South Lebanon law director announces June 1 resignation; council urged to consider contract for recommended replacement

Andrew, the city law director, told the South Lebanon City Council on May 1 that he and his family will move to Arizona and that he will leave his position effective June 1. "My family and I have made a decision to move out of Southwest Ohio and move to Arizona. So effective June first of this year, I will no longer be with the city," he said.

Andrew said he had discussed a transition plan with Mayor Burke and City Administrator Jerry and recommended that the council "consider offering [Chase Kirby] a contract similar in line with the contract that I have." He said Kirby had interviewed with the mayor and administrator and that the interview "went well." The council did not vote on hiring or contracting at the meeting.

Mayor Burke and several council members spoke in praise of Andrew's service. Mayor Burke said the law director "is gonna be sorely missed" and thanked him for his counsel. Multiple council members — including Brenda (identified in the meeting as a council member who spoke) and others — expressed appreciation for Andrew's advice and humor. City Administrator Jerry said he and the mayor had been working with Andrew on a transition and that they had interviewed Kirby.

The council entered executive session earlier in the meeting for personnel and real-estate matters under Ohio Revised Code section 121.22(G)(1) and (G)(2); after that session, Mayor Burke announced there was "no action taken." Andrew's resignation and the recommendation of Kirby were discussed in open session but produced no formal vote or contract approval during the May 1 meeting.

The council did not set a date for any formal hiring vote; Mayor Burke and the administrator said they would continue transition discussions with council members before any contract is offered.