MAYOR'S MESSAGE

Craig A. Stough 1/24/08

"Sylvania City Council Changes"

Congratulations to former Sylvania City Council President Barbara Sears on her appointment as the State Representative for the 46^th House District of the Ohio Legislature. The appointment allows Mrs. Sears to continue serving Sylvania and western Lucas County in a larger capacity, and she is the first state legislator in my memory from the City of Sylvania. She served on City Council for 10 years and also served as Chair of the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments for the past two years, making her well qualified for the Ohio Legislature.

The resignation of Mrs. Sears from Sylvania Council to accept the appointment has created a vacancy on City Council and the necessity to elect a new City Council President. Subsequently, on Wednesday, January 23^rd, Keith Haddad was unanimously elected the new City Council President during Council's regularly scheduled meeting that evening. Congratulations to Keith Haddad. Mr. Haddad previously served as City Council President several years ago.

City Council has begun the process to fill the vacant Council seat as well, and has requested resumes and letters of interest from qualified residents be submitted to the Clerk of Council by the end of January. Qualified residents are defined by the City Charter as being continuous residents and electors of the City for two years immediately prior to the date of election or appointment.

A committee-of-the-whole meeting has been scheduled for Monday, February 4^th at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers to interview candidates for the vacant Council seat. A candidate will need four votes from the remaining six City Council members, probably at the 7:30 p.m. Council Meeting that same evening, to be appointed to the vacant seat. Per the City Charter, if the vacancy is not filled by City Council within 30 days, the Mayor shall fill it by appointment. City Council committee assignments will be reworked by Council President Haddad once the new Council member is appointed.

The new City Council appointee will serve out the remaining two years of Mrs. Sears' term. The seat will be on the November, 2009 general election ballot together with the Council seats currently held by Read Backus and Katie Cappellini, as well as the Mayor.

City Council is a wonderful position to have your voice heard and have a positive impact on the Sylvania community. Any resident qualified and interested in the open seat should forward his or her resume and letter of interest to: Margie Lintner, Clerk of Council, 6730 Monroe Street, Suite 201, Sylvania, Ohio 43560; email: city.clerk@cityofsylvania.com. All resumes and letters of interest are requested no later than 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 31, 2008.