Poland mayor to resign

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Her annual salary is $8,000.

By DENISE DICK

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

POLAND — Mayor Ruth Wilkes is staying in Columbiana with plans to relocate near Columbus as she awaits the village solicitor's opinion regarding the legality of receiving her village paycheck.

Linda Srnec, village clerk-treasurer, has asked Atty. Damian DeGenova, village solicitor, to issue an opinion on the legality of continuing to pay Wilkes, who's been mayor for 18 years.

Mahoning County property records show that Wilkes' Poland Manor Drive house sold May 2. She said she's been staying at a residence in Columbiana city since then.

Wilkes said she plans to resign from her village position by June 25, when she starts a job as grants management director for Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann's office. Wilkes' fiancé, Atty. Michael S. Harshman, was a campaign consultant for Dann and continues as an unpaid adviser.

She's awaiting DeGenova's opinion, which the solicitor expects to issue at the June 19 village council meeting.

"I want to hear the answer," Wilkes said of why she doesn't resign before then. "It's an interesting legal question."

In the past, the solicitor has said it's the intent of residency that's considered, the mayor said.

A secretary of state spokesman said residency is determined by where an individual is registered to vote and where his or her "habitation is fixed."

"I'm still registered to vote in the village," Wilkes said. "I haven't changed my driver's license."

Making sure

Srnec said she's heard queries from residents, questioning Wilkes' residency and the legality of paying Wilkes' salary since the house sold.

The clerk-treasurer said she asked for the opinion to make sure the village is following appropriate procedures.

"I wanted to make sure that we have something to stand on," Srnec said.

The mayor's job pays $8,000 annually.

Wilkes isn't seeking re-election. Her term expires at year's end, and three people are seeking the post.

Republican John Yerian III and two independents, Ralph Mentzer and Timothy Sicafuse, are vying for the mayor's seat.

Wilkes said her resignation means Joe Mazur, council president pro tempore, would step into the mayor's seat.

Saturday, June 9, 2007