by Eric Marotta
Editor
Macedonia -- Finance Director Anna Musson, who began working for the city at the end of March, has resigned, effective June 25.
Mayor Don Kuchta's office announced it accepted the resignation in a press release June 26.
Musson did not state a reason for her resignation in a June 25 letter to Kuchta. She did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Kuchta said Assistant Finance Director Loren Sengstock will assume Musson's duties on an interim basis until a replacement is found.
"We will be looking for Anna's replacement immediately and look forward to having someone on board as soon as possible," the release stated.
Musson's resignation letter refers to three "terms of separation" she states were discussed with Kuchta and assistant Law Director Tom Hanculak earlier June 25:
* That the city will not contest any claim for unemployment on her part;
* That she receive family medical benefits through the city for 60 days after June 25;
* That she be reimbursed for telephone calls and other "reasonable office expenses" she incurred "while working at home on city business while on maternity leave."
Kuchta told the News Leader June 26 the terms of separation were subject to negotiation.
He also said a consultant is on hand to assist Sengstock, should more help be needed.
The consultant was hired earlier in June after city tax revenues were shown to be down more than $500,000 from the same time last year and Council demanded the city cut spending 20 percent.
Musson replaced former Finance Director Steve Brunot, who resigned in January to take a position with the Summit County Engineer's Office.
Her base salary was $75,000 a year. Brunot's annual pay when he left was about $93,000.
Musson gave birth to a baby boy May 18. The city issued a press release May 27 stating Musson was on leave.
Musson was first appointed, then elected finance director in the city of Ashland before coming to Macedonia.
For about two months -- from March 30 to June 1 -- Musson was finance director for both Ashland and Macedonia.
As Ashland finance director, she earned around $67,000 per year.
Musson submitted a letter of resignation from her elected position in Ashland March 13, telling Council she was resigning effective upon the completion of the 2008 annual audit, which she anticipated being June 1.
At a May 19 meeting, Ashland Mayor Glen Stewart said the city's audit probably would not be ready for the state auditor by the June 1 deadline. The city received an extension until July 31.
Musson made her Ashland resignation official June 1, and Ashland City Council declared the office of director of finance vacant the next day.
On June 16, Ashland Council voted to put an ordinance on the November election that would remove the provisions that make the finance director an elected position and instead make it an appointed position.
Editor's note: The Ashland Times-Gazette, a sister Dix Communications newspaper, contributed to this report.
E-mail: emarotta@recordpub.com
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