Pataskala reposts position after nobody applies for council vacancy
Pataskala City Council is again accepting applications for the 2nd Ward seat after a council member stepped down late last year to be appointed to a local utility board.
During the council's Jan. 17 meeting, members voted unanimously to repost the position after not receiving any applications before the Jan. 10 deadline.
Melissa Carter, who had been on council since 2014, resigned from the 2nd Ward seat Dec. 5 and was appointed the following day as the city's representative on the Southwest Licking Community Water and Sewer District Board of Trustees.
Council President Andy Walther said in an interview Jan. 20 that posting the position during the holiday season as well as the seat not being open to the entire city may have factored into not receiving any applications.
Walther commended Carter for taking on the role with the water and sewer district, adding that he feels fortunate Pataskala has someone with her knowledge to serve the entire city in that position.
He said he hope to find someone like Carter who is community oriented, tenacious, unflappable and willing to work through problems.
"I would look for a hard working person that does their homework and is willing to take input from the community and realizes that it's not really their opinion. It's the community's opinion that they are making sure that the city (administration) understands," he said.
Walther also put an emphasis on finding a candidate who will remain civil even when there are disagreements about city matters.
"We don't always agree with each other. But we respect each other and listen, and then come to a decision that is best for the community," he said.
Carter said in an interview that working on improvement projects — such as the Taylor Road trail and Pataskala Police Station — that make the city better in the long run, makes the job such a meaningful one.
"It's really rewarding to see the benefits in your community. And you know it's long standing, that long after you're gone, somebody's still going to benefit," she said.
To be eligible, an applicant must have been a registered voter of the city for at least two years at the time of their application. Council members earn $5,000 annually.
Generally, the 2nd Ward on the city's far west side and is bordered by Cleveland Road to the south, Mink Street to the east, Dixon Road to the west and Morse Road to the north.
The newly appointed member will serve until the current term ends Dec. 31, and voters will select a candidate to serve a full, four-year term during the November election.
The city charter states council has 60 days from when a seat is vacated to select a replacement, which would be Feb. 4. After that 60 days passes, council's power to fill the seat lapses, Walther said, and it would be the responsibility of Mayor Mike Compton.
Applications are due by noon on Jan. 30 and council will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. Jan. 30 to interview applicants.
All letters of interest and resumes should be delivered to the Office of the Clerk of Council, located at City Hall, 621 W. Broad Street, Pataskala, Ohio or faxed to 740-927-0679, or e-mailed to khoskin@ci.pataskala.oh.us. Documents submitted via email must be attached as a PDF or Word file.
mdevito@gannett.com
740-607-2175
Twitter: @MariaDeVito13
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Pataskala reposts position after nobody applies for council vacancy
