Mayor appoints new city finance director

City resident was former school district treasurer

A former treasurer for Vermilion Local Schools will lead the financial department at Vermilion City Hall.

Mayor Jim Forthofer appointed Amy L. Hendricks as finance director, with Vermilion City Council approving the appointment Jan. 11.

Hendricks, 55, will replace Finance Director Brian Keller.

On Jan. 12, Hendricks announced her retirement from her job as treasurer of Fairview Park City Schools, effective Jan. 31.

She will become finance director for Vermilion on Feb. 1 at a salary of $74,000 a year.

“This is the perfect opportunity for me, as I will be able to serve my home community,” Hendricks said.

Hendricks has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Toledo and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Findlay.

She has her school treasurer’s license and school business manager’s license, both valid through 2022.

Hendricks in 2014, 2015 and 2016, earned multiple awards for financial reporting. She served as Vermilion Schools treasurer and chief financial officer from August 2000 to September 2013.

Hendricks left the district to become treasurer and CFO of the Fairview Park City School District in October 2013.

There, she managed a budget of about $64 million, including $24 million in operations, $6 million in special revenues and more than $34 million for a school district construction project, according to her resume. Hendricks’ skills as treasurer will transfer to the finance director’s position, Forthofer said.

Hendricks also is well known in the city, the mayor said. On Jan. 2, Forthofer opened the administrative positions and nominated Keller to remain as finance director.

Council did not confirm that appointment, Forthofer said.

Hendricks and Forthofer said her nomination came together quickly last week.

“It was an unexpected turn of good fortune for us,” Forthofer said.

Although she went to work for Fairview Park Schools, Hendricks said she still lived in Vermilion and loves the community.

In her personal and professional life, Hendricks said she wants her work to have meaning and make a difference for the community.

The finance director position will allow her to use her abilities and experience to help the city, she said.

“It was just something that touched my heart, and I feel pretty passionate about it,” Hendricks said.

She said she has started reviewing some of the city’s financial reports; preparing a 2018 final budget for the city is a priority when she starts the job next month.

Hendricks acknowledged she will retire from a public position and be rehired for another public job. The practice is known as “double dipping.”

The practice happens frequently in the private sector, Hendricks said, adding she was not sure it should be a concern.

In rehiring candidates for jobs, local governments may get staff with expertise and experience they might not get otherwise, she said.

With the finance director, Vermilion “will certainly bet getting a full time person with a full time job, with a great deal of passion,” Hendricks said.

“If there’s community members that have a concern, I feel it won’t be long before they see the value,” she said.

Previously, Hendricks was treasurer and CFO for the Stryker Local School District from November 1997 to July 2000.

She was treasurer-CFO for the Williams Count Educational Service Center from August 1985 to November 1997, and served jointly as treasurer for the Defiance County Educational Service Center from 1995-97.

Hendricks also has served as fiscal agent for the Great Lakes Council of Governments, a health insurance consortium with a $15 million budget.

Hendricks has two adult children and a granddaughter.

Her daughter, Amanda, works in administration for an agency serving developmentally disabled adults. And her son, Dustin, in May will complete his doctorate in physical therapy from the University of New England.

Hendricks