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Former Youngstown law director resigned from same post in Cleveland Heights
YOUNGSTOWN
Former Youngstown Law Director Anthony Farris resigned as Cleveland Heights law director only four months after he was hired.
“I can’t go into too much detail because I signed an agreement to not discuss it,” he said. “But I wasn’t really meshing with the city management there, and that was the reason” for the resignation.
Farris stopped working for the Cleveland suburb Aug. 26, but is on the city’s payroll until Oct. 1.
Farris never left Youngstown.
“I don’t have to do that [drive] anymore,” he said.
When asked what he’ll do for employment, Farris said, “I’m not really sure. I’m weighing my options. I’ll look at government positions. If I don’t do that, I’ll open a private practice.”
In addition to being paid by Cleveland Heights this month, Farris recently received his $28,817 severance package from Youngstown for unused sick hours and unused vacation time.
Farris spent 18 years in Youngstown’s law department, including two years as law director. He was replaced as law director in January when John McNally, who started serving as mayor that month, hired Martin Hume for the job. After a short time away from the law department, Farris returned as deputy law director, which paid $75,000 annually.
He resigned from that job April 23 to become Cleveland Heights’ first full-time law director, a job that paid $100,000 a year.
Tanisha Briley, Cleveland Heights city manager, declined to discuss the reasons for Farris’ resignation with the Northeast Ohio Media Group, which first reported on the Aug. 26 departure Tuesday. Briley told NEOMG that Farris “made a personal decision that was best for him and his family,” and declined further comment.