NEWTON FALLS — After several months of seeking applicants and conducting interviews, village council at a special meeting Wednesday named Jeremy Shaffer of Geneva-on-the-Lake as the new village manager, starting July 6.
Shaffer was approved for a three-year contract at $112,000 annually.
“I thank council for hiring me. I look forward to the opportunity to serve Newton Falls. I will work with council on what their vision is for moving the community forward. I will learn about the village and serve the residents of Newton Falls,” he said.
Shaffer served as village administrator for Geneva-on-the Lake for six years and most recently served as the human resources director for the city of Wilmington, Ohio.
He has a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in social and political studies. Shaffer served in the U.S. Air Force National Guard.
Council President Julie Stimpert said she was excited to have a new village manager in place.
“He is an excellent choice for our village. He has served in many leadership roles. I am excited that he has a military background since our community has many military organizations,” she said
First Ward Councilman Brian Kropp said council did its due diligence to select a candidate who will serve and represent the community well.
“Newton Falls is moving in the right direction. I am excited for our future,’’ Kropp said.
Fourth Ward Councilman Kevin Rufener said council had an extensive search and narrowed the candidates down, with Shaffer being among the top finalists.
“Mr. Shaffer has the experience, knowledge, background and professionalism that this community needs. He was the best qualified for the job. He will provide the leadership and direction this community needs,” Rufener said.
Resident Julie Lemon, who is often critical of council, praised the hiring of Shaffer.
“He is a good choice for our community,” she said.
Lemon said she hopes that Shaffer will be able to help the community with various issues such as the future of the community center.
Council also has given Law Director Jeff Limbian and Clerk Michael Acomb a 30-day notice that their contracts are not being renewed.
Stimpert said both Limbian and Acomb have done an excellent job serving the community, but with a new village manager in place they need the law director and clerk to be available during the day at the municipal building.
Both Limbian and Acomb have other jobs and were able to attend council meetings in the evenings, but not work during the day.
“We have no complaints about either one of them. We want to have people in those positions be here in-house on a day-to-day basis,” she said.
Stimpert said at the July 1 meeting, legislation will be requested to have current assistant law director Gary VanBrocklin serve as the law director and former clerk Kathy King as the clerk. King has been serving as interim village manager.
ANNEXATION ISSUE
Newton Township Trustee Chairman Pete Augusta said he was concerned after receiving an email from the county engineers office and speaking with VanBrocklin that 112 Scott Street properties that are part of a sewer extension project were told that in order to receive sewer service from the village, they would need to annex from the township into the village.
Augusta said following meetings between the village and township about the sewer project in April 2022, this was not what was agreed upon.
“The township did not agree to any annexation. If the residents had known this, they would never have agreed to be part of the sewer project. It looks like this annexation is being rammed down our throats. This is not good,” Augusta said.
He said the county commissioners in July are scheduled to act on $900,000 of American Rescue Plan funds for the sewer tie-ins on Scott Street.
Stimpert said she is the only current member of council who was on council in 2022 and said there should be something in writing somewhere on what the agreement was. Kropp said the news was new to all of council and they will work with the township to address this.
Rufener said council “was blindsided” by the news and will review current ordinances.
VanBrocklin said village guidelines passed in 2016 stipulate that to get village utilities, properties need to be annexed into the village. He said he will look into the situation further to see if there is an agreement in writing for the July 1 meeting.
In other business, council:
• Entered into an agreement with BMB Renovations LLC for construction work at the electric department on East Church Street at a cost not to exceed $16,000. Work includes removal and disposal of existing siding, new windows, and removal of a double glass door and frame.
• Approved prohibiting the planting of trees and bushes on the village easements and devil strips between the sidewalk and street, The trees and bushes now located in the devilstrips will be grandfathered in except any trees deemed by the electric department to interfere with the electric department or a subcontractor.
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