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Cathy Bitler resigns from Lancaster City Council after Attorney General opinion on dual service
Summary
President Porter announced on Oct. 6 that Cathy Bitler resigned from Lancaster City Council after an Attorney General opinion determined she could not simultaneously hold a seat on the Fairfield County Port Authority; Bitler told council she would keep the Port Authority position because she had taken that appointment earlier and felt 'honor bound.'
President Porter informed Lancaster City Council on Oct. 6 that Council Member Cathy Bitler had resigned after learning of an Attorney General opinion concluding she could not serve on both Lancaster City Council and the Fairfield County Port Authority at the same time. Porter thanked Bitler for her public service and noted her prior service as council president.
Bitler addressed the council to explain her decision and said she chose to retain her Port Authority seat because she had accepted that position in 2024 before joining the council and felt "honor bound" to keep that commitment. She apologized to the council for the oversight and said she would not have sought the council appointment had she known of the Attorney General's opinion earlier.
Council members publicly thanked Bitler for her service. Ms. Tener praised Bitler’s honesty and described her as a person of high character who had mentored younger council members; other council business continued without further action on the resignation.
Next steps: Council will proceed without Bitler in attendance; vacancies and appointment procedures were not detailed at the Oct. 6 meeting.
