, council members passed around and looked over her resume. After her interview, council said one issue stuck out: Her husband is the village fiscal officer. Srnec said she is confident there would be no conflicts, but asked that she be kept out of any matters involving her husband if she were selected. She added that many councils across the state have relatives serving. It’s almost the new norm these days, she contended.
Vrabel said if he were selected, he’d be willing to step down from his deputy clerk post to serve on council. He said he would ask for a six-month leave of absence, but would volunteer his duties as deputy clerk so council wouldn’t have to worry about appointing another one.
Council went into a brief executive session to deliberate about each candidate but decided it wouldn’t be fair to appoint someone Tuesday.
“They’re both qualified,” Mayor Timothy Sicafuse said. “It’s nice to have candidates of that quality to choose from.”
Raspanti resigned from council to become village zoning inspector.
Council President Joe Mazur said Raspanti, who has 20 years of zoning experience, couldn’t hold both positions.
The deadline to make a decision on the council seat is July 4, and council plans to make the appointment during a meeting July 2.
If council does not decide by July 4, the mayor would have to decide.
“I’d rather [the council] pick one,” Sicafuse said. “But if it happens, it happens.”