Business owner picked to fill council spot

Devin DiSantis chosen for post from a field of three applicants

A new Perry Village Council member has been appointed to fill the vacancy created when another councilman recently took over as mayor.

Village Council on Aug. 23 selected Devin DiSantis to occupy the council seat formerly held by James Gessic. The search for a new council member began earlier this month when Gessic was elevated to the mayor’s position.

The village’s previous mayor, Vicky Stevens, resigned Aug. 9 after about seven years as the community’s leader. Gessic, then serving as council president and acting mayor, was appointed by his council colleagues to succeed Stevens on the same date.

He had held the position of acting mayor since Stevens went on medical leave April 13. On April 12, all six council members cast a vote of “no confidence” in Stevens’ performance as mayor.

DiSantis, 31, was one of three village residents who applied for the vacant seat. Suzanne Foxhall and Laura Wolkersdorfer also sought to fill the remainder of Gessic’s council term, which runs through Dec. 31, 2021.

“I want to do whatever I can to help the community be the best it can be,” DiSantis said in a telephone interview on Aug. 27.

Council and the mayor interviewed all three candidates during an executive session that was part of the Aug. 23 meeting.

Gessic said he thinks that DiSantis will bring a lot to the table as council’s newest member.

“It seems that he’s very open to learning about and listening to all sides of an issue before voting on something,” Gessic said.

DiSantis also possesses a business background. He is the owner and CEO of Proficient Assembly, a furniture and product assembly and installation company based in Perry Village. The business is marking its oneyear anniversary on Sept. 14, DiSantis said.

In addition, he served about eight months on the community’s Planning Commission prior to his council appointment. DiSantis said Aug. 27 that he has resigned his commission seat and is slated to officially begin his council term on Oct. 1.

Gessic has chosen Foxhall, who also sought appointment to council, to replace DiSantis on the Planning Commission.

Wolkersdorfer, the final applicant for the council vacancy, also will serve the village in a different capacity. Gessic appointed her to an empty seat on the village Board of Zoning Appeals. She will fill one of two vacancies on the BZA, which were created when Rob Burkholder resigned and Jim Watson left to become the village’s new zoning inspector.

In a final mayoral appointment made at the Aug. 23 meeting, Gessic named Jamie Lutes as a new member of the village Tax Review Board. She replaces Councilwoman Jean Schonauer on the tax panel. Schonauer on Aug. 9 was appointed to replace Gessic as council president.

DiSantis