by Eric Marotta
Editor
Macedonia -- After four years with the city, Finance Director Steve Brunot will leave to work for newly elected Summit County Engineer Al Brubaker.
"I've got a great staff, moving in greased grooves all ready to take over without me," Brunot said Dec. 4.
Mayor Don Kuchta said that by the city's charter, Assistant Finance Director Loren Sengstock, who started working with the city two years ago, will assume the duties as finance director until the mayor appoints and Council approves a permanent replacement for Brunot.
"I feel that [Sengstock] is extremely smart and talented," Kuchta said.
Kuchta said he plans to discuss the matter with Council Dec. 11, noting Sengstock previously served as finance director of the cities of Huron and Grand Ledge, Mich.
Sengstock said he and Brunot have been working on a transition plan and added that despite his prior experience, he is both "excited and scared" about filling in.
"There's a very big pair of shoes to fill," he said.
Kuchta complimented Brunot on his work in the city.
"I believe he is the first one ever to reconcile our checkbook. Going back years, it took him a long time to balance everything out," Kuchta said.
Brunot made the announcement he was leaving to department heads Dec. 1, but had told Kuchta Nov. 25.
Brunot, who expects to start work with the county Jan. 6, said his new position as director of administration will put him in charge of the engineer's Government Affairs Office, Budget and Management Office, Human Resources Department and IT Department.
Brunot said he got the offer after calling Brubaker to congratulate him on his election victory over current County Engineer Greg Bachman.
Brunot said he first met Brubaker in 1996, when he was hired to serve as Brubaker's campaign manager in his first of four attempts to get elected county engineer. Brunot also headed Brubaker's 2000 campaign.
"He'll be my finance director now," Brubaker told the News Leader Dec. 5.
Brubaker explained Brunot will assume one of the engineer's offices two director of administration positions.
"We're going to restructure a little bit, and one of those slots probably isn't going to be filled," he added.
Brubaker and Brunot said it's unclear what Brunot's salary will be, as Brubaker said he hasn't completed his restructuring plans for the engineer's office.
As Macedonia finance director, Brunot earned about $93,000 per year. According to the Summit County Fiscal Office, the administrator position pay scale ranges from around $65,000 to just more than $107,000.
Kuchta said he is sad to see Brunot leave.
"I feel Mr. Brunot may have saved the city financially. I have no idea where I would have been without him," Kuchta said.
Brunot, former finance director for the city of Tallmadge, said he was happy to have served the city and was especially proud of having moved the administration and Council toward using five-year plans to set the annual budget.
"We were taking steps from day one to improve our financial position," he said. "We may not be able to do everything we want, but if we put off buying a truck this year, it stays in the five-year plan -- you just push it back a year."
Editor's note: This news was first posted Dec. 5 at www.the-news-leader.com.
E-mail: emarotta@recordpub.com
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