Finance director honored

Avon Lake’s Finance Director Steve Presley was honored Oct. 10 with the Auditor of the State’s Award with Distinction before Avon Lake City Council.

In front of Avon Lake City Council, Lindsay KuhnBlair, a representative from the office of state Auditor David Yost, presented Presley with the award following the completion of the city’s financial audit.

The award is handed out each year to local governments and other entities in recognizing achievement in returning a clean audit containing no findings or deficiencies.

Kuhn-Blair said out of 5,900 government entities audited each year, only about five percent are recognized with the agency’s highest honor, calling it the gold standard.

“Although I think a lot of folks think being an auditor is about crunching numbers and hopefully reconciling everything, it is so much more in terms of compliance in concert with your council, your administration and your mayor,” Kuhn-Blair said. “I would like to congratulate you for being an excellent steward of taxpayer dollars.”

Presley thanked the collaborative efforts of the finance department and the city.

“As I’ve said before, this may be awarded to me, but it is in fact a reflection of all the individuals in the finance department,” he said. “Effectively all us because we work very well together and Council does its part in looking over the ordinances and the appropriations that we have to do as part of that compliance issue.

“This is as much yours as it is the finance department.”

“I have grown to know Steve (Presley) to the effect that I trust him,” said Ward 3 Councilman Larry Meiners. “And when you trust another individual explicitly, that goes a long way.

“He values his job, his city, he values the money and he values the responsibility and the accountability that he has. So, from my personal point of view, I feel blessed that we have someone of his caliber and I am glad he’s here.”

In other Council business, members approved contracts for three collective bargaining agreements.

The new three-year agreements were reached following negotiations dating back to spring 2016 between the city and unions representing firefighters, laborers, mechanics and administrative employees.

The new agreements became effective July 1 and run through June 30, 2020.

“Negotiations is an ugly process,” said Avon Lake Mayor Gregory Zilka. “But the end result does result in people working collectively and cooperatively — not pleased with all issues — but working under defined rules that allow for a city like Avon Lake to move forward and serve the public.”

Council thanked human resources Director Joe DeTillio for his efforts following months of negotiations.

“As the mayor said, negotiations are really never fun,” Meiners said. “You’ve got to have a win-win and sometimes that’s tough to arrive at.

“But I think that Joe (DeTillio) with his tenacity and knowing what has to be done and his experience.”