Port Clinton to consider waiving residency, expanding pay range for Safety Service Director

Port Clinton City Council heard sustained public concern April 28 over a proposed ordinance that would waive the residency requirement for the city's Director of Safety and Service and revise that post's salary range.

At public comment, Michelle Bodie read a letter urging transparency in the hiring process and warning that the emergency ordinance "could result in appointing a candidate who lives more than an hour from Port Clinton" and lacks familiarity with the city. Bodie said the posting was "quietly" placed March 2, and that the job listing had been removed from the city's website, raising questions about whether adequate local outreach occurred.

Mayor Mike Snider defended the Administration's process, saying the vacancy was advertised on the city's Facebook page, the Ohio Municipal League, Indeed.com and the city's website and that an HR firm from Bowling Green assisted the search. "There were twelve applicants," Snider said, and a five-member review team selected five applicants for interviews; three candidates declined to interview because of the residency requirement, he said. Snider added that the two candidates interviewed lacked the "service side" experience the city sought and that Administration recommended Council consider the residency waiver to widen the candidate pool.

Law Director Ms. Shenker told the council that an "emergency clause" under the Revised Code allows an ordinance to take effect immediately after adoption so the mayor may sign it without the usual waiting period; she said the clause is being considered because the interim Safety Service Director has provided a date to depart and the city needs to avoid a prolonged vacancy.

Council did not act on Ordinance 17-26 at first reading; President Lisa Sarty said Administration requested moving the measure to a second reading at a special council meeting because of time sensitivity. Council also listed Resolution 26-4, resuming grant activities under an Urban and Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act grant, for future readings.

Several residents urged Council and Administration to prioritize local candidates. Drew Gatliff, who said he applied for the position but was not interviewed, told the council the city needs someone "who cares about a small town" and suggested that local ties matter for the job.

The next procedural step is a special council meeting to consider a second reading of Ordinance 17-26; a date was not set at the April 28 meeting.