Council seeks to fill vacant seat

Person appointed would replace Devin DiSantis, who resigned this month

The quest has begun to fill an empty seat on Perry Village Council.

Perry Village announced on its website that it is accepting resumes to fill a council term that expires on Dec. 31, 2021. That position was held by Devin DiSantis until he resigned on June 11.

DiSantis submitted his resignation that day by email to Mayor James Gessic, about five hours before Village Council was set to hold its regular monthly meeting.

“I am extremely busy with work,” DiSantis wrote. “My current work and family schedule do not allow me to serve the community in the way I intended when I first applied for council.”

He went on to state that it was his opinion that he should no longer hold a seat on council.

“Therefore, I am resigning my position effective immediately,” he wrote.

Council, during the June 11 meeting, approved a motion to accept the resignation effective June 30.

Perry Village’s announcement says that applicants for the council position may drop off resumes at Village Hall or mail them to the same building at 3758 Center Road, Perry, OH 44081.

Anyone who wants to be considered as DiSantis’ replacement must be a Perry Village resident who has lived in the community for one year prior to applying.

No deadline is mentioned in the village’s announcement. Village Council is not scheduled to hold a regular meeting in July.

Village Solicitor James Loiacono said council has 30 days following the June 30 effective resignation date to fill the seat.

“If not, the mayor can fill it,” Loiacono said. “Or the mayor can agree that he’ll give council 60 days to fill it.”

DiSantis was appointed to council on Aug. 23, 2018, after then-Councilman James Gessic was elevated to the position of mayor.

Council selected Gessic as mayor earlier that month shortly after accepting the resignation of then-Mayor Vicki Stevens.

Gessic was serving as council president pro tempore in 2018, and then became acting leader of the village when Stevens took a medical leave of absence in April 2018.

DiSantis was filling the balance of a four-year term that Gessic won in 2017. As a result, DiSantis’ successor will need to run for a new four-year term in November 2021 to continue serving on council.