Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne waste district director to retire, come back at same $111K salary

BOLIVAR ‒ The executive director of the Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Joint Solid Waste Management District is going to resign from the position and will then be rehired.

The board of directors voted Friday to accept the resignation of David Held, effective June 1, and will then offer him the same job on Aug. 1 at the same salary.

Held, who has been in the position since 2004, earns $111,844 annually.

David Held explains his decision

He is resigning to become eligible for Ohio Public Employee Retirement benefits. He is required to take a mandatory break in service of 60 days to avoid any forfeitures and/or penalties.

Held told the board that he decided to resign to optimize his financial situation. But he also said that he understands what can happen when someone retires.

"When you're working at a place like this for 19 years, you know that when people leave and you have a small organization, it can be devastating to the people left behind," he said.

That was behind his decision to want to return to the job after the 60-day break.

Board member Janet Creighton, a Stark County commissioner, asked if the move would result in any cost savings to the district.

Finance Director Erica Wright responded that the main savings would be that Held would not receive his wages and benefits during his break in service.

Solid waste board members express their opinions

The majority of board members spoke in support of Held's decision.

"This is a complicated and at times misunderstood issue," Wayne County Commissioner Sue Smail said. "I think it helps with continuity and in today's marketplace where people just don't want to work, I think this is going to beneficial."

Creighton pointed out that she is a retiree and a county commissioner.

"I've always felt that it was unfair that public employees are treated differently than those in the private sector because if you work at the Timken Co. for 30 years and decide to retire and go out and either get another job or come back to Timken part-time, they don't get criticized like we do," she said.

"I just have always felt that it was unfair. So just for full disclosure, I am a retiree in 2007, believe it or not, and then I went to another job and got elected as commissioner in 2010. I respect the system, and I never felt that I've taken advantage of it, because, quite frankly, ladies and gentlemen, I feel I earn every damn dime I get."

Tuscarawas County Commissioner Chris Abbuhl cast the lone no vote on the agreement.

After the meeting, he said his vote was not in opposition to Held.

"I think he's got a great work ethic. He's got great communication skills," Abbuhl said. "He has done a lot of great programs and has built a great team here at the district. So it has absolutely nothing to do with his job performance, but it has just been a philosophical rationale of mine that I'm just not supportive of retire and rehire."

Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: David Held to resign as solid waste district director, will be rehired