Council accepts mayor’s resignation

Perry Village Council accepted the resignation of Mayor Vicky Stevens on Aug. 9, a move that has prompted three changes on the roster of village government officials.

Council approved the resolution, which confirmed Stevens’ agreement to step down from the office she’s held for nearly seven years, during its regular meeting. The panel voted 5-0 in favor of the resolution, as

Councilwoman Rebecca Shimko was absent.

Stevens’ resignation came about six weeks after the village initially offered her a $10,000 payment in conjunction with her stepping down. Council on June 28 voted 4-2 in favor of the proposed settlement, with members Rick Walker and Mike Glover casting “no” votes.

The final agreement approved on Aug. 9 included the $10,000 payment.

Stevens has been on medical leave as mayor since April 13. A day earlier, all six council members cast a vote of “no confidence” in the mayor.

Although no council members or village officials spoke in detail about Stevens’ performance at the June 28 meeting, there were some references to an atmosphere of “turmoil” and “contentiousness” in the village during Stevens’ tenure.

Along with accepting Stevens’ resignation on Aug. 9, council took immediate action to fill two vacancies resulting from her departure.

First, the panel approved the appointment of Council President Pro Tempore James Gessic as mayor. Gessic had been serving as acting mayor since Stevens began her leave of absence. As council president pro tempore, Gessic continued to vote on all matters coming before council while presiding over meetings during the mayor’s absence, which is permitted by the Ohio Revised Code.

Gessic was first elected to Perry Village Council in 2013 and re-elected to a second four-year term in 2017. He will fill Stevens’ current unexpired four-year term as mayor, which ends Dec. 31, 2019.

Council also appointed Councilwoman Jean Schonauer to serve as the new council president pro tempore. She was elected to Perry Village Council in 2017.

Separately, the village also is seeking applicants for the council vacancy created by Gessic taking over as mayor. Resumes are being accepted until 3:30 p.m. Aug. 13 and may be submitted to Fiscal Officer, P.O. Box 100, 3758 Center Road, Perry, OH 44081.

For Stevens, her resignation marks the end of 25 years of government service in Perry Village. She also served as a village councilwoman for 18 years before being elected to the first of two fouryear terms as mayor in 2011.

As part of the settlement, Stevens “acknowledges and agrees that her employment with the village has ended irrevocably and forever, and will not be resumed again at any time.”

In addition, Stevens agreed to not say or do anything that could be harmful to the business interests, goodwill or reputation of the village or its elected officials, either individually or collectively. Village Council agreed, individually and collectively, to abide by those same guidelines regarding the former mayor.

Stevens could not be reached on Aug. 10 at the cellphone number that was still listed for her on the village website.